Re: Need help on April fishing trip to Keys!
I grew up in Marathon and go back just about every year for fishing and diving. If you're just looking to bend your rod and fill your cooler, fish the reefs. You can rent a 20' open fisherman for about $150/day. Get enough chum for about 10#/hour and use live shrimp for bait. The inner reef is in about 30 feet of water and the outer reef is in about 60 feet of water (varies depending on where you are). Anchor off the outer reef - either inside or outside depending on the tide. Let your chum drift over the reef.<br /><br />Drift live shrimp back with the chum, you'll get yellowtail snapper in the chumline. Drop live or dead shrimp to the bottom to catch baitfish (grunts, goatfish, etc.). Drop the baitfish down on a heavy rig for grouper, mutton snapper, big mangroves, sharks, etc. Keep a rod with a wire leader handy for catching barracuda. If you get barracuda around, they'll cut your catches in half until you catch them. If you get a school of barracuda, move.<br /><br />It's very easy fishing on the reef and without any knowledge of the water, you can get your snapper limit.<br /><br />Good luck.