Florida Keys Launch Sites and Points of Interest

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Author Topic:   Florida Keys Launch Sites and Points of Interest

padrefigure posted 09-14-2015 11:45 AM ET (US)
My wife and I have decided to drag the 13-foot Whaler to the Keys for a week in early October. We plan to stay in Marathon. [Seeks] suggestions for launch sites or places to visit with a tiny Whaler. Thanks for any ideas.
rsantia posted 09-14-2015 09:47 PM ET (US)
There is an excellent free public boat ramp across the street from the Holiday Inn in Marathon. It will give you access to the Gulf side with easy access to the ocean through Vaca Cut. The restaurant next to the boat ramp is good. Key Colony Inn is also a good restaurant, as well as. the Keys Fisheries. Sombrero Beach and Bahia Honda Beach are decent beach spots.
I trailer my Dauntless 16 to Key Colony Beach, Marathon once a year from NY since 2001. It's been great. I was there this July and had a blast fishing for hog fish on various ocean side reefs in 20-40 feet of water.
Have fun!
Ralph
jimh posted 09-15-2015 11:02 AM ET (US)
[Moved to TRIPS AND RENDEZVOUS for discussion]
jimh posted 09-15-2015 11:19 AM ET (US)
What sort of prices are asked for weekly accommodations in Marathon at that time of year?
lakeman posted 09-15-2015 04:04 PM ET (US)
Having spent many many years mostly north of Marathon in a much bigger boat, I will tell you that a lot will depend on the weather. I hope your hotel has a boat ramp. Marathon is a huge key and a 13 is rather small to try and run around it. I would suggest that you stay north of Marathon on Long Key or Islamorada on the Gulf side. Duck KEY is nice and Key Colony as mentioned above are good places. I can suggest a hotel on Long Key, the Edgewater lodge(older MOM and POP) my favorite in the Keys, it recently changed hand, so I do not know the owners. The Edge Water has a ramp, bait, and docks, gas is next door at the camp ground marina. From LK you can fish the flats, and look for rock piles that might have a bug or two, lets not forget the LK bridge for fish and bugs. From there you can run down to Duck Key, if weather permits LK channel/bridge can get rough for a 13. Note it is a considerable run to good fishing in the Park through the twin markers but you can run straight to the banks about 3 miles and run in front or behind the bars depending on the wind. It will be a long run in a 13. Islamorada, Gulf side will be more wind friendly.
One place to visit just south of Islamorada is Robbies and stop and feed the Tarpons, have lunch or breakfast.
Sorry too much to write about so I will quit LOVE THE KEYS
PS, check out the Florida Sportsman Web site Keys forum, they get tired of questions but other times a nicely worded question they happily answer.
lakeman posted 09-15-2015 04:16 PM ET (US)
JimH
I just looked at the Edgewater site for fun, and the prices have radically increased since I last stayed there and it was over $150 a night. Usually October is a slow month and prices are down.
I guess with new owners come high prices.
rsantia posted 09-15-2015 06:02 PM ET (US)
I have rented very nice 2 bedroom duplexes with dockage for 1400-1600 per week. I use a local realtor and have never been disappointed. I usually book for spring break or July.

This is the website http://www.keysproperties.com/rentals
thammer posted 09-16-2015 07:53 AM ET (US)
We stayed in key colony Beach before. Most of the duplexes have a dock out front and there is a ramp on the causeway as well if you want to stay near the ramp. VRBO has been a great place to find rentals. They also have a marina where you can get marine fuel as well.
Key colony is right near the Vaca cut which makes it easy to go to the gulf or the ocean side of the keys. Lots of stuff to explore. We've had our 17 down there and that is probably minimum for a boat down there.


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Author	Topic: Florida Keys Launch Sites and Points of Interest
padrefigure	posted 09-14-2015 11:45 AM ET (US) My wife and I have decided to drag the 13-foot Whaler to the Keys for a week in early October. We plan to stay in Marathon. [Seeks] suggestions for launch sites or places to visit with a tiny Whaler. Thanks for any ideas.
rsantia	posted 09-14-2015 09:47 PM ET (US) There is an excellent free public boat ramp across the street from the Holiday Inn in Marathon. It will give you access to the Gulf side with easy access to the ocean through Vaca Cut. The restaurant next to the boat ramp is good. Key Colony Inn is also a good restaurant, as well as. the Keys Fisheries. Sombrero Beach and Bahia Honda Beach are decent beach spots. I trailer my Dauntless 16 to Key Colony Beach, Marathon once a year from NY since 2001. It's been great. I was there this July and had a blast fishing for hog fish on various ocean side reefs in 20-40 feet of water. Have fun! Ralph
jimh	posted 09-15-2015 11:02 AM ET (US) [Moved to TRIPS AND RENDEZVOUS for discussion]
jimh	posted 09-15-2015 11:19 AM ET (US) What sort of prices are asked for weekly accommodations in Marathon at that time of year?
lakeman	posted 09-15-2015 04:04 PM ET (US) Having spent many many years mostly north of Marathon in a much bigger boat, I will tell you that a lot will depend on the weather. I hope your hotel has a boat ramp. Marathon is a huge key and a 13 is rather small to try and run around it. I would suggest that you stay north of Marathon on Long Key or Islamorada on the Gulf side. Duck KEY is nice and Key Colony as mentioned above are good places. I can suggest a hotel on Long Key, the Edgewater lodge(older MOM and POP) my favorite in the Keys, it recently changed hand, so I do not know the owners. The Edge Water has a ramp, bait, and docks, gas is next door at the camp ground marina. From LK you can fish the flats, and look for rock piles that might have a bug or two, lets not forget the LK bridge for fish and bugs. From there you can run down to Duck Key, if weather permits LK channel/bridge can get rough for a 13. Note it is a considerable run to good fishing in the Park through the twin markers but you can run straight to the banks about 3 miles and run in front or behind the bars depending on the wind. It will be a long run in a 13. Islamorada, Gulf side will be more wind friendly. One place to visit just south of Islamorada is Robbies and stop and feed the Tarpons, have lunch or breakfast. Sorry too much to write about so I will quit LOVE THE KEYS PS, check out the Florida Sportsman Web site Keys forum, they get tired of questions but other times a nicely worded question they happily answer.
lakeman	posted 09-15-2015 04:16 PM ET (US) JimH I just looked at the Edgewater site for fun, and the prices have radically increased since I last stayed there and it was over $150 a night. Usually October is a slow month and prices are down. I guess with new owners come high prices.
rsantia	posted 09-15-2015 06:02 PM ET (US) I have rented very nice 2 bedroom duplexes with dockage for 1400-1600 per week. I use a local realtor and have never been disappointed. I usually book for spring break or July. This is the website http://www.keysproperties.com/rentals
thammer	posted 09-16-2015 07:53 AM ET (US) We stayed in key colony Beach before. Most of the duplexes have a dock out front and there is a ramp on the causeway as well if you want to stay near the ramp. VRBO has been a great place to find rentals. They also have a marina where you can get marine fuel as well. Key colony is right near the Vaca cut which makes it easy to go to the gulf or the ocean side of the keys. Lots of stuff to explore. We've had our 17 down there and that is probably minimum for a boat down there.