The Keys

[Pipe_Dream]

We spent a week in the Keys with 3 other couples, one of which has a 28 (I think) foot Edgewater. We fished daily, hauling in dolphin, kingfish and one mutton snapper. Ate fresh fish nightly, and one evening took our catch of mahi to Lazy Days for them to prepare for us. Brought home enough mahi for 5 suppers (froze it) and smoked 2 pounds of kingfish last weekend. Nothing like good friends and fresh fish and nowhere like the Keys! I haven't worked out a new photo account, so you'll just have to imagine... :-)

[Giorgio]

Hey Pipe dream I guess that week of fishing wasn't a Pipe Dream!!! :beer: Well done. :clap:

[phatdaddy]

I m jealous, we had planned to try to go this year, but the storm had other ideas. Sounds like you were in the marathon area, lots to do there.

[SkunkBoat]

:sun:love that Keys fishing

[Pipe_Dream]

It's wonderful there. Fish, eat, and drink. What's not to love?

We stayed at Mariner's in Key Largo. One day the weather didn't look good, so we drove to Key West to see how much it had changed (I hadn't been there since 1989). To be honest, I saw enough and don't need to go back. Cruise ship had docked and the streets were crowded. The charm that I remember wasn't in evidence this time. Time changes perspective, too, though, and maybe I overlooked things in my 20s that I don't so easily overlook today. Plus, in my 20s I stayed with friends who lived there. This time I was just another tourist. The drive down (on a Wednesday) was in fairly heavy traffic. Big Pine Key was mostly brown, I think the salt water from Irma killed a lot of trees. Anyway, we drove down and back in a day, and I really don't need to go south of 7 mile bridge any time in the near future. Islamorada is where it's at.

[randlemanboater]

I am headed down to Marathon next week, I am very excited.

It is my son's college graduation celebration trip.

[Pipe_Dream]

I am headed down to Marathon next week, I am very excited.

It is my son's college graduation celebration trip.

That's great! Congrats and enjoy.

[charlie_the_tuna]

yeah, the keys have become so touristy, it's tough to have a relaxing time. I lived there for a couple years back in my early 20s. it's changed. I've changed. like you said, the drive down is stop and go all the way down. don't matter what time of day or night. always traffic. that has a lot of bearing on where I plan to settle down in 6 years. I love the area. I hate what it's become.

[THEFERMANATOR]

I haven't been back to the keys in about 12 years. I miss going down there, but I just can't bring myself to pay what it cost's to go down there now.

[bradford]

Agree with others sentiments. Been going there every couple of years or so since I was 13, now 43. Not only has a lot changed, but people suck so much more these days. A great place to stay is White Gate Court on lower Matecumbe. Dog friendly, free boat dockage up to 26 feet, free on site trailer parking, 7 or 8 1940s bungalows all in a "natural park like setting" on Matecumbe Bight. Near MM 76 or so.

Agree about not going past 7 mile bridge.

[SkunkBoat]

Its been a few years for me too...but I gotta go straight to Key West and do some drinkin':sun:then fishing:sun:then drinkin:beer:

[Pipe_Dream]

Agree with others sentiments. Been going there every couple of years or so since I was 13, now 43. Not only has a lot changed, but people suck so much more these days. A great place to stay is White Gate Court on lower Matecumbe. Dog friendly, free boat dockage up to 26 feet, free on site trailer parking, 7 or 8 1940s bungalows all in a "natural park like setting" on Matecumbe Bight. Near MM 76 or so.

Agree about not going past 7 mile bridge.

That place looks wonderful.

[SkunkBoat]

My Pompano Beach buddies just got back from a Dry Tortugas trip out of Stock Island. Dock covered in big muttons...beautiful:love:

That's a bucket list trip for me.

[Pipe_Dream]

My Pompano Beach buddies just got back from a Dry Tortugas trip out of Stock Island. Dock covered in big muttons...beautiful:love:

That's a bucket list trip for me.

Wow, we caught ONE of those and were thrilled. That's a haul!