Originally Posted by
yobuck
I lived on Duck key (mm61) for over 10 years so the places you mention and the pics are very familiar.
Bahia Honda state park on the (west) end of the long bridge is a worthwhile place to visit.
Actually this is really the best time of year to visit the keys to fish. The tarpon run is in full swing right now,
and all the bridges (especially Bahia Honda) are a great place for them. Capt Pips charter service operated right
there near Porkeys, and others also along that strectch before the bridge. The old bridge visable in the photos, is now
a fishing pier from both ends. Knights key campground on the ocean side of rt 1 is also right there at the entrance to
the bridge. It is a good location for easy access to both the ocean and the gulf. Lots of those small restaraunts will cook and serve
the fish you caught, cleaned of coarse. No crappies in the keys, but there are lots of grunts on the reefs. Ill take grunts
over about anything if I have a choice, and yes ive eaten lots of walleyes also. Sorta like catching big bluegills in salt water.
The name of the game for bottom species in the keys is chum and lots of it. You can cut up a pin fish or one of the fish your after for baiting your hook or jig, but without chum you will catch little to nothing while bottom fishing the reefs. I always had 6 of the 10 lb blocks of frozen chum with me at minimum for a 4 hour trip.