Heading down that way for 2 weeks starting on 2-13-04. Any heads-up on good guys to fish with much apprecitated!! Thought I'd try the Off-shore fishing as well as the Flats. Any suggestions as to a place to stay....? Right now all I have are air-tickets, 2.2k and a wife (low-maintenance) who likes to sit by the pool and read, and 11 year old who loves to swim, and I mean swim all day.......

I went there several years ago. Can't remember what the name of the motel complex we stayed at but it had a pool and such and was pretty reasonable.
Quite a few of them around Islamorada. They also had a big walkway that went right out in the Atlantic that was cool.

We fished 5 days for Tarpon out of Bud and Marys Marina. They are the bigtime guiding outfit there and are on the left side of the highway as you a driving towards Key West.

They have the flats type boats and the offshore boats there.

We fished with a guide by the name of Richie Amoratti and was a pretty good guide but not to talkative. We fished for Tarpon with floats and live Mullet and was not to exciting until you "jumped" one then all heck broke loose. Caught some Tarpon and Barracuda.
I got one at 150 pounds and took 65 minutes to land. Man, they can jump 15 feet straight up and you can hear their gills rattlin'.

Way to much heat for me wearing levi's, flannel shirt and a coyboy hat. If I went back I would get some cooler clothing.

Have a good time and take lotsa pictures. I took a bunch and enjoy looking at them from time to time.

fp

Hey FP, thanks!.. if you remember any details post them, I need all the help I can get....

Tarpon don't start kicking int he keys untill about april so I would think of different fishery if some one trys to sell tarpon fishing to youwhile your there it is more than likely a boat ride!!! near shore small tuna fishing is usually cheap and pretty fast and fun I will try to get you a name before I leave for Ixtapa on monday!!!PEACE!

Fastwater, I don't care a lick for Tarpon, to me they are just really big air-blowing herring. I'm after the tuna and snapper to bring home, sail's, redfish and bones to C&R. Cobia and Kingfish (wahoo)..? I know nothing about, are they keepers or C&R......?.........

Wahoo, or Ono in Hawaii, are excelent for the table. They are also one of the, if not the fastest fish in the world.
Kingfish should be prevalent off the keys in late winter.
I fished Islamorada in April of '02 with some friends from south florida, but have no rec'ds on guides or lodging. Locals were very friendly, and the fishing was great in the spring.

Gotta guide reccomendation from Rob Endsley, Jack Backus @ fishme.com Anyone...?

See if you can't reach Richard Stanzcyk who owns Bud&Mary's Marina in Islamorada. They must have a website. I don't think any of it is cheap, but they have charter boats for reef fishing, offshore boats, and flats boats.

Be aware that many charter skippers expect to keep the catch, which they sell to restuarants, etc. so be sure to make it clear that you expect to keep your catch.

Chrome, this should keep you busy for a while, http://www.flyfisherman.com/florida/ . I'll be there from the 4th to the 14th, probably hunting Tuna and a few bones up on the flats.

Happy reading,

PD

PD, too bad you will be leaving the day after I get there!! Hope you do well on the tuna & bone's Thanks for the fishing-site. Looks like I'll be staying in Marathon, Islamorada was all booked-up......

Was there last year at this time, Go to Bud and Mary's and they will dial you in, then go to Woody's for the night time entertainment or to the Tiki Bar, the place just rules!!!
I want to live there someday.
Peace Superfly

Bud and Marys is the place you can rent boats there also so if they hook you up with a guide and what ever you do doesnt seem to complex you could go out and repeat fairly cheap marathon is not that far from ismadora if I remember correctly maybe 20 miles so should be doable!