Key West
 

We are heading down to Key West the first week of March and was looking for some fishing info. Me and the wife do a lot of fishing along the New England coast for anything from Giant Bluefin Tune to fluke on our 23ft 1972 Sceptre.
We are looking for a place to stay that might have a dock or pier to fish off first thing in the morning or at night. We looked online today and saw a few places but not sure if they have a dock or pier. Weather Station Inn, Margarita Ville, Hyatt Centric, and Marker Waterfront.
Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Cold in CT

The bad thing about that time of year, I think that is spring break. Might be crowded. I haven't been down that way in a number of years, but when we went to Key West, we usually stayed in the boat (in a cc)for 2-3 days. When we would stay at a motel, we stayed about 70 miles north. http://www.edgewaterlodge.com/lodging Don't know how they made out with the hurricane.

#1 mini-season
#2 week between Christmas and New Years
#3 spring break
#4 fantasy fest

Top three times to stay away from the Keys. #4 is only KW related and not family oriented :eek:

Thanks for the info I will check out the Edge Water Lodge. Spring Break oh yes I'm having flash backs to 1982 in Ft Lauderdale Penrods, The Button and a few a cant remember.

Holy Crap! Flashback of ‘86. One had a roof top bar. A cutie walked up and asked if she could get a snapshot with me and my roommate. Polaroid pops out the pic and she says “Five Bucks!” We laughed. She should have asked of for 5 drinks! Four bouncers escort us to a stairwell straight down to the sidewalk. WTF? On to the next bar. Wow!

Part II

Was that "cutie" during #4?

Yeah, probably one of the "Key West Wreckers" :eek::eek::rolleyes:

I think we have been down this road before here ...;)

You have been warned !!

Do not believe me ?

Dare you to "Google" Key West Wreckers Facebook.....

I booked a few night at Margarita Ville and a few nights at Edge Water sounds like a great place to relax.
I don't want to bring a ton of tackle but what are the bare necessities I would need to fish from a dock or pier. I was going to bring a couple of 7 foot medium spinning rods.

I don't know any thing about Margarita Ville but have stayed at Edgewater many times May thru Sept. During that time of the year there are silver sides and some white bait around the docks that can be cast netted.

You will need 1/4 or 5/16 mesh as they run small and will make X'mass tree mess out of a 3/8. The mang's will be there and all you need are small circle hooks #4-#2 and split shot. Also may have a shot at snook or tarpon but they are seldom.

I don't know why. but I got the impression you were dragging your Sceptre down. I liked that place because it was easy to go offshore, or the back country and I could dock my boat right at the back door to the room. You have the old bridge to fish from across the street from you. I'd probably bring some spoons or mackerel jigs, probably too early for Tarpon. Maybe rent a small boat nearby, find a patch reef and try for some Muttons.

If I trailered the Sceptre down I would NEVER leave. I would end up at Wisteria Island the rest of my life while my wife is back in CT. Working.
I will find some jigs and spoons when I get on the road from Miami. Any particular brand, size or color spoons/jigs.
How deep are the patch reefs? Do I anchor or drift? Chum?

Anchor and chum. If ballyhoos show up,you can sometimes cast net or use tiny hooks to catch them and use for bait live or cut.(plug)

I dare you??? Please don't ever do that again!

I want to thank everyone for the information on the Keys. Stayed at Margarita Ville for a few nights great place. Did the touristy stuff with wife a couple of days. Then off to the fishing grounds we go. We rent a 23 Release the first day from a guy named Rocky who had a friend name Angle that knew Coconut Eddie. Eddie sell coconuts down at the southern most point. We headed out to the Atlantic side caught a lot of yellowtail snapper 1-15lb king fish, small sharks, strawberry grouper and a few fish I have no clue what they were.
Then up to Edgewater that was another great place. Thanks natecert for the recommendation.
Rented a 19 ft Panga from a place on Duck Key. Headed out looking for Mutton on the Gulf side as recommended by bumpdraft. Went to Bamboo Banks not good there then moved to Tripod Bank where we caught muttons, lady fish, trout, mackerel, and some little silver with yellow spinny thing that was about 6 to 8 inches long that stung when poked.
Last day back to the Atlantic side in a 23 Mako. We had some live pinfish and same frozen ballys. When out deeper this time and found mangrove snappers, big yellowtail snappers, a bunchof porkies with blueish fins, bonitos, cuds. Great day.
Any idea what these are?

Sounds like you had a good time. I'm thinking the fish you're holding is a Chub. The one in the water a Porgy.

That water looks flat!

Every day the wind was less than 10knots. Is it like that year round? lol

I'm sure the tourist interests would have you to believe that, but going there this time of the year and having flat seas every day, you were blessed.