Middle Keys Fishing Reports

[Chevy Juan]

Thanks for the report and yea as the guys have already mentioned it does happen at times unfortunately.

I love Ch5 as well, just depends who and how long I'll be fishing the bridges is what will sometimes determine where I go. Regardless, still a great bridge, if you can, which I'm sure it does help, try fishing the weekdays.

[ringonose]

The fact that I went on a weekend was by chance and my schedule, I usually avoid fishing popular places on weekends, period. But yeah the channel five bridge had some characters there last weekend. I don't get why people are destructive like that. Come on, we're sharing a public place to go fishing. So what goes on through people's minds when they slam they're car door into another persons car parked right next to them? No use trying to figure it out. One thing is for certain, those three bridges, ch 2, 5, and long are great. I'd bring the crap vehicle but it's not as comfy for the long drive down, nor as reliable.
Anytime there is anything free and public, there seems to be people around ready top ruin it for others. That behavior can result in a loss of access to certain great places. (Nile bridge ring a bell anyone?)

This forum is great for like minded individuals who CARE about where we fish and the condition of the places we're lucky enough to fish on. cheers for that

[cudaman]

YUUUUUUUUUUUUP!

[Chevy Juan]

Thats just unfortunately the people that live in this world man. And honsetly forget em', keep on truckin', do your thing, fish and kick it with good people and the rest is history man.

[ZacUk]

Hi guys, im coming over from the Uk next week for a vacation but planning to fish a lot of it. Just wondering if the tackle shop is marathon sells live bait? eg live shrimp? Ill be staying at conch key, also is the shop any good? Sorry if im being a pain in the ass! Any help will be greatly appreciated, Thankyou, Zac

[cudaman]

You will find live shrimp even at some gas stations. yes the tackle shop in Conch Key will have live bait. You can also catch it your self with unbaited sabiki's or baited with squid. With unbaited just look for the schools of sardines and baited look for the patches of grass to get pin fish. Good luck!

[ZacUk]

You will find live shrimp even at some gas stations. yes the tackle shop in Conch Key will have live bait. You can also catch it your self with unbaited sabiki's or baited with squid. With unbaited just look for the schools of sardines and baited look for the patches of grass to get pin fish. Good luck!

Ah sweet! What is the name of the shop in conch key if you dont mind me asking? Is there a chance of any sharks over there this time of year? thats my main goal, the live shrimp are for the snapper to keep me busy!

[cudaman]

I don't re,e,ber the name but it's at the boat rental place. Here are the names of some other ones in Marathon:

Big Time Discount Bait and Tackle
Captain Hooks

And this one is in Isla Morada right before Channel #2: Caloosa Cove marina <-- They always have live shrimp and blue crabs, but don't quote me on this, LOL

[ZacUk]

Thanks cudaman, let's hope that long key will produce whilst I'm there. What could I expect this time of year? I normally fish off anglins in ft lauderdale, so this will be a little different.

For the sharks am I right in saying I should head towards the centre of the bridge or is closer to shore my best bet? I cannot wait its like christmas over again!!

[PhishingPhanatic]

Sharks are all over the bridges, if they are around, they'll find your bait. I would fish closer to the ends, because it makes it easier to walk them down to the seawall and remove the hooks for a clean release, and you don't have to leave them with 20 feet of line and leader.

[gruntking]

Sharks are all over the bridges, if they are around, they'll find your bait. I would fish closer to the ends, because it makes it easier to walk them down to the seawall and remove the hooks for a clean release, and you don't have to leave them with 20 feet of line and leader.

now what are you going to do when this guy dose walk one down an try's to unhook it an gets a few fingers chomped

hey bro if your going to shark it up down south i would say use light wire number ten an lil 9/0 hooks dont walk them down but do try to pop the line instead of cuting it

[GO4EM]

now what are you going to do when this guy dose walk one down an try's to unhook it an gets a few fingers chomped

Shake his other hand?

[fishaddict0916]

Very nice go4em!!

[cudaman]

Sharks are all over the bridges, if they are around, they'll find your bait. I would fish closer to the ends, because it makes it easier to walk them down to the seawall and remove the hooks for a clean release, and you don't have to leave them with 20 feet of line and leader.

Just what he said. You can get carcasses from the marinas, just ask the boat captains nicely and they will point you to the garbage can that has the carcasses. Some will ask you for 5 or ten bucks. It's worth it. Usually boats come back around 1pm and 5 to 6 pm go at those time and you will get fresh carcasses for shark bait.

