New Guy Intro/Key West Question

[NoMoSurf]

I know it is not a good idea to start out on a forum with a question. Butr I was referred by Bluffman2 to post it up here. My name is Cliff, I am 36 and from Montgomery, AL. I have fished since I cant remeber and started out inshore fishing out of St. Marks when I would visit my dad in the summer. In my 20's, I picked up Surf Fishing and have done it for about 10 years. I recently bought a 17ft Cobia inshore boat, but have yet to put it in the salt. I reaaly enjoy fishing saltwater, and fish freshwater 2-3 times a week, just to scratch the itch. I picked up flyfishing this summer and it has really taken over my attention, but has not killed my desire for the salt. Well, enough about me. On to the question.

My parents have given my wife and I a great gift. They will pay for us to spend an entire week at their house in Key West. All expenses paid. And pay for a half day on a boat fishing as well!!! The catch is, it will be in March, possibly late February! It is the only time my wife and I can go. She has no vacation time until then, we have a trip in April/May for a wedding (not ours), and a baby due in July. So no traveling after the wedding trip.

If you were given a day's charter in Key West in March, what would you target? Like I said, I flyfish a little, but an not good enough to even consider bones. They dont really interest me anyway. I catch croaker, trout, and reds regularly, so no interest in that... What are my options that time of year? And does anyone have aboat/capt'n that they recommend? Thanks guys...

[bluffman2]

welcome aboard Cliff....someone will chime in and give you the answer you need....
by the way ....dont be afraid to go for the bones!!

[Blue Magic]

Huge 100 to 200 lb tarpon.............you will need a bigger flyrod. The other option is that time of year the pelagic species , tuna, dolphin, wahoo, sailfish will be all over an area called the west wall which is 40 miles south of Key West and of course you always have your bottom fishing for grouper and snapper or kingfish. It all depends on what you want to target and how deep your pockets are.

[NoMoSurf]

I thought the Huge Tarpon came in May/June. I am going in March. I only have a 5wt. Another flyrod is out of the question. I am a poor man living in a rich man's hobby. Or is that a rich man living in a poor man'n body? Either way. It answers your other statement. My pockets are VERY shallow. My boat payment drains all of my spare cash. 17ft Cobia anyone? They are only paying for a halfday trip and it looks like those run in the $400-500 range down there. Maybe tarpon and Cuda on spinning gear... I would LOVE to go for Dolphin and Wahoo, but with only a 4 hour charter, it would take the whole time to get out and back. That and I can get into phins and hoos locally. About 60 miles out, 8hr trip for less money.