Source
r/floridakeys•
Open_Presentation166

Looking for Recommendations

Hello there, I'm planning a trip with four of my high school buddy's. We're middle-aged so not looking for a huge party scene. We'd like a quaint fishing town with a couple local dive bars. The primary focus would be fishing, my friends aren't huge boat people so whatever location has good beach/peer fishing.

Any recommendations for where five guys can spend a week fishing? Maybe grab a few drinks in the evening at a local dive bar?

Posted Sep 18, 2022, 6:45 PM UTC

327
urgdchef•

Dockside RawBar and Grill in tavernier tell them chef mark sent you

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Open_Presentation166OP•

Haha, will do!

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nemo300blk•

Marathon. The upper keys are too much like Miami on the weekends.

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Open_Presentation166OP•

Seems like Marathon is a better choice than Islamorada, would you agree? At least in terms of less touristy.

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nemo300blk•

Absolutely. The wife and I have been going to the Keys at least once a year since 1999. Initially Key Largo, the several years in Islamorada, then the last four years in Marathon. The weekend idiots from Miami in Islamorada going to the sand bar ruined it for us. We still go to Islamorada during our trips to eat at some favorite restaurants.

Marathon has everything you need from housing, drinking, eating, fishing, and shopping. Plus, the rental rates are less than Islamorada because it's further down the Keys and the weekend Miami folks don't go that far.

We've been renting www.vacationontheocean.com the last few years, but they were listing it the day we checked in back in June, and we are going to the BVI next year, so I haven't kept up with it.

Are you driving or flying?

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Open_Presentation166OP•

Excellent recommendations!

I checked out the rentals and the Oceanfront House is amazing. Can't find the rates online...did you stay in the Condo or House? Oh, we'd be flying in.

1
nemo300blk•

My fault, the oceanfront house.

Two schools of thought on flying. Into KW is faster but more expensive with fewer flights per day with these cancellations. Miami is less expensive, with many nonstop flights into it every day. The ride into the Keys is longer, but car rentals should be less too.

3
Starks40oz•

It depends on what you’re looking for. Marathon will feel less touristy, but it will also feel bigger. It has strip malls. It has the Home Depot. Islamorada has two craft breweries and all that implies. If you want to walk around a little downtown and go to the brewery you want islamorada. If you want to be where the “real folks” live you want marathon.

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Open_Presentation166OP•

Ideally, we'd want to walk out from our house in the morning, grab poles and start fishing without having to drive. Slay fish all day, preferably away from other humans.

After a good day of fishing, grab a shower and head to a local bar. Have some conversations with the locals, get the ins and outs of fishing the area. Shoot some pool, chat with a few ladies, try to avoid a bar fight then head back home. Repeat this process for a week or so.

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Starks40oz•

Maybe try something like (littletorchcottagesapt.com) or Parmers on little torch. You can fish from the bridge to Big Pine or the dock and then wander next door to Kiki’s for a beer when you want a break. Maybe make some friends at tonios and poor life decisions at Coconuts. If you’re feeling ambitious you can head into Key West or marathon for dinner. You’re close enough to check out Bahia Honda etc.

5
2lovesFL•

faroblancoresort

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Userreddit1234412•

There is very little shore fishing in the keys, you will want a boat.

2
jaybavaro•

Spending the entire day catching fish away from other humans is not going to happen unless you’re on a boat. Bridge fishing is fun but crowded and not really something that you’ll do for more than a few hours. No good bridges within walking distance of anywhere worth staying. If you get a place with a dock on the ocean or bay or on a canal you could dock fish but again that’s not something you’ll be inclined to do all day.

I strongly suggest booking a place with a dock and looking into boat rentals. It won’t be cheap, but best bang for your buck would probably be in KL or Marathon.

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No_Pace_8017•

Definitely marathon

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nemo300blk•

...

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use_choosername•

I live in key largo and agree with this statement

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nautitrader•

I suggest the upper keys. Key Largo to Conch Key. There are a few places you can fish bridges.

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sushithighs•

Check out Num Thai in Key Largo if you like sushi, and make sure to stop at the Key Largo fisheries!

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