[ZacUk]

I understand the welfare of the fish is most important, and its great to see, wish people were more like this in the Uk.

Ive had passed experiance with sharks up in Ft Lauderdale off Anglins, but never been on my line, ive always beached them for my friends. I just hope the keys will help me land my first proper one!

[ringonose]

I understand the welfare of the fish is most important, and its great to see, wish people were more like this in the Uk.

Ive had passed experiance with sharks up in Ft Lauderdale off Anglins, but never been on my line, ive always beached them for my friends. I just hope the keys will help me land my first proper one!

My friend from the UK, I don't know where you live in Florida or elsewhere, but if you want some easy peasy shark fishing, just wait a few more weeks into March and April and fish off the beaches in Palm Beach (West Palm). Another sure fire bet is off the beach in Jupiter, (away from the life guards). Catch yourself a blue runner (too easy to do there, just put some shrimp or cut bait on your line and you'll get one) cut it and let it bleed just a bit, rig yourself up and use a nice fat balloon as a float. The balloon will also take your bait out there with the waves. When you get to Jupiter, go to the A1A and park at Loggerhead, there is a beach there and in the late winter early spring you can see the sharks pass by. NO piers, no long drives down to the keys, no bridges, just you, a nice soft sandy beach and shark fishing! Try the beaches in Riviera as well as Palm Beaches. ALWAYS sharks around man, you can beach them, then let 'em go!

[ZacUk]

I'm from Wales, and I'm visiting on vacation for two weeks. That's the only window I've got to do some serious fishing, fishing over here is dying a death, go a whole year without anything over 3lbs.

If I do eventually hook a shark then by the best of my ability and my friends we'll do our best to release the fish whatever happens.

[gruntking]

I'm from Wales, and I'm visiting on vacation for two weeks. That's the only window I've got to do some serious fishing, fishing over here is dying a death, go a whole year without anything over 3lbs.

If I do eventually hook a shark then by the best of my ability and my friends we'll do our best to release the fish whatever happens.

what size reel do you plan on sharking with ?

[ZacUk]

I'm from Wales, and I'm visiting on vacation for two weeks. That's the only window I've got to do some serious fishing, fishing over here is dying a death, go a whole year without anything over 3lbs.

If I do eventually hook a shark then by the best of my ability and my friends we'll do our best to release the fish whatever happens.

what size reel do you plan on sharking with ?

The biggest one ive got is a tld25 Leverdrag, im not sure if you get them over in the states b ut they are more towards the Uk Market what people use for Blue sharks and porbeagles on the boat, it holds upto 500 of 50lb bs, i know im going in pretty undergunned ive seen some of the stuff you guys use. Matched up with a 50lbs class Exage STC Trolling rod (Travel rod, 6 or 7 pieces i cannot remember)

[NICK123]

hahahaah zack man u gotta hit me up il put u on the 12 o ive been in the keys everyweekend killing fish when u come will do a killer trip

[ZacUk]

Yo Nick hows it going? Long time no see! Im definately on for a trip. Message me on facebook or something and we'll sort something out ill be there from the 13th until the 28th! Keep in touch!

[lucky]

I'm from Wales, and I'm visiting on vacation for two weeks. That's the only window I've got to do some serious fishing, fishing over here is dying a death, go a whole year without anything over 3lbs.

Too true Zac - shore fishing here in the UK is getting pretty dire.

[Wifehatesmefishing]

Hit the seven mile bridge this morning and caught the end of the outgoing into the incoming. Keeper grey snapper was on the menu for brunch today

[uglycardman]

Vaca cut trip on 2-10, ran into some guys from the forum at jacks.. sry i cant remember your forum names hope you had a good trip they were going permit fishing.. I had a good day of fishing we caught a bunch of 16 - 18 inch black groupers a few big jacks, an eel and 5 keeper snappers. the only bad thing about the trip was ...I was reminded of why i stopped using eagle claw hooks.. i had 2 hook ups with big fish and when i put some pressure on the fish my hooks broke in half....ugh... from now on i will NEVER buy eagle claw hooks i'll spend 2 more dollars and buy owner hooks but it was nice to get out fishing again it was 4 months since the last time i was down there .

[Green Tide]

nice fish i got a couple of eels too

[Swordslayer71]

Good job on catching some keepers. I think that's the first picture of a hooked eel I've seen where it's not in a ball.....hate those things.