On Sun, 21 Jun 2009 13:33:40 -0400, HK wrote:



Have fun. If you anchor at the slightly offshore reef, be mindful of the
anchor in the free boat...if you lose it, you have to replace it. I lost
mine the first day and had to go shopping for another.

Remember, the rooms are only adequate. It isn't a posh resort. But
everything else is really nice, and the little boats are all you need.
We found a place to head a bit "inland" in the keys, and caught fish
there, too.

Looks like I'll see the Keys for the first time.
My sis is giving me her place in Punta Gorda for a couple, few weeks,
so I'll have some extra cash to spend. Usually spend a couple grand
for 2 weeks at St. Pete Beach. Sis just wants me to kick in the
utilities, which I'll turn on down there.
All those condos sitting empty down there. Weird.
Might get a bit slow fishing off the dock in the canal, so a side trip
to the Keys sounds good. Wife agrees, as she's never been there
either. She'll try to get an extra week of vacation so there won't be
time pressures.
I'll be visiting with my dad and step-sis and BIL near the Crystal
River for a couple days on the way down.
BIL used to live in the Keys and fish guide, and has two brothers
still down there, one guiding and one with a restaurant on Islamorada.
Lots of targets for me, and I'll look into the Rainbow Bend for a
couple day stay.
My dad's family has a lot of experience with the Keys, going waaaaay
back. Tales about getting drunk with Hemingway, and Castro buying a
round for everybody - before he went rogue of course.
You know, the usual fishing story bull****.
One thing I believe is my dad's recounting of his favorite fishing
trip, on a big boat out of Key West to the Dry Tortugas.
Boat had bunks, a grill, and stayed out 3 days.
Fish, eat, fish, sleep, fish, fish, sleep, eat, fish, fish.
200 bucks. Brought back lots of fish.
That was about 15 years ago, and he can't remember the boat name.

--Vic