Whether you are an expert or a novice, the Big Pine
area has something
to satisfy every angler's desire. Use your own boat, rent one, or take a
charter to troll offshore, or fish the shallow waters around the islands
and in the backcountry. Some of the best fishing is right off the nearby No
Name Key bridge. Bigger fish will be found here and you'll have
the most success if you can get your bait and sinker to settle in the
bridge's shadow. Use shrimp, squid or cut bait. The folks at the bait shop
near the bridge will be glad to provide pointers. Don't be afraid to ask
other bridge fisherman for advice.
In general, the summer offshore belongs to the dolphin fisherman. Dolphin,
also known as 
dorado
or mahi mahi, bar no relation to the mammal we love so much. These fish
are known for their beautiful blue, green, and golden yellow color. Their
aerial leaps and determined fight only prime you for the dinner table as
the dolphin are one of the most sought after fish for eating.
When we get that occasional cold front and the winds shift out of the
north, this is the best time for the prized sailfish. These sleek,
spindle-beaked fish are admired for their tail-walking runs that seemingly
melt the line from the spool. Sails are prized wall mounts, yet with
today's taxidermy technology, releasing a sail for future fishermen is not
only possible but preferred by most sport fishing enthusiasts.
Here are a few of our favorite fishing links:
Division
of Marine Fisheries
Fish
Length-to-Weight Calculator
BOAT & FISHING CHARTERS:
AAA ALL MARINE, 75 Industrial Rd., Big Pine Key, 305-872-1516
AA SEA DOG CHARTERS, MM 47.5 Gulfside, Marathon, 305-743-8255
ACTION CHARTERS, 1605 N. Roosevelt, Key West, 305-292-5000
ADVENTURE CHARTERS & TOURS, 6810 Front St., Stock Island, 305-296-0362
AMITY FLATS CHARTERS, Key West, Capt. J. Ferguson, 305-283-9451,
305-304-6699
AMOROUS CHARTER BOATS, Garrison Bight, Key West, 305-296-7674
AQUADVENTURES & ISLAND KAYAK, 2401 N. Roosevelt Blvd., Key West,
305-292-0059
BAIT RUNNER, MM 61, (Duck Key), Marathon, 305-743-7548
BLACK DUCK CHARTERS, Lower Keys, 305-587-3888
BLACKWELL, JOHN F. III, City Marina Amberjack Pier, Key West, 305-296-3751
BONEFISH BAY JUNCTION, 12565 O/S Hwy., Marathon, 289-0920
CAN'T MISS PARTY FISHING BOAT, City Marina Amberjack Pier, Key West,
305-296-2751
CAPTAIN BILL'S CHARTER BOAT "LINDA D", Amberjack Pier City
Marina, Key West, 305-296-9798
CAPTAIN CONCH, 1801 N. Roosevelt Blvd., Key West, 305-293-7993
CAPTAIN HOOK, 1801 N. Roosevelt Blvd., Key West, 305-296-0117
CAPTAIN JOHN'S "GREYHOUND V", Amberjack Pier, Key West,
30-296-5139
CARR, BUD, 148 N. Indies Dr., Duck Key, Marathon, 305-289-0711
CATAMARAN SEBAGO, 200 William St., Key West, 305-294-5687
CHARTER BOAT "JOLLY ROGER II", Key West, 305-296-8210
CHARTER BOAT "LUCKY STRIKE", Key West, 305-294-7988
CHARTER BOAT "MV MS GINA", 1801 N. Roosevelt Blvd., Key West,
305-294-5638, 305-823-0520
CHARTER BOAT "OMB", Key West, 305-294-6106
CHARTER BOAT "SAILFISH", 951 Caroline St., Key West,
305-295-3369
CHARTER BOAT "SEA-CLUSION", Oceanside Marina, Key West,
305-295-0774
CHARTER BOAT "SOUTHBOUND", Key West, 305-293-8565
CHARTER BOAT "TRIPLE TIME", 2419 Patterson Ave., Key West,
305-296-8210
CORAL ISLAND YACHTS & CHARTERS, PO Box 500281, Marathon, 305-743-0887
COWBOY CHARTER BOAT, Key West, 305-294-5888
DAILY DISCOVERY, Key West, 305-296-2822
DANGER CHARTERS, Hilton Marina Slip 9, Key West, 305-296-3272,
305-304-7999
DOLPHIN MARINA & RESORT, MM28.5 Ocean, Little Torch Key, 305-872-2685
DOLPHIN WATCH, Key West, 305-294-6306
