Anyone living down the Florida Keys?

I'm in Northern Va now. But I spent my youth growing up in Tampa....

My Family has had a Charter fishing business in the Keys since 55/56

 

Born and raised in Jax. Fished St. Johns River and Intracoastal waterway. Getting out near the ocean with my 14' homemade boat and a 15 horse Johnson shows I used to have more balls than brains. May have lost the former without any increase in the latter.
Used to be able to jump overboard in the river and grab little clams to use for bait, when the tide changed you could catch redfish and blackfish. Bream and bluegills all the time.
Favorite vacation place...Sanibel. This was in the early 70's so I imagine much has changed.
Never made it to the Keys.
Left in '79, never to return except to see family still there.

 

Lived on Key Haven in the 90s (family lived down there from the 60s-2005. Grandfather owned the Sandpiper charter boats. Family friends still own a company down there and my mentally defective aunt lives up on Sugar Loaf.
I miss going to Paradise Cafe for Cuban Mix sandwiches before going out on the water. Heard that Fred sold it a few years ago.
Use to go out in the flats towards Snipe Point at low tide and push tourists boats out of the sand for $ to cover gas and Dairy Queen.

 

I love this thread!

I'll be on Big Pine in 21 days!

Will be fishing the Bogie channel. Renting a cottage at OWB fishing cabins. Will most likely find myself at the No Name Pub in the evenings.

I'll be traveling from Miami on the 29th, which is the Memorial day holiday. We get off the plane and into a rental around 11:30 in the morning.

Does anyone know what traffic is like on that actual holiday? I know what traffic is like on US 1 for non holidays.

As for Island time, no shit! Those Key people do things very slowly and will not be hurried. I took me a few trips to learn about this phenomenon.

 

Paradise Cafe is history. Paseo is there nowadays, also great food.

 

On a Monday it shouldn't be bad going down. Traffic going north for sure. Take it slow with out a doubt they'll be Sheff all over the place looking for drunks.

 

Cool to know. I have been amazed at the number of single car accidents in the middle of the day. I've seen at least 2 cars parked in the mangroves along US1.

 

Island Time 24/7
No Name Pub "Nice place if you can find it"

 

The best Cuban sandwiches around!

 

Fatality today down cardsound road.

 

Try 5 brothers in Ramrod Key. You ever had a Midnight Sandwich?

 

Happens too often.

 

I'll check it out. Never have had one of those sandwiches.

 

Florida native, been to Key West 9 times, last year the most recent. For the 10th time thinking about doing the bike ride from Key Largo to Key West.

 

Alabama Jacks! What month you planning the ride? What are you riding?

 

I just went this weekend to Marathon key... On August I am going back to Bahia Honda

 

I vistit the keys from Boston last 2 weeks of august, Nov 19th-30th and Jan 1st-11th currently this coming year to next