A unique website dedicated to fishing information from Florida's Northern Big Bend. This includes the area from the Econfina River west to the Apalachicola River
As mentioned recently, my wife and I just came back from a trip to Marathon, in the Florida Keys. Fishing was not what I had hoped, but the trip was good none the less and contained some memorable experiences. The first, actually began the week before the scheduled departure. I was returning from having my Yamaha serviced and ended up with a bent axle from dropping my trailer tire off the back side of a curb while making a tight turn in 5 o’clock traffic during a rain storm.
With some very valuable help from some great folks I’ve met on this forum and some good fortune, I was able to get a new axle back under my trailer in time to make the trip.
This being my first long distance run pulling the boat, I was very apprehensive and felt considerable stress both before and during the trek. Now that I’ve made it, I’m feeling much better about any future prospective trips.
The place we stayed is nicely set up for boating from your back door.
We’ve stayed before, but never had the boat along with us. We made it out twice in our boat during the trip and went night fishing one evening on the Marathon Lady (party boat). As you can see, (below) even the combined catch from the evening trip was certainly nothing to brag on.
I’ve had some really good catches on that boat in the past, so I was over due for some slim pick’ns. I did see some good catches of dolphin come in from 40 miles or so, but the gulf stream was way out and not conducive to bringing the fish in close. Actually my wife and I did pretty well on our own considering the catch on the party boat. We managed to find some good bottom in 25 to 30 ft and caught some very respectable “gruntsâ€
"Good Judgement" comes from experience, ... and a lot of that..... results from "Bad Judgement".
Sir reel wrote:As mentioned recently, my wife and I just came back from a trip to Marathon, in the Florida Keys. Fishing was not what I had hoped, but the trip was good none the less and contained some memorable experiences.
Anybody fished tke Keys lately and can offer some tips to a Panhandler?
After reading Sir Reel's post from '04, I'm ready to go. But there is that work thing. We're leaving Saturday morning for a week at Conch Key, near Marathon.
I'm mainly wondering about tackle and techniques. The FS forum has helped some. But I see a lot of posts there about tarpon, barracudas, yellowtail snappers and such. I don't see many of those in East Bay.
The wife and I have been thinking about a trip down there or Puerto Rico where I've got some friends that can get me discounted rate on hotels and what not.
In the words of the great Doc Holliday, "I'll be your huckleberry"
I haven't been in the past couple of years but I can offer a small bit of advice. Don't know if your taking a boat or not which would make some difference in that you might want to take along a boat/trolling rod along with your spinning gear. Either way, the equipment you use on the flats will work there as well. If your not familiar with the area consider taking a 1/2 day guided trip. If your going to be there in June/July the Mangroves should be spawning and they can really be a hoot especially at night. There is a party boat at Marathon called the Marathon Lady that takes day and night trips during that time of the year. The Yellow Tail should be active as well. From the shore you can usually expect Mangroves, Cuda's, Tarpon, etc. There are some bridges that you can fish from where permitted but tons of places where you can just pull off the road and throw out a line.
If you have a specific question post it here and someone will pick up on it. I know we have 4 forum members who are planning on being down there in the next few weeks and they should have some better information. It's a beautiful place even if you don't fish. Once you get to and beyond the "middle" keys the water has that great tropical color and it really is like being in a different part of the world.
"Good Judgement" comes from experience, ... and a lot of that..... results from "Bad Judgement".
Sir reel wrote:I haven't been in the past couple of years but I can offer a small bit of advice. Don't know if your taking a boat or not which would make some difference in that you might want to take along a boat/trolling rod along with your spinning gear. Either way, the equipment you use on the flats will work there as well.
Thanks, Sir. We're renting a boat, for three days, so we can explore a little. It'll probably be just enough to make us wish we had it for a week. But we want to do some sightseeing too. We used to live down in Hollywood, Fla., and went to the Keys a few times. But it's been many moons.
but I can offer a small bit of advice. Don't know if your taking a boat or not which would make some difference in that you might want to take along a boat/trolling rod along with your spinning gear. Either way, the equipment you use on the flats will work there as well. If your not familiar with the area consider taking a 1/2 day guided trip. If your going to be there in June/July the Mangroves should be spawning and they can really be a hoot especially at night. There is a party boat at Marathon called the Marathon Lady that takes day and night trips during that time of the year. The Yellow Tail should be active as well. From the shore you can usually expect Mangroves, Cuda's, Tarpon, etc. There are some bridges that you can fish from where permitted but tons of places where you can just pull off the road and throw out a line. 
But we want to do some sightseeing too. We used to live down in Hollywood, Fla., and went to the Keys a few times. But it's been many moons.