Planning a KEYS fishing trip!

[ttink757]

Myself and two other buddies are planning a trip down there to the keys from Va Beach. Since it is such a long trip, we might not plan the trip in advance, we might just watch the weather and once the wind looks good, leave on the Wednesday and stay until Sunday, between March and April. We will be trailoring a 18.5' CC w/ an 175 on the back. I was hoping someone could give us some tips, help, and advice on where to stay, fish, get bait, and locations of boat ramps? I have been to the keys 4 times and driven each time, so I know the place a little bit. Are there any websites or does anyone have any GPS locations/maps of fishing spots/wrecks/good fishing reefs? We are trying to catch tarpon, macks, grouper, yellow tail, sharks, and dolphin, sails, blackfin if the winds are just right, just about anything and have fun doing it. I kinda have a filling that we might have to plan a little in advance due to a place to stay. We also were thinking about getting a guide the first day there to help us out with rules and hopefully point us in the right direction for the rest of the trip so we can have some success, any takers or does anyone have any info on who we can contact? Is live bait or cut bait the best to use? I have read that anchoring up and cumping is a good idea, is this true and if so, where, on reefs or by bridges? We are also driving a diesel truck down there, is it a problem finding diesel fuel down there in the keys because I remember in the Miami it was. Thanks in advance for helping us out.

[Capt Bob]

did you review the info on the homepage sticky?????

[Captain Bill Welder]

I doubt I would live long enough to answer all your questions.
March will be windy.
March in a small boat will be a crap shoot.
Dolphin in March while possible is not likely.

April will be windy.

The last part of April we catch some of the biggest dolphin of the year just 15 miles from the head pin.

If you fish the reef you chum. No chum no fish.

Pinfish can be caught on almost any flat in 3 foot of water using chum and #10 sabiki rigs cut in half and tipped with tiny pieces of squid.

If fishing the reef don't worry about someone else's numbers. Start at the deep end of the reef and work back in shallow criss crossing until you find fish. 80' to 40' somewhere you will find yellowtails. Deeper water better fish. When you find the yellowtails every thing else will find you with CHUM.

Anchoring on the reef you will need a 5 lb rock hook with 8 foot of chain rigged for wrecks. Best to use an anchor ball especially if rough. Leave your Danforth anchor home.

That being said here is plan B.

All of the above if the winds are calm.
If your stay is at least the 3rd week in April or later you can fish the bridges in a small boat no matter how hard the wind blows. You could easily fish the Bahia Honda bridge for tarpon and permit in 30+ kt winds in a small boat. Tarpon will be stacked up with an occasional permit both eating small blue crabs bought locally.

[captainbilly]

Thanks for the info, I will be at Cudjoe in June. Do you think a greenfield anchor would do OK for the reef?

[Captain Bill Welder]

I have no idea what a Greenfield anchor is. If it is a fluke type anchor like a Danforth it will work well once. The reef is littered with fluke type anchors.

I am not that smart. Why anyone would use an anchor made for sand and mud bottom on hard rocky bottom is beyond my comprehension.

A 5# galvanized rock hook or grapnel anchor is about $20.

[fordracing]

May,Big Pine Key Fishing Lodge!

[L HOLMES]

Wow thats a long way to trailer a boat for a short visit. Wonder if you wouldnt do better fishing with a local guide and or renting a small boat once your down there? Im pretty sure I could find some fish down there but Im equally shore I could run aground a few dozen times while learning the local waters. Local knowledge is hard to beat until you learn that area and the fishing a bit. There is a fine line between fishing and sitting in a boat. IMHO

Capt. Bill is right about April being windy. I tried to fish with him in 2005 and it blew 20 mph out of the north east all week & we never did get to fish together. I finally begged a Capt. I met at Conchy Joes tackle shop to take me fishing in the wind my last day there. We had a blast! The fishing there is world class. Even if the glamour specices like tarpon and permit dont cooperate there are plenty of other fish that will. I my opinion the best way to approach fishing there is "opportunity fishing" catch what presents itself to you and enjoy yourself. Ladyfish, snappers, jacks, sharks, and cudas are vastly under rated! Especially the cudas. IMHO

Capt. Bill: Im off 7 days from April 18th thru the 24th. How would that week be for tarpon around the bridges? Too early?

[ttink757]

Thanks for all the info. We have been thinking about and not sure about the spring, we might just stick around here or head somewhere closer because we know we are heading down there for a week between christmas and new years. But again thanks and might ask for some fishing info for the winter (or what we call winter) time down there at a later time. Does anything run off shore during that time of the year down there?

[Capt Bob]

we are getting some really good sailfish action right now along with big king mack's .....check the reports on the weekly fisherman link