Marathon Help

[Alley Cat]

Three friends and myself we be in Marathon for the month of April 2010. We will be fishing from a 22' Grady White and hope to do some offshore fishing for Blackfin Tuna and Dolphin we have no experience with these species could anyone point me to some good information. We also will be doing some some chumming for yellow tail and others which we have done in the past. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

[Capt Bob]

I lived there until Sept of this year so info will be from past experience...Tuna ...can't go wrong with fishing the hump...some chum and chunk but the larger ones are taken on Butterfly jigs, color will vary with water clarity and mood and whims of the fish...or on live pinfish ...you can catch all the pinfish you want on #8 hooks with either a tiny piece of squid or ballyhoo,,,put some chum in near a grassy bed and they should swarm all over you...the Blackfin's fight tremenously hard on 20-30 lb tackle...Dolphin will be anywhere from the edge of the reef out to the Gulf Stream any where from 12-18 miles offshore...Mr Blue Marlin will usually have a following out there as well...and WAHOO and large King Mackeral

The Tackle Box as well as Big Time Tackle will have accurate as well as up to date info and any bait you might need...take fresh ballyhoo, live shrimp and pinfish...and if chumming on the reef take 4 times the amount of chum you THINK you need...when the chum ends so does the yellow tail bite...don't count out the grouper as well..Goliaths are everywhere,,,catch 2-3 and you'll never want to hook another one...go to the restaurant/bar on Key colony one night and pick the minds of the capt's braggin there (after a few beers the info gets pretty loose) The BIG sharks should be well represented then as well ...and the Sail bite should still be hot depending on water temp

don't forget the licenses and stamps etc FWC are not forgiving people..get it on line before going

Island Fish House and Tiki Bar as well as The Wreck and Galley are my two favorite places in fact my VA chs Bay Lic plate is in the Tiki as well as my Viet vet plate in Porky's II another favorite hole of mine...at the Island say Hi to Matt/April/Rusti/Jen/Krissy/Kristen/Amber...and if feeling brave give Susie a gentle smack on the butt from me... at the Wreck ...Amber & Rachel (blonde/brunette..in that order...night bartenders)///just tell 'em the guy who moved to Las Vegas sent ya...they'll know who ya mean...the Island has a cool website as well

[cirwin]

Going there for the month of March fishing out of 22" Boston Whaler. Been there once before and had a blast, can't wait to get back!

[Alley Cat]

Don't catch them all, leave some for our trip in April!

[Alley Cat]

Captian Bob thank you for your help!

[tmri]

My trip this past October had to be cancelled due to my wife having a severe fall that
resulted in 5 screws in the left elbow. Anyway will hopefully be down to Islamorada/Marathon in March for family vacation. Plan on bringing the 18' flats boat to take to try my luck with my son out on the flats-bay side & oceanside. Any bits of info would be appreciated to head me in the right direction. Haven't been to Marathon fishing since 1997. Thanks in advance & you guys have a great Thanksgiving holiday. Mike

[Alley Cat]

We stayed last year in Long Key and had a blast it was our first fishing trip tp the Keys. We had a 19' Twin Vee and it worked well for us. We fished the Gulf side for Snapper and some evenings for Barracuda, other days we went out to Tennesee Reef and fished for Yellow Tail and whatever. Sometime we just drifed the patch reefs and caught many different species probaly over a hundred Groupers but only 7 that were over 24'".

This trip we will be at Marathon on a canal with a 25' Grady White (grew from a 22 footer) so we hope to be able to go offshore more. Our boat is equiped with electric downriggers, outriggers live wells fish boxes the whole works. It may be in our best interest to get some local help when we get there if we can (maybe a guide). We will be there for the whole month of April so this may be wise.

[Capt Bob]

get a hold of John Riegor at Turn Key Marine on Duck Key...he has a couple of guides out of his place and keeps in touch with several others including the guy on ESPN w/ the Tail Walker show down there in the keys...his phone at the marina is...305-289-0161...in fact I was just down there last week for 3 days had another flight that transfered in Ft Laud and ended up letting them bump me in exchange for two round triptickets and a later flight so I took 3 days just to goof off there...( it's not like I don't know the area) Duck Key Marina is in the same area as Hawks Cay...straight in Past the Hawks Cay Resort entrance and turn right just before the first "hump" bridge...got an OK deli there as well if ya go at lunch time///there's a capt Sandez ( spelling??) who advertises "catch more fish w/me" AVOID HIM LIKE THE PLAGUE...touch base with Danny at his rod and reel repair shop across from the airport right next to Stouts restaurant (breakfast / lunch place) Danny is usually up on fish info ...tell him Capt Bob said Hi!...if he's got info he'llspill it...breakfast at the Wooden Spoon near south end of airport( bright yellow bldg) or Stuffed pig down on corner of 33rd st (across from hospital)....if ya want a breakfast sandwich try the Spooner at the wooden spoon ...I had them add tomato and it was great..2 eggs/grilled maple ham/bacon/swiss and cheddar cheese on grilled Texas Toast...I'd get it like 4 days a week and take it to work...it is that good...there are free charts available at various shops as well as fishing news type papers ...grab them all....Ramps...new one next to Island rest just south of grassy key, new public ramp down 33rd st...turn rt at stuffed pig...also on aviation behind airport...turn right at the end of the airport going south bound...follow road around to the right ramp is about...1/4 mile on left...only ocean side ramp that I can still vouch for is at Unique Marine right next to the Home Depot