Keys Vacation - Islamorada

[RidgeRunner]

Long-winded post, what do you expect I been gone a whole week.
Nice but Very WET. It rained nearly every day. It would start at 0400 and last until 1700 nearly every day. We had one very nice trip to Hens and Chickens reef where we had a 2 hour snorkeling adventure. Otherwise we mainly stuck to the beach at Founders Park where there is a couple of rock jetties we like to explore and swim.
We were positioned in a very nice canal home on the Florida Bay side of US1, from the kitchen I could see the rear 2/3 of the Sea Hunter boat that they cut in two pieces as a promotion stunt. It is parked alongside the Plantation Boat Mart facility. Holy cow, they have no less than 5 Quad 350 Yamaha rigged center consoles sitting out front. Hydra-Sports and Sea Hunters. Awesomely vulgar display of hardware.
What else did we do? We got to watch a Cesena 162 do a take-off and landing at close range. Landing gear in the sea grapes on approach. Then there were the various critters, swimming and walking that were always fun to observe. The one morning we got to go to the reef was 6 to 8ft and more than a little uncomfortable, no we weren't in the V-20 for that one. We were in a nicely rigged 27 Conch and it was tossing us around like we were on a surfboard. After taking a small one over the bow we decided to move closer in. It was still dicey, current would not cooperate,(into the wind) boated a small mutton and a yellowtail. Another afternoon, Melissa and I had a fishing derby where she cleaned my clock catching six fish to my 1. Ended up with some Mangroves and some gray snapper for the knife. I will promise some pics for later. Even a video or two as I figure that out..

[phatdaddy]

i'm jealous, we used to do a 2 week trip to the keys every 2 years, but have not been able to go for while. the weather is always a gamble anytime of year. we went one time and never took the boat off the trailer. sounds like you made the best of it, congrats

[RidgeRunner]

I here you there Phat. Here is a 8 minute boat ride from Tavernier Creek to the backside of Founders Park, Islamorada,FL. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPJ3ldSg32o
Gopro3 Only 480p? WTF? OK I am still learning.

[RidgeRunner]

Hogfish and other tropicals
http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_annotate?video_referrer=watch&v=6lhZOS6M-gU

[RidgeRunner]

Video of shallow water rock jetty, The sound of lobster antenna on the GOPRO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdcX0Vf60QU Maybe a picture or two later on after sleep.

[RidgeRunner]

OK this is why we're all here..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hE9_cvZMTnU

Das Boat.

[reelapeelin]

I here you there Phat. Here is a 8 minute boat ride from Tavernier Creek to the backside of Founders Park, Islamorada,FL. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPJ3ldSg32o
Gopro3 Only 480p? WTF? OK I am still learning.


NICE VIDEO!!...actually I like 480...loads nicely and makes great viewing...I see she'll still blow yer hair back!!...SWEET!:happy:

[reelapeelin]

OK this is why we're all here..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hE9_cvZMTnU

Das Boat.


So freakin' FAST ya gotta sneak up on it to take a picture...lol...:haha:

[reelapeelin]

Video of shallow water rock jetty, The sound of lobster antenna on the GOPRO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdcX0Vf60QU Maybe a picture or two later on after sleep.


I could do that every day for the rest of my life...looks like the flats on back side of Cape San Blas...:happy:

[ssiredfish]

Nice man!!! 5 WEEKS TO GO FOR ME!!!!! Man I cant wait to get down there!!!!

Looks like yall had fun....the hogfish video wouldnt load for me

[RidgeRunner]

Ssiredfish, IDK why it won't load for you, I just viewed it again.. Anyone else?
You like shooty hogfish, NO? LOL. Seriously, I tried to feed them into the boat and we just didn't have any takers. No spears for that little section of rubble. Wish I was going back in 5 weeks. Or even this Wed. and Thurs. for Lobster mini. BUT- From what I could tell from the unscientific headcount, the lobstering is not going to be as good this year..

Me too Reel, I would love the opportunity to do that 24/7/365. I only took the GOPRO on the last day and that was after a pretty bad storm the night before so the water was a bit cloudy. It just isn't automatic yet. Too bad because the snorkeling on the patch reef was much better, schools of glass minnows, giant brain coral, fans and tons more fish with visibility to 60 to 80 feet. Snapper, Trigger, Tarpon, Barracuda, Parrotfish, Cowfish, Spadefish, Angel fish, Blenny, more than I could even name. Slow starter you know..