ESCAPE TOO, MM 28-1/2, Little Torch Key, 305-872-0709
EVANGELINE (SHALLOW WATER), Garrison Bight Marina, Key West, 305-294-0803
FATAL ATTRACTION, 700 Front St., Key West, 305-296-5044
FISH CHECK CHARTERS, 1801 N. Roosevelt Blvd., Key West, 305-295-0484
FLORIDA FISH FINDER LLC, 5555 College Rd., Stock Island, 305-296-0111
FLORIDAYS CRUISES, Hyatt Resort, Key West, 305-744-8335, 888-733-5455
FLY FISHING PARADISE, Sugarloaf Key, 305-745-3304
GASTALL, WILLIAM, Key West, 305-292-9383
GROUCH CHARTERS, Capt. Mark Andre, MM 24, Summerland Key, 305-745-1172
GULFSTREAM III PARTY FISHING BOAT, City Marina, Key West, 305-296-8494
H20 RENTAL SERVICES, 183 Barry Ave., Lower Keys, 305-872-5554
HUNTER, C., Cudjoe Key, 305-745-3501
IMPALLOMENI, CAPT. VICKI, STRESS MANAGEMENT BOAT CHARTER, , Key West,
305-294-9731
JAY BIRDS POWER BOATS, Sugarloaf Key, 305-745-1505
JEFF'S BAIT & TACKLE, 12650 O/S Hwy., Marathon, 305-289-9991
KEY WEST GUIDES ASSOCIATION, 305-294-4805
KIELDSON, CAPT. BILL, Fishbuster Charters, Key West, 305-296-9969
KNEE DEEP CHARTERS, Key West, 305-294-2849
KOKOMO EXPRESS CHARTERS, 504 Elizabeth St., Key West, 305-294-8853
LA POINTE, CAPT. BUDDY, Marathon, 305-743-2871
LOST REEF ADVENTURES, 261 Margaret St., Key West, 305-296-9737
LUCKY FLEET, 201 Margaret St., Key West, 305-294-7988
MAGEE, CAPT. STEVE, Charter Boat "Ramerezi", Garrison Bight
Marina, Key West, 305-294-0803
MANGROVE MISTRESS ECO-CHARTERS, Capt. Lynda Schuh, Lower Keys,
305-745-8886
MARATHON LADY PARTY BOATS, MM 53, Marathon, 305-743-5580
MC GRAIL & ROWLEY, 328 Simonton St., Key West, 305-292-4768
MIKE'S SAILING CHARTERS, 35 Sombrero Blvd., Marathon, 305-743-3017
MOSQUITO COAST ISLAND OUTFITTERS, 1207 Duval St., Key West, 305-294-7178
NATIVE CHARTERS, Lower Keys, 305-744-0146, 305-515-0073
NATIVE CONCH CHARTERS, 711 Waddell Ave., Key West, 305-296-7110
OCEANSIDE MARINA CHARTER FLEET, 5950 Peninsula Ave., Key West,
305-294-4676
O'MEARA, BRIAN, Key West, 305-296-1185
PHANTASEA BACKCOUNTRY FISHING, Marathon, 305-289-8802
RAMPAGE CHARTERS, City Marina 3, Key West, 305-296-7996
SEA BOOTS CHARTERS, MM 24.5, Summerland Key, 305-745-1530
SEABREEZE REEF RAIDERS, Key West, 305-292-7745, 800-370-7745
SEA DOG CHARTERS, MM 47.5 Gulfside, Marathon, 305-743-8255
SEA KING PARTY BOAT, 70 Coco Plum Dr., Marathon, 305-289-0827
SEE 'N SAIL EXCURSIONS, 620 Ashe St., Key West, 305-294-7280
SIMMONS, CAPT. DEXTER, 17240 Oleander Lane, Sugarloaf, 305-745-3304
SOUTHERNMOST SAILING, Oceanside Marina, 5950 Maloney Ave., Key West,
305-293-1883
SPIRIT CATAMARAN & SNORKELING, MM 47.5, Marathon, 305-289-0614
ST. LUCIE, Marathon, 305-289-2237
STANDLOPER CHARTERS, 1801 N. Roosevelt Blvd., Key West, 305-294-8311
STARS & STRIPS CATAMARAN, Historic Seaport, Key West, 305-294-7877
STRIKE ZONE CHARTERS, MM29.5, Big Pine Key, 305-872-9863
SUBMARINE SAFARIS OF KEY WEST, 6810 Front St., Stock Island, 305-294-7827
SUNNY DAYS CATAMARAN, 201 Elizabeth St., Key West, 305-296-5556
TACKLE BOX, 1901 O/S Hwy., Marathon, 305-289-0540
TAILHOOKER CHARTERS, Key West, 305-292-4040
TORTUGA PARTY FISHING BOAT, 951 Caroline St., Key West, 305-293-1189
2 PISCES CHARTER, 12650 O/S Hwy., Marathon, 305-743-0394
VENUS CHARTERS FOR WOMEN, Key West, 305-292-9403
WEINHOFER II, CAPT. MIKE, Key West, 305-294-3399
WILD ABOUT DOLPHINS, Key West, 305-294-5026
WILD BILL CHARTERS, 1801 N. Roosevelt Blvd., Key West, 305-296-2533
WITT'S END CHARTERS, Summerland Key, 305-744-0022
WORLD CLASS ANGLER, 5050 O/S Hwy., Marathon, 305-743-6139
WHORTON, PAUL, Fishing, MM 28.5, Dolphin Marina, Little Torch Key,
305-872-3995
