Marathon Florida Report

[Denali]

Just back in from my annual trip to the Keys. The seas were kind to us all but one day. Had a great week catching a little bit of everything. The usual suspects, snapper, grouper, cuda. A few new species as well. Finally managed to catch the elusive wahoo and also got a 34lb African Pompano. A Dog Snapper in the 15lb range and a few Tarpon in the 140lb range. We burnt about 450 gallons of fuel at about $3 a gallon (ouch). Re-booked again for next year. If you've never been there give it a try. I rented a 24ft Cape Horn center console with twin 150 Mercs for the week. Nice to come and go as you please and not be tied up into charters and guides. It is a pretty easy fishery once you learn how to catch live bait.

[HOGGEMIN]

Hey this sounds like a blast. How many times have you gone to the keys fishing. Would you go with a guide one your first trip? Thanks

HOGGEM'IN

[Pilar]

Denali, who did you rent the boat from?

I get a boat from Marathon boat leasing as part of the timeshare at Keylime resort. It runs from $500 to $700 for a week. The last one was a 21 ft open fisherman with an 88 evinrude, bimini top and a center console.

That Pompano was a monster. Where did you get the Wahoo? Did you fish the (Gulfstream) stream at all? We often pick up Sails, Dorado and Wahoo at the Washerwoman shoals and off Sombrero reef where it drops off to 150 ft or more. The fish cruise the edge of the dropoff. Also just SW of Sombrero is the entrance to the 7 mile bridge cut. All kinds of big open water fish cruise through the channel between Marathon and Pigeon Key.

Sounds like fun, I need to get back to Margaritaville soon.

[Denali]

Hogg,

This was my 7th trip to the keys. A guide certainly would not hurt a bit but the fishery is so diverse you'd have to rent a couple of them to take full advatage of what is offered there both inshore, backwaters, and offshore.
Pilar,

I stay at a place called Captain Pip's you can check them out at CaptainPips.com. They are right next to the 7 mile bridge and you get a boat with the room. Great place, clean and affordable. You walk out of your room and your boat and dock is 20 ft away. I upgrade the boat every year from the one you get with the room. The CapeHorn I got this year was dynamite. 50 gallon round baitwell in the rear, Taco outriggers, GPS, Radio, T-top with rocket launchers etc. We caught the wahoo in about 650 ft of water just inside the gulfstream. The Pompano was just off the reef edge by the 7-mile brige rubble in 120 ft of water known as the "span". All the tarpon were taken on live ballyhoo at the bridge anchored in bridge pillar 101. Lots of poons around as usual. Bait was easy to come by, pinfish and ballyhoo mostly. Saw 2 different billfish free jumping one was a sail and the other I'm guessing marlin. It's only 7 miles from the dock to the reef edge so your very close to everything.

In my mind it is cheaper then an Alaska trip and better fishing. Plus you get to wear shorts the whole time.

[Mojo]

Denali,
Sounds like you had a better time there than we all did on the Clearwater! I was in Buffalo NY all week. (Yee-haw :depressed: )

I'm trying to talk Mrs. Mojo into going next year. I'll get with you soon. :grin:

[ 06-02-2003, 11:45 AM: Message edited by: Mojo ]

[Denali]

Mojo,

We re-booked for May 8-14th for next year. Do not wait too long if you decide to go as May is a popular month for fishermen and it books fast. In my mind this is the best of all worlds as you can fish all day everyday with you own stuff. You control your own destiny, get tired of trolling offshore, no problem go catch 100 lb tarpon. Nice to have your own boat and set your own pace which with me is sunup till sundown everyday. Had fresh fish on the barbie every night and a cold frosty.

Mojo warning: No Moose Drool in Florida!

[Born to Fish]

Hey Denali - glad to hear that you had another successful trip. Awesome fish too, ...so, I suppose you're not interested in hearing about the beautiful 12-inch black crappie I was catching yesterday in Brownlee.

Dean