Page 2 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast
Results 21 to 40 of 61

Thread: The Keys...Questions

  1. #21
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Fort Kickass
    Posts
    50,993

    Default

    I'm locked into Key Colony The second week of August. Eff mini season. I dont need to go making some florida yankee into a chum ball.

    Driving through the night, is kinda my style.

    Have gotten some good info. Lobster is no longer a concern.

    Bait is a concern. I have a 30 gallon raw water livewell. How much into bait will I be from the bait shops? Been told to leave my cast nets at home. Jig up greenies? What about tackle? Lots of terminal stuff, sure. What's outrageous there, that I can bring fairly cheap from here.
    "Rivers and the inhabitants of the watery elements are for wise men to contemplate and for fools to pass by without consideration" -Izaak Walton

  2. #22
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Charleston, SC
    Posts
    8,491

    Default

    Should be able to fill the boat with yellowtail.

  3. #23
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    spartanburg
    Posts
    4,437

    Default

    Went last August, stayed on gulf side of Marathon, yellowtails were hard to come by, dolphin were not at 23 miles, ballyhoo. Saw some pnuts within sight of land.
    Low country redneck who moved north

  4. #24
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Mount Pleasant
    Posts
    417

    Default

    If you can get your hands on a grinder I would grind some menhaden and freeze them into your own chum blocks. Also bring some frozen whole to cut for chum and bring your own ballyhoo if you plan to troll. That will save you a decent amount of money if you plan to yellowtail fish a lot. You will burn through a ton of ice. If you can fill a big coffin cooler to get you through the first few days it will help. We bring all of our meats to cook from home. Quality meat down there is expensive. Buy snacks, condiments, etc once you get there. Marathon has a Publix for groceries.

  5. #25
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Mount Pleasant
    Posts
    417

    Default

    Also bring your flounder gigging lights and look into bully netting lobsters.

  6. #26
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Location
    Lexington, SC
    Posts
    20,832

    Default

    I'm diggin' this, but it'll be Summer 2017
    "Only accurate rifles are interesting " - Col. Townsend Whelen

  7. #27
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    FROG LEVEL
    Posts
    23,785

    Default

    I will ride with ya
    Gettin old is for pussies! AND MY NEW TRUE people say like Capt. Tom >>>>>>>>>/
    "Wow, often imitated but never duplicated. No one can do it like the master. My hat is off to you DRDUCK!"

  8. #28
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Greenville
    Posts
    30

    Default

    We stayed in Marathon for 2 weeks on the cheap by picking up a timeshare sub-lease. Nice place on the gulf side, with a dock.

    If you try to go for mini season and drive in the daytime, hope ya like traffic
    .

  9. #29
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    spartanburg
    Posts
    4,437

    Default

    I don't recommend taking any food, we did, truck load, it aint that much different in Marathon.
    Low country redneck who moved north

  10. #30
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    spartanburg
    Posts
    4,437

    Default

    Please share Lag wagon info on this sub lease!
    Low country redneck who moved north

  11. #31
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    charleston
    Posts
    8,600

    Default

    I have trailered to florida dozens of time for bass tourneys- always made it there fine but never left there without losing a tire or bearing.

    I stayed on Duck Key a few years ago and slayed the fish from a yak inshore- and smoked the sails on a charter out of Islamorada

    Duck key was pretty laid back but close enough to marathon or isla if you wanted to go to either

  12. #32
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    on call 24/7
    Posts
    2,307

    Default

    Key Colony is a layed back place I would recomend eating at the sun set bar & grill at the start of 7 mile bridge

  13. #33
    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Location
    Florence
    Posts
    9,026

    Default

    Either write things worth reading, or do things worth writing.

  14. #34
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    united states of america
    Posts
    21,587

    Default

    Dang dt. At first I thought that was a self portrait. Then, luckily I remembered there wasn't near enough glitter on those shorts for you to wear them.

  15. #35
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Location
    Columbia, SC
    Posts
    47,894

    Default

    (courtesy laugh)
    Ugh. Stupid people piss me off.

  16. #36
    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Location
    Florence
    Posts
    9,026

    Default

    Said the Earnhard fan
    Either write things worth reading, or do things worth writing.

  17. #37
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    McClellanville
    Posts
    2,810

    Default

    I'm going to piggy back on this thread. I'm taking the family down to Hawk's Cay the third week of June. I'm bringing a kayak for me and the boy to tool around in and I'll probably do a day rental for a boat, but more to cruise around with the girls in tow, and maybe do a little fishing. I'm trying to figure out what my best bet is for a half day charter for myself and my 10 year old, as well as welcome any tips for kayak accessible opportunities around Duck Key. He would love the opportunity to try for dolphin/sails, etc, but I'm not looking to drop a grand on a charter. What kind of options are there for near shore/reef stuff.

  18. #38
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    Wateree, South Carolina
    Posts
    48,812

    Default

    You can rent a boat and catch all the dolphin you want on your own striper rods with a few lures and ballyhoo from any baitshop down there. It isnt remotely difficult and you dont need a bunch of offshore stuff or experience to follow a weedline and chunk cut bait to school dolphin.

  19. #39
    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Location
    Florence
    Posts
    9,026

    Default

    The Keys are fairly dull without a boat. Nearly any size can take the inshore chop most days.

    Everywhere has a learning curve. Get a guide doing what you want to learn and try it yourself.

    Kayak Gulf side of grassy.

    Yellowtail 75 to 100 ft on Atlantic. I can give you suggestions where.

    The mangrove snapper in the canals are fun but smarter than you think. Fluorocarbon small hooks no weight.

    You can always entertain a kid at 25 ft coral reefs on grunts. Cyber scout. Go to waypoints. let the wife drag you in the water with ski rope while you snorkel. Stop when you see fish.

    Quote Originally Posted by Lowcountry Boy View Post
    I'm going to piggy back on this thread. I'm taking the family down to Hawk's Cay the third week of June. I'm bringing a kayak for me and the boy to tool around in and I'll probably do a day rental for a boat, but more to cruise around with the girls in tow, and maybe do a little fishing. I'm trying to figure out what my best bet is for a half day charter for myself and my 10 year old, as well as welcome any tips for kayak accessible opportunities around Duck Key. He would love the opportunity to try for dolphin/sails, etc, but I'm not looking to drop a grand on a charter. What kind of options are there for near shore/reef stuff.
    Last edited by Duck Tape; 04-30-2016 at 12:12 PM.
    Either write things worth reading, or do things worth writing.

  20. #40
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    McClellanville
    Posts
    2,810

    Default

    Yeah, I've fished for dolphin out of Marathon, but we were going out 60 miles to the Hump. Wasn't sure if there would be any chance of success closer in that time of year. I'd like to try for some yellow tail or grouper if possible, putting the kid on a sail would be awesome.

    We'll probably spend the mornings dicking around close to the resort in the kayak and then set aside a day for more serious pursuits.

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •