Help in the middle keys

[Alley Cat]

Myself and three friends are going to Long Key in April of 2008 on a fishing trip, we have fished the last two years in the Stuart Ft. Pierce area this is the only Florida experience we have in Florida. We are bringing a 19' Twin Vee equipped with a trolling motor.

I have several questions starting with the phone numbers of some good guides.

Is there any back country in the not to far away area. (snook, redfish)?

What species are available on the flats, offshore, reef in April?

We are from the Chesapeake Bay area and any information would be greatly appreciated.

Don

[Capt Bob]

ok Don start with the links posted in the home thread sticky, then check the site boatlessfisherman.com monroe county forums...just up from Long Key at the World Wide Sportsman are a bunch of light tackle back country guides...B mail AL B he had a good trip with a guide out of Islamorada and check out Pete's posts on this site he's local also

[tycharle964]

get off this forum and get on the florida sportsman forum, do a search for ted wilson, one of the best guides down there

I have him on my speed dial and I live in Richmond, his name pops up all over the forum

[Capt Bob]

Ty if you are so enamored with the florida sportsman board? what are you doing on this one?

[tycharle964]

because I live in Virginia and want to see how the rockfishing is doing and saw this thread on the front page, when I go the the keys, I log onto Florida sportsman and ask about local knowledge down there, conditions etc., didn't you even recommend another site? why are you so enamored with it??

I don't have a loyalty to any one site, actually I could care less who uses what, but I was merely suggesting to use the florida sportsman site because most of the users actually live in florida and there are tons of guide recommendations that one can actually search through if they use the search button

given my affection for certain website, I am going to ask the Lower Keys folks on Florida sportsman where the rockfish are.

sorry to hijack the thread, but Ted is a real stand up guy, and even let me borrow rods one day when I rented a boat and told me places to go

bonefish, snook, tarpon and redfish are available...permit will still be down towards key west and moving up as the water gets warmer

ted's phone is 305-942-5224, extremely hard working, doesn't get upset and will fish for anything you ask for

[Capt Bob]

yes I do recommend various site...BUT I NEVER TELL ANYONE TO GET OFF THIS ONE...

[Alley Cat]

Capt Bob thanks for the help found a ton of information via your suggestions.

[Al B]

"bonefish, snook, tarpon and redfish are available...permit will still be down towards key west and moving up as the water gets warmer"

April will be the start of the Tarpon season, and typically the Redfish will be further north around the Everglades at this time of year.

Your Twin-V will get you to a LOT of fishing grounds in this area. From the nearshore reefs to the bluewater to the backwaters... you'll have PLENTY to fish for. If you're going to be there for a while (week +), I'd HIGHLY recommend a trip or two with a guide. I've fished the bay/barrier islands for 35+ years and learned a LOT from fishing with a guide down there... it's just "another ballgame".

Capt. Chris / Stray Cat Charters was my guy. Not fantastic fishing (due to weather/time of year... they look for water temps in the high 70s to 80 before the Tarpon are thick in the backwaters), but Chris did a great job to make sure we had a good day on the water.

[Water_boy]

Don't mind Capt Bob, I think he's just frustrated because he thinks he runs this forum and he doesn't have a boat.

I have to agree with tycharlie, floridasportsman.com has a lot of useful information. Start reading all the FAQ in the keys forum, use the search feature with a keyword "april", in March start reading the weekly reports that they post in the regional section to learn how the weather patterns effect the fishing and what's going on. Also keynoter-dot-com - Your best source of print and online news from the Florida Keys has a good fishing section.

April is a little early for offshore dolphin but it should be starting to happen by then if the wind lets up enough to allow you to get out get out there. I've found that early in the season the better dolphin are about 15 miles outside the reef, doable in a 19' cat on a nice day. There's good reef action for Snapper and Grouper and Tarpon should be going pretty good by then under the bridges.