Boatless & on a leash in Marathon - gonna do the best I can

[mfaughn]

Hi all,

I've been cranking through a lot of posts in this forum and enjoying them. I'm staying in Marathon w/ wife and 2 boys (3 & 6) the week before xmas. I'll be bringing all the necessary gear (probably far too much) but am not going to be at leisure to spend all day/night at the bridges or anything like that -- wife worked (very) hard for this trip and she's not into sitting around at the pool all day long babysitting while I smear bait all over the place. I grew up in Florida, fishing the Gulf coast from St. George to Mantasota Key (just above Boca Grande). Fished the keys a couple times as a lad and fished similar conditions in Puerto Rico while stuck there for a year.

I'm wondering if anyone can suggest ways in which I might be able to sneak in a quick couple of hours of fishing here and there that have any chance of being productive. I'll try to hit the bridges of course but I'm interested in possibilities for those times when I've just got 1 or 2 hours. Tom's Harbor Cut looks to be about 15 min away and Long Key just a bit farther and then Ch 5 and Ch 2. I need to figure in walking time as well. Any suggestions? Is there any reasonable hope of fish right out front of Coco Plum Dr.? I wouldn't mind keeping one or two for the table but I'm just as interested in taking the kids out a few times and catching whatever is there, even if its just grunts -- I consider that a worthy investment in future fishing partners (which will tip the balance in favor of more fishing ).

BTW, I've been using Google street view to look at all of these places. I've seen fisherman in the pictures and even a fish or two. Wonder how many of you locals are in those pics?

Any ideas, feedback, comments, etc. appreciated. Will post reports in the report thread.

[Green Tide]

I know you can catch bait at coco plum beach so you should be able to find other fish there too. As you can see it is fairly shallow but does get deeper eventually. I have seen tarpon being caught from boats drifting like 150 yds out from the beach and all the way down to cabana breezes. Going to the north of the beach you see the channel that leads to the back side of coco plum. That is a serious house at the end, but you can drive right up to it.
Either of the two toms harbors would be great for keeping your kids on some grunts and maybe some nice pinfish for bait.
Try the south side of long key if you need shade. When you get up to the bridge there is a trail going under the driving bridge. I have been there with kids and it has room to run and small grovers when the tide is not screaming.

[mfaughn]

Thanks!! I am far too excited about this trip given the inability to fish in a "serious" way but who cares. I've got the cats sacrificing extras moles and rats to the god of unseasonably warm water.

I found a chart (<= link) that says it has been dredged in front of Coco Plum but I'm guessing that I shouldn't be expecting much depth.

I guess the shorelines are generally private? Can't stand on 'em and fish. Guessing I could technically stand/walk in the water(?) but I don't want to unnecessarily aggravate anybody.

[Green Tide]

the beach is city owned and maintained

[mfaughn]

the beach is city owned and maintained

That's cool. What about the bits where there is a little jetty or rocks like at the west end of the beach where there is a channel?

[Green Tide]

Yes

[weetza10]

You didn't hear it from me-cause you will have problems. Actually there are very, very few private islands, beaches, ect. in Florida. You can stand anywhere from the water line to the high tide mark. Its the law. Cops will argue-they will loose when they call HQ, lol. I have moored a boat right up to private homes with "private beaches" gotten yelled at, almost fought, cops, ect. I was actually only doing it to be a Oscar mayer once. LOL Never been arrested or issued a warning. I would post the statute, just too lazy. Just for FYI.

[mfaughn]

So I guess that means you can stand on somebody's rocks as long as they get wet on a spring tide. I'm not out to get into it with any property owners but its nice to know that if I find myself in that situation that the law is on my side. We have similar issues up here in the mountains regarding the right to paddle down a creek (i.e. a "navigable waterway").

Dreaming of permit...will be happy as long as I catch something more interesting catfish and pinfish.

Halichoeres bivittatus - the Oscar Mayer fish? maybe more like a Vienna sausage.

[wylie]

Marathon Lady is a daily head boat,it used to be last time I was there. Also they say under the bridge at vaca cut,you can fish. Try any bridges that allow fishing .Go to Herbies to eat,really good.