[ssiredfish]

Watched it off your channel but the link still didnt work. Looked like a keeper Hog.....Nice lil pile to visit....

Do I like shootin hogfish?!?!?!?! Its only my second favorite thing to do right behind eatin em!!!!

Thats a bummer about the storms and vis, I hop we get lucky with the weather. I dont see how the lobsterin could be much worse than it was last year but man I hope it picks up!!!!!

[reelapeelin]

Hogfish and other tropicals
http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_annotate?video_referrer=watch&v=6lhZOS6M-gU


I cut and paste the link into YT search w/no joy...boo hoo...poor me

[RidgeRunner]

Hogfish wasn't very big, there is the block for scale. Lets see if this link works.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lhZOS6M-gU

[randlemanboater]

My crew was in Big Pine Key the week of the 4th....same weather you had, I would estimate at least a foot of rain fell while we were their and the wind blew a steady 20 to 25 all week, day and night.

On a positive note...no bugs!

[tartuffe]

I've been going to Marathon first week of November for the last 32 years. This year I will be spending 2 nights in Islamorada during my annual stay, to get......(shrill screams) married.

Glad that is early in our trip so I can enjoy the remainder.

[inaforty]

Great job with the Go Pro!
I'm still learning to use ours..
Would love to spend some time down there in the Keys.

Did you use the flat lense to do the underwater shots??

[RidgeRunner]

I've been going to Marathon first week of November for the last 32 years. This year I will be spending 2 nights in Islamorada during my annual stay, to get......(shrill screams) married.

Glad that is early in our trip so I can enjoy the remainder.

32 years? Married? Well congratulations. We like the keys but it is harder and harder to justify the expense.

[spareparts]

Ridge, I liked the keys as well, but we're still paying for our Christmas trip. Never mind the looooooong ride. So on that topic, what are some "hidden ***els" of Florida that give the Keys feeling(clear water, good fishing, relaxing scenery, good boating) with out the high cost and weirdos. Don't get me wrong, we enjoyed ourselves in Marathon, and I really liked the look of Big Pine, but once I got past Miami and realized how much longer it was going to take, I started having second thoughts. The weather unpredictability was another issue as well. Come up with some good ideas and we'll have a fall get together in Florida

[RidgeRunner]

Great job with the Go Pro!
I'm still learning to use ours..
Would love to spend some time down there in the Keys.

Did you use the flat lense to do the underwater shots??

The camera is a GoPro 3Hero White edition. The only option out of the box is for the full door or the half door on the polycarbonate case. So, I used the lens that came with it. LOL That was literally my first use of it, and editing, and uploading, and etc.. So yes a 44yr old computer illiterate dog can learn a new trick every now and then. It must be easy if I can do it. A bit time consuming. For instance:
It took 85 minutes to upload a 8 minute video to Youtube.

The WiFi capability is interesting. There is an app I can use my i-phone to work the camera from a short distance away and have streaming video on the i-phone with a small delay. Helpful when you want a preview of what your shooting. They make a lot of attachments for it. I want to try a suction cup mount and perhaps a handle with a lanyard for snorkeling.

[reelapeelin]

Hogfish wasn't very big, there is the block for scale. Lets see if this link works.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lhZOS6M-gU


Yup...that one worked...HAWG FEESH!...I sure coulda used those concrete blocks blockin' up my '84 the other day...oh well, at least they're put to good use...:clap:

[RidgeRunner]

Spare, I hear you. I was good this time I only spent what I had in my pocket. If you don't count the $400 smacks I spent on the anchor roller bow pulpit addition.

Reel, Where are the pics???

[ssiredfish]

Ridge, I liked the keys as well, but we're still paying for our Christmas trip. Never mind the looooooong ride. So on that topic, what are some "hidden ***els" of Florida that give the Keys feeling(clear water, good fishing, relaxing scenery, good boating) with out the high cost and weirdos. Don't get me wrong, we enjoyed ourselves in Marathon, and I really liked the look of Big Pine, but once I got past Miami and realized how much longer it was going to take, I started having second thoughts. The weather unpredictability was another issue as well. Come up with some good ideas and we'll have a fall get together in Florida

YOU CANT SAY ***ELS HERE ARE YOU CRAZY!?!?!?! We prefer "Gems", HAHA......

That being said we stay on Conch Key. Trailers in the front but nice/decent places in the back. Its quiet, real quiet and real small but I like the location. 10mins to Marathon and about 30 or so to Islamorada and a short trip to Voyager of Sea stuff if you have kids.

