Hi Honey I'm Home

[britboard]

What a place the Florida Keys are!!, everything revolves around fishing with a few beaches to keep Lynne happy as well. The weather wasn't so kind when we first arrived (very windy) but still sunny, so that managed to keep me on-shore for the first few days casting off the boardwalk, i started to get the hang of this yankee fishing style after a bit of practice. Small hooks size2 with next to no weight baited with shrimps produced Mangrove Snappers and Grunts to 2lb (great eaters). Cut or whole Mullet or Ballyhoo with steel leaders produced various reef sharks, Sea Trout, Barracuda and Cobia with my biggest being a 22lb Bonnet-head shark that didn't enjoy being dragged from its watery home and flapped its way along the boardwalk scaring all the tourists, much to the amusement of all the locals. We mangaged to get the hook out of it after it had calmed down and one of the locals took it to the bait shop for the scales as it was close to the state record of 23lbs 11oz and apparently they eat quite well

 

Managed to get out on a boat for a couple of days Reef fishing, the water was still too big to get out to the Gulf-stream for a trophy fish. The reefs fish well though with various methods working well, 2/0 hooks and shrimps bottom fished for Snappers, Jacks, Porgy, Grouper and Jorobada best being a Mutton Snapper at 21lb on light tackle which gave a good fight and took about 10mins to land with about 30 laps of the boat (amazing eater). Bigger hooks with tail-hooked live Ballyhoo brings in the Spanish Mackerel, lots of nasty teeth and a good fighter.

 

All-round a great place good hotels, great resturants and brilliant fishing. The boat hire place i mentioned in an earlier post was as good as their word and a 23ft Angler with 225hp on the back cost me only $235 for 2 days and i could of got it for $1100 for 8 days, Bump and Jump boat rentals on Key Largo if anyones planning a trip.

 

I think we should do a club trip out there as i was talking to some of the realtors out there and could rent an 8 bed house with its own boat dock for 2 weeks for around $2500 which split between 8 makes for a cheap deal in great surroundings.

 

Simon L

Edited December 19, 2006 by britboard

[Maverick Martin]

Hi Simon

 

Good to have you back and glad you holiday lived up to your expectations.

 

As you say its an amazing place for an angler, must get myself back over there

 

Martin

[Swainiac]

Hi Simon, welcome back. As you say, Florida sure is a great place, and everything seems to revolve around the water in some way. i find it amazing the way they charge for stuff out there, from rental homes, hire cars, or even boats. Really cheap, and with the current exchange rate, very reasonble indeed. (Whenever the rate gets to around $1.85 to the pound, I'm down in Marks and Spencers getting my $ Travellers Cheques!)

 

I think that it would be hard to beat pound for pound, both fish weight wise, and enny wise, regarding a holliday abroad. And the 8 bed condos are a real possibilty, for groups too!

 

Rich

[Bob F]

Nice report, Simon.

 

Welcome back.

 

BF

[duncan]

glad you had a great time Simon - I'm heading out to the Tampa area - Sand Key - for a week late Feb; and this time I do get to fish !

[Swainiac]

Duncan, where on Sand Key will you be staying?? Its a meagre two minute jaunt on the "Jolley Trolley" from where I usually reside. Should you need a guide whilst there, I will give my pal a shout........he needs little persuasion to get out!

 

Rich