Key West Bass Fishing?

[buzzed bait]

Going to be in Key West starting tomorrow through Friday AM and wandering if any bass fishing in the area?  I'll be somewhere very close to Geiger Key.  I'm going out in the salt a little while I'm there, but would also like to take a shot at one of those FL monsters if at all possible.

Thanks!

[Al Wolbach]

I was stationed in Key West while in the Navy but that was in the late 60's and early 70's. At that time there was not even a small pond that I am aware. If there is a place to bass fish I suspect it would be in the northern keys close to the mainland. BPS has a store on hwy US 1 and they may be able to direct you if no one on here can help. Good luck and enjoy the keys. Beautiful area......Al

[BassinLou]

There is no place to bass fish in the keys. Its all saltwater. The last freshwater water way before the keys is the aerojet canal. That's right off US1 right between Fl City and Key Largo.

[buzzed bait]

Thanks Fellas, thought I would give it a shot.  We are doing some fishing in the salt, so i'll be able to scratch the itch at least....

[Chris at Tech]

What are you fishing for in the salt?

[buzzed bait]

What are you fishing for in the salt?

 

no freakin' clue man.  i'm salt water illiterate and don't do so well with the motion so there's no telling what may go down. 

my boss that has the house and boat there knows what he's doing so at least there's a guide of sorts....

[Mike L]

Start working out now!

Mike

[FLStorm]

There are some spots in Key West that you can fish for Barracuda just like you would fish for bass.  Years ago, my father would take me to a spot kinda hidden away.  We would pick up some frozen bait fish and pull them across the surface.  The Barracuda would chase for a few until you let the bait fall, then the fight was on!

[geo g]

Just hang on to that rod.  It could be a thirty pound grouper.  Just a bass on steroids!!!!!!    

[basshole8190]

If you fish the 7 mile bridge in key west a 30lb grouper will be the least of your worries

[buzzed bait]

we went out Tarpon fishing Tue night and hooked a few, but couldn't land them.  got bit off by a dozen barracudas.  Then yesterday we went out and tore it up on the Mahi. 

Honestly, not as fun as bass fishing for me, but the fights were great.

 

Thanks for the info fellas.

[everythingthatswims]

You must have been trolling for the mahis if it wasn't as fun as bass fishing? Sight casting for mahi may be my favorite way to fish ever! They are absolutely wide open, got into some small ones last year on a ML spinning rod, 6lb test, and an x-rap. Incredible how they change colors constantly. I think the smaller ones spend more time airborne than in the water when you hook them.

[Chris at Tech]

If tarpon fishing is not more fun for you than bass fishing, I think there's something wrong with you

[buzzed bait]

You must have been trolling for the mahis if it wasn't as fun as bass fishing? Sight casting for mahi may be my favorite way to fish ever! They are absolutely wide open, got into some small ones last year on a ML spinning rod, 6lb test, and an x-rap. Incredible how they change colors constantly. I think the smaller ones spend more time airborne than in the water when you hook them.

 

yeah we were trolling until we found them, then started tossing at them with some smaller spinning gear.  it was a first for me.  lots of fun, plenty of action.

i still like my bass fishing though.....

[buzzed bait]

If tarpon fishing is not more fun for you than bass fishing, I think there's something wrong with you

 

chris, it was close.... maybe landing one would have sealed the deal for me!  they did put up a nice fight though, no doubt about it.

[SirSnookalot]

It's hard to convince a bass fisherman that anything tops a good bass.  Down here in South Florida many don't even understand why someone would even want to fish for bass.  My friends say to me "going panfishing, bring em along for bait", lol.  I fish both fresh and salt, more emphasis on the salt.  What's more fun, that's up to the individual.

 

I'm quite familiar with many of the salt species, I can tell you first hand it isn't like what you see on TV or read on the net.  You read about the successes, not the failures that happen more often.  Not near as many tarpon are landed as one may think, losing them on the first few jumps is totally commonplace.  I don't fish for big ones anymore, I like catching them up to 50#, easy...........think again, tarpon are nothing short of awesome.

Cuda are really one of the most interesting fish, 1 species I do a lot of specific targeting.  Getting cut off is not out of the ordinary, one of the few fish I would recommend using wire, although I don't when using traditional lures.  I do make my cuda tubes with wire, far and away the most productive lures for them.  It's the ones you don't see that strike, generally the followers just veer off.

I've had dolphin on the line that have taken a good 10-15 minutes to land, I use a heavy inshore 25# class rod and 6000 reel for them, I don't take anything lighter when I'm headed offshore, inshore is different.  A 10# bonita on light line and light gear, I'd bet on the fish every time.  In the long run I'm going to bank, as I say we read about successes and not failures.

[buzzed bait]

well for what was really my first exposure to some salt water fishing (i grew up in the appalachians far from any salt) i had a great time.  i can see the appeal for sure.  i'd really like to make my way back down here and hit the flats.

back to bass this weekend.....

[SFL BassHunter]

I think fishing in general is fun. I love the bass fishing, but every now and again I want to do some saltwater fishing specifically for fish I like to eat.

 

Snapper, Sea trout, Snook. There are others but these would be my top choices.