The only pain about the place is the convenience store on the corner opens and closes about when he feels like it and its a 40min round trip to get groceries.

The pros are you are in the gulf in secs and in the ocean in about 3mins. It is also CHEAP!! For our two-bedroom place it ran us $270/ea after taxes for the week....pretty sweet....

36 days and counting!!!!!

[RidgeRunner]

This might fire you up. Critters and a V-205167

5168

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[RidgeRunner]

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[RidgeRunner]

A couple boats local to us and my new house, dream house..
5177

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5181

[reelapeelin]

Great pics!!...man you were in a pretty nifty place down there...critters, fish and dream houses all in one area...what was that Melissa was petting?...a Manatee?...is that a ramp in front of dream house?...

And oh that beautiful CC of yours...:love:...the other boats you showed don't hold a candle...not even the Whaler and that was one of my faves...and the guy w/the Sea Craft must be envious when you idle by...

New pulpit and anchor be jammin'!...:sun:

[ssiredfish]

Sweet!!!! I couldnt help but think that a writhing Iguana tail would make one badass Cobia bait!!!!

[the daydreamer]

ridge have you ever been up to whale harbor? neat place for charter boats. it is a small basin but great fun to watch the charter captains come in and dock!they can really twist and turn when docking.:nice:

[RidgeRunner]

Daydreamer, I know the place. I like to watch anyone who is a pro at their job. Facing backwards in the tower, working the sticks. It reminds me of Captain Ron. Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of SS, teak and fiberglass and they thread the needle in wind and current like it was nothing.
Seriously, we take Whale Harbor Channel or Snake Creek coming back from offshore, if the wind is howling it is much nicer ride having the seas follow you home... The sandbar at Whale Harbor is a summertime hotspot with lots of natural and enhanced scenery.. Last year we watched a guy battle a nice tarpon from a small center console right there at the bridge. Nice place to hangout for sure. Once you cross over to the Gulf side you can easily motor up and down the upper keys in the ICW, so we explore.

[reelapeelin]

ridge have you ever been up to whale harbor? neat place for charter boats. it is a small basin but great fun to watch the charter captains come in and dock!they can really twist and turn when docking.:nice:

You and Ridge make it sound pretty interesting!!...and looks like good chow, too!!

http://whaleharborrestaurant.com/our-buffet-menu

:sly:

[the daydreamer]

Ridge we stayed at the topsider resort twice in islamorada because they have a boat ramp there and docks!! There 20 or so octagon villas a few at waters edge which what we had. Great views and sunsets! They were neat because you could leave from there cut through a mangrove swamp then travel a short way and end up at the islamorada fish factory and the world wide sportsman for a sea side lunch!! One time before we stayed at a chanel house four miles to the left of topsiders. It had a concreat sea wall and divits to lift the boat out and keep it and dry!! I have since found this house again it would be our dream house . As my wife wants to buy a place in fl to spend the winters. (we hate the cold) well maybe one day, but we sure like the area!!!!! But its such a long drive to get there!!!!

[randlemanboater]

All of my trips to the keys have been in the RV...2000 mile round trip, 7 mpg's, it cost me an arm and leg just to get there.

But I love it down there...guess maybe I'm a weirdo at heart.

Our camp site this past trip.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r222/randlemanboater/IMG_20130702_073937_124_zpscb478fc3.jpg (http://s145.photobucket.com/user/randlemanboater/media/IMG_20130702_073937_124_zpscb478fc3.jpg.html)

Sunrise over US1.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r222/randlemanboater/IMG_20130703_064909_816_zps02740a2d.jpg (http://s145.photobucket.com/user/randlemanboater/media/IMG_20130703_064909_816_zps02740a2d.jpg.html)

[Pipe_Dream]

A great thread, photos, video . . . As if I wasn't already salivating . . .

We're heading down to the Keys with friends for a long weekend next month. Started going down in the early '80s, but the last time there was in '89 when I was single and around 25 pounds lighter. It's been waaay too long!

[ssiredfish]

A great thread, photos, video . . . As if I wasn't already salivating . . .

We're heading down to the Keys with friends for a long weekend next month. Started going down in the early '80s, but the last time there was in '89 when I was single and around 25 pounds lighter. It's been waaay too long!

Where yall goin? I just got back Saturday from Conch.....

[Pipe_Dream]

We're staying somewhere around Key Largo -- I don't know exactly as I didn't make the arrangements, but I'll find out this weekend.