Keys Fishing Report

[snagged in outlet 3]

I stayed in marathon Florida, February 1 through the 10th and the weather was spectacular.   75 at night and 84 during the day.   I did not book a guided trip.   I’ve done dozens of saltwater trips and honestly they have gotten to a price I’m just not willing to pay.  🤷‍♂️.    
 

I hit several state park beaches and caught lady fish and finally a lifer jack cravelle!    About 15” and it’s crazy how hard they fight.  All my kids and even my wife had caught one before but not me.   Bahia Honda has a nice flat and that’s where I had the best luck.  

The Fugitive swim bait got absolutely tore apart but very few would get hooked.  Switched to an old twin prop bang o lure in chrome and they destroyed that too.  No pictures as I was wading far out on the flat.   Literally hundreds of yards. Sorry @Johnsfolly   

And of course we hit all the tourist stops from key Largo to Key West.  I can’t recommend it enough if you get the chance.   

[Terrierman]

Your boat would be dead nuts solid down there.  Trailer maybe.  Keys are in our top 3 places ever.  Those flats are quite something are they not?

[Johnsfolly]

1 hour ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I hit several state park beaches and caught lady fish and finally a lifer jack cravelle!    About 15” and it’s crazy how hard they fight.  All my kids and even my wife had caught one before but not me.

Congrats! You have that over me since I still haven't caught one yet. Glad that you guys had a good time. 

[dpitt]

1 hour ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I stayed in marathon Florida, February 1 through the 10th and the weather was spectacular.   75 at night and 84 during the day.   I did not book a guided trip.   I’ve done dozens of saltwater trips and honestly they have gotten to a price I’m just not willing to pay.  🤷‍♂️.    
 

I hit several state park beaches and caught lady fish and finally a lifer jack cravelle!    About 15” and it’s crazy how hard they fight.  All my kids and even my wife had caught one before but not me.   Bahia Honda has a nice flat and that’s where I had the best luck.  

The Fugitive swim bait got absolutely tore apart but very few would get hooked.  Switched to an old twin prop bang o lure in chrome and they destroyed that too.  No pictures as I was wading far out on the flat.   Literally hundreds of yards. Sorry @Johnsfolly   

And of course we hit all the tourist stops from key Largo to Key West.  I can’t recommend it enough if you get the chance.   

Love fishing the Keys, thanks for the report. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

58 minutes ago, Terrierman said:

Your boat would be dead nuts solid down there.  Trailer maybe.  Keys are in our top 3 places ever.  Those flats are quite something are they not?

I was surprised how similar the flats  were to the Bahamas, cancun and Cozumel.   And backcountry mangroves.  I was wishing I had my boat.   The water is very placid in the winter.  If anyone goes you can rent a skiff at Robbie’s on islamorada.   Which I will be doing next time.  Hopefully next January again.  
Dozens of tarpon under our dock.  No fishing on it though. 
 

[BilletHead]

2 hours ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I stayed in marathon Florida, February 1 through the 10th and the weather was spectacular.   75 at night and 84 during the day.   I did not book a guided trip.   I’ve done dozens of saltwater trips and honestly they have gotten to a price I’m just not willing to pay.  🤷‍♂️.    
 

I hit several state park beaches and caught lady fish and finally a lifer jack cravelle!    About 15” and it’s crazy how hard they fight.  All my kids and even my wife had caught one before but not me.   Bahia Honda has a nice flat and that’s where I had the best luck.  

The Fugitive swim bait got absolutely tore apart but very few would get hooked.  Switched to an old twin prop bang o lure in chrome and they destroyed that too.  No pictures as I was wading far out on the flat.   Literally hundreds of yards. Sorry @Johnsfolly   

And of course we hit all the tourist stops from key Largo to Key West.  I can’t recommend it enough if you get the chance.   

Way cool Pete,

    Living the dream!

[snagged in outlet 3]

Just now, BilletHead said:

Way cool Pete,

    Living the dream!

Thx.  One more year and I’ll be down there a lot more.   

[snagged in outlet 3]

Sharks and pelicans eating guts from the guide trips.  
 

[snagged in outlet 3]

Chickens everywhere which is cool.  This one trying to eat off my plate.  
 

[snagged in outlet 3]

Hey @fishinwrench    The dock at this place was home to about 7 or 8 guides plus the eco tour people.   No Mercury motors in the whole place.  Yamaha, Suzuki and hondas.  I asked a couple guides about Mercury and they all said NO Way!   I thought you might be interested.