Driving to Key West from Sanibel, need advice.

[Sagamoron]

So, I just gave my notice and have two weeks to kill before my new job starts.

I've got enough miles to get my wife and I roundtrip tickets to Ft Meyers. Once there, we can take one of the inlaws cars and want to hit the road and drive down to Key West for a few days, stopping along the way.

I want to get sunburned, drunk and fish. And it doesn't have to be in that order.

Any advice on where to stay along the way, where to eat, shit to do, etc would be huge.

Here's some stoke to get the ball rolling

[schwerty]

That sounds like something I need to do! I'll let the FL guys weigh in. Not gonna be of much help. Have a ball!

[warthog]

Hmm-

Lots of stuff to do, see.

This would be my approach.

See if this link works.

http://goo.gl/maps/SkJ1Q

[topwater]

don't live in florida but just did the miami to key west and back drive...

and i would recommend skipping E and adding the state parks between D and F.

other than that have a great time and hopefully the weather will be nice.

[warthog]

Ahhh, but if you skip E, you miss one of the best restaurants in Islamorada.

[plugboots]

It would be hard for me to not fish the Everglades on that type of trip. You could do an out and back to Chokoloskee or Flamingo with a guide for a day of casting to the mangroves.

[plugboots]

Right now, the small, (50 pound and under), tarpon have moved into urban Biscayne Bay. I would not miss night fishing for them near the bridges.

[present tense]

spent a week in islamorada at casa morada. very low key, morning coffee overlooking the water, fishing, laying by the pool, cocktails and live music at night, total relaxation.

we did take a day and went down to key west right into pretty much a complete shit show as compared to islamorada. key west is great and all, but we b-lined it back to the peace and quiet.

[Hook]

I'm back in town for a few days and then gone again for a few more.

When I get back I'm trying to be here for the rest of Tarpon season.

When are you going to be here? More importantly can you operate a fly rod?

Off to pull the cover off the skiff now to see what it needs from sitting.

[Sagamoron]

Hook, thanks for the offer we were down there in Mid March. Can't wait to go back, I'll ping you the time.

[teleee]

Hook, how long you going to be fishing for tarpon? If I could squeeze it in I would seriously consider hopping a plane to come down for a few days....

[Garth Bimble]

Just got back from KW a couple of weeks ago. Didn't get to go fishing but the sunburn & drunk part was no problem and I doubt you'll have any issues either. I always make a trip to Duvall Street but 1 night is all I can take of that. I know there are some great bars but usually by the time I'm done I can never remember which ones I've been to. Grab a cigar and walk around until you find one you like. I do recommend happy hour at the Southernmost Cafe. Good views and reasonably priced for KW.

[Hook]

@sagamoron, I'm a private yacht captain so my schedule isn't something I can control at times. Try and give me as much advance notice as you can, sometimes the stars align the right way.

@ Teleee, When I get back next week I should be here until the end of June. The only time not good for me is the last week in May. That's when the Alaska gang will be here and no sane person or beast would want to be around that circus.

If you can manage it, May generally kicks ass for pitching feathers at Tarpon.

Looks like I'm leaving the 2nd week in June

[Sagamoron]

Thanks Hook, appreciate it. We are in Sanibel a few times a year to visit the inlaws and I think the trip down to the keys will be a regular thing for us.

Private like an 80 Garlington?

[warthog]

The only time not good for me is the last week in May. That's when the Alaska gang will be here and no sane person or beast would want to be around that circus.

Tsaina crew? Those were some awesome stories you had about that place. Sounds like a circus I would like.

[Hook]

@ Saga, It's Italian,38 meters. The owners are fanatics about privacy so I can't really speak of it. If you're on Sanibel, I'm sure you know the ferry to KW leaves not far from you. It's a nice alternative to the drive down the keys, it gets old after awhile. If you come down often then I'm sure we'll run into each other.

@Wart, different crew, same results.

[teleee]

Working on Miss Teleee to see what repercussions my hall pass would have.

[warthog]

Hall pass granted X 2- you ready Hook?

[teleee]

Ya buddy!tickets are purchased, need to go practice my double haul!

[Hook]

Game on...

[warthog]

Can I bring my spin set up, just in case I suck? I want to put that Saltist to the test.

I have some pink jigs that are supposed to be poon crack.

Also, biggest in the quiver is a 10 wt with a questionable reel. Questionable wether it will blow up on the first or the second fish. Should I pick up a new reel?

[teleee]

Glad I'm not the only one worried about my skills. I went down to the local fly shop and made our local salt water guru take me out in the street for a casting lesson this morning.
Was hoping to rent a 12 weight to practice with bit there is no such a beast in the SLC.

[schwerty]

I am extremely envious of you guys down there.

[teleee]

Schwerty hopefully this venture will justify its own trip report in a few weeks...

[Hook]

Go ahead and bring your spinner Wart. While I pretty much only flyfish anymore, I don't expect everyone else to especially if they are struggling with it.

You guys shouldn't sweat the casting. While it's nice to be able to lay out 80 feet of 11-12# floating line fishing show style, in real life most casts are 40-60 feet on average. Also you only really need a 12# for Tarpon 100lbs and bigger. You will see I try and avoid the big fish. Having a 150 pound Tarpon drag the skiff around for an hour or two is not my idea of fun anymore.
The smaller ones are way more fun because they spend all their time in the air and usually jump themselves off the line. Personally I try not to target Tarpon more than about 60-80 lbs. If you are half way decent a solid 10# will do.

Besides, if you don't screw up, what will we have to ridicule you about.

Schwerty, you need to make it down some time. Quite a few of your home boys here now. The other day the first three trucks in the parking lot had Idaho and Wyoming tags. It looked like the south fork.