Fl Keys

[Skeeter ZX190]

I know this is a Table Rock forum, but I am thinking about taking a trip to the Florida Keys and do some fishing in May. Has anybody had any experience down there and recommendations they would be willing to share? Thanks in advance.

[Justin Spencer]

So many different types and areas to fish down there, from bones to sailfish, marathon is a great jumping off point for all kinds of fishing and you can switch it up depending on weather if you are flexible in what you want to fish for. Head west for flats fishing or head east to the reefs or pelagic species, best fishing in the US. If things are slow on the flats throw some shrimp around the mangroves and you will catch plenty of mangrove snapper and some little grouper, clean a snapper and hook up the carcass and you will have a lemon shark on. You can go out and camp on Little rabbit key if you prefer inshore stuff, just have good GPS so you don't beach yourself on the flats.

[Skeeter ZX190]

Thanks Justin. I didn't know if Key Largo, Islamarado, or Marathon would be the best but was leaning toward Marathon. Your advice has sealed the deal. I want so bad to catch a decent sized shark or a barracuda.

[Justin Spencer]

You should have a good chance at both!

Thanks Justin. I didn't know if Key Largo, Islamarado, or Marathon would be the best but was leaning toward Marathon. Your advice has sealed the deal. I want so bad to catch a decent sized shark or a barracuda.

[garyw]

if your looking for a place on marathon we really liked this place

http://www.cocoplum.com/

good prices, clean.

we used a charter i believe the name was seadog charters.

our first time fishing salt water. went with a group of about 10 other people. caught a bunch of yellow tail, had a great time.

hope this helps.

also the barracuda grill had some really great food.

[Bittle]

I went to the Florida Keys in 2011 with the wife and had a great time. I went fishing on a personal charter called Sniper Charters Backcountry Fishing. It was a little pricy at $500.00 for a full day of fishing but it was a great experience. $500 was for two anglers I believe. My wife was planning on going with me but got cold feet the day before. She gets sea sick pretty easy and wasn't sure about the trip.

The guide was a pretty good guy that knew his fishing. The first stop we hit, the tide was dropping and I landed my first tarpon. It was maybe 15 pounds but a ton of fun. Couldn't stay long so we left and hit a wreck until the tide got ride. There I caught yellowtail, sharks a goliath grouper (about 80 pounds) and had a cobia spool my reel on 50 pound braid before the guide could get us off the achor.

After the tide got rite we hit some smaller islands targeting snook. I hooked several snook pitching live bait into the mangroves. We hit a tower in the open water and caught a couple sea trout. I had a great trip and marked several fish off of my must catch list. I know the price was steep but I don't regret it for a minute.

I dove while I was there too, and highly reccomend it.

And I ate fresh fish for every meal. It was to die for.

One stop I would reccomend was to eat lunch at Robbies on Islamorada. The fish sandwich is great. After lunch walk out onto the dock and feed the 200 pound tarpon. Its a blast.

Wish I was going back.

Bittle