Help! Florida Keys on the cheap.

Hey guys.

Planned to do something like this two years ago, but then the hurricanes happened and ruined that...

Wanting to drive down this December/January perhaps and spend a month or so bumming around Florida. My background is outdoor adventure, so sleeping in the back of our SUV, or tent is just part of the fun.

Bringing a zodiac with 15hp engine, and planning on doing kind of whatever we feel like. Fishing, ocean exploring, etc. Last time I wanted to bring my Yamaha Waverunner, but I feel like a good zodiac will be a lot more versatile, and less of a risk than bringing a ten thousand dollar supercharged machine with us...it will be slower, but who cares. Easier to fish out of a zodiac. The engine is newer, so no reliability issues. Plus, PWCs are not allowed on the gulf side, so that rules out some pretty cool stuff.

The biggest expense will be finding a place to stay. I am quite at home here with a tent and backpack, canoe, car, etc, but going down there where everything costs something and finding places to spend the night with a vehicle might be a bit more tough.

Found a place to stay at Big Pine Key Fishing Lodge. https://www.bpkfl.com/Rates.html

They have "rustic campsites", evn beach front which is I think $56.00 a night. Planning on doing that for a week or so, but wondering if there is anywhere else to do it cheaper, etc? Or if pulling the boat up and setting up camp somewhere out of the way is frowned upon, illegal etc.

Anyone have any advice for me and my wife?

Also, not limited to the keys, we are going to be hanging out there for a while, but will be down for whatever.

Everglades backcountry sites look good at 16 bucks a night.

I have go to the keys at that time every year. 56 dollars a night is the cheapest you are going to find unless someone lets you toss a tent up in their yard, dont try and hide out and camp on the side of the road they will just run you off, I doubt you can camp on the islands from the boat without being harassed but who knows. I have never stayed at Big pine lodge but I hear its nice. My favorite place was the KOA on Sugarloaf but it got smashed up pretty good and has been closed for two years now, supposed to be going again this year but I dont know what the camping situation will be. I also like the Jolly rogers resort and campground on Marathon but it is around 70 dollars a night for a campsite and kind of loud as it is close to the highway. The Zodiac will do you well, many people run Zodiacs, I personally only bring a Kayak so I cant tell you much about that.

Make sure your tent is Noseeum proof as they can be brutal down there. You can PM me any questions or post them up as you think of them and ill try and get back to you.

Also check out the state parks. I've found the ones that have campsites to be slot cheaper than private owned one's.
Just Google Florida state parks.

$56 a night is cheap

Yes do this, try Bahia Honda State park, I never stay there because I am never able to book far enough in advance and it fills up 6+ months ahead of time. Worth looking into for sure.

Hutch check these guys out...Jason is a good friend of mine...A trapper as well...

http://betterthanmostwatersports.com/

I'll PM you some info...Jim

Good times...

Awesome. I will message you later!

Perhaps, but your talking to a guy who has never paid to pitch a tent in his life, and only to park in toronto!!

I get its a different environment though, hence the post.

Awesome. I look forward to it. Real close to big pine key!

I Know the zodiac is a good option for all around exploring. Fairly inexpensive, holds a decent amount, planes well, and is super portable. Doesnt need a trailer, and yet safe in our georgian bay four and five footers.

What is the water like that time of year? I Imagine the gulf side is somewhat calm, and the other side is a bit rougher?

I never camped in the Keys but have fished there several times. Everything is expensive. Load up on food and supplies before you get there. I've seen the state parks and done some freelance fishing off the highway for bonefish, but mostly fly fished tarpon with guides.


Beautiful area and the Zodiac should be fine. Make sure you pay attention to the tides but I guess a Zodiac is easier to pull off a sand bar than a Bayliner.


Good luck.

Pete

You will be able to go out on the Gulf side almost any day and will have to pick your days on the Atlantic, winter is their rough water season but the fishing is okay in Kayak range and will be much better Zodiac range you just will probably not be able to target the true blue water fish (tuna etc) but should be able to get plenty of Snapper and grunts and if lucky a legal grouper (season closes January 1st). If you like snorkeling or diving I would highly recommend to bring that gear, diving for lobsters is a great experience. Camping without electricity may be brutally hot 80+ degrees and super high humidity can be miserable for those of us from the North.

100% Deet

Understood. My house is surrounded by a horseshoe shaped pond. If you can run to the car without getting bit you are doing good. lol Prepared!

I am as green to saltwater fishing as can be. Is my bass/walleye rod going to suffice? Was only hoping to bring one.

What were you using for the bonefish? And a zodiac is going to get rolled up and put on my trailer hitch carrier. I can carry the boat somewhat easily sans engine. Engine will go inside the vehicle. I get that everything is pricey. We are big into freezer bag cooking (which sounds awful, but is actually cheap, fast and delicious. With a jetboil I can have an entree while sitting in traffic) Easy to bring food with us, and my Pellican cooler holds ice for ages. We are well versed in cheap, as otherwise we couldn't do half the stuff we do.

I am not averse to doing some guided stuff. Spending money on that kind of stuff is a good idea IMO

Got to spend some time here . . .

https://sloppyjoes.com

A bass/walleye rod would be fine on the Gulf side. Lots of fun fish to catch.

My advise, save a few extra bucks and really live it up. The Keys are a special place with so much to do and see. The reef on the Atlantic side is only a few miles off shore. Sails, kings and dolphin are in close in the winter. Can be sporty that time of year.

Stop at Alabama Jacks in Key Largo on the way down. Cool atmosphere and really good conch fritters. If ya stay close to Big Pine, check out the No Name Pub. Good pizza and the best Key Lime Pie.

I love it down there. Hope ya enjoy the trip.

Make sure you have a decent reel and you will be ok for most inshore fish, personally I would add a second rod to the arsenal with at least a couple hundred yards of braided line that way you can have a ball catching sharks and actually possibly boat a grouper should you hook it.
I have one of these reels and see they are on sale, I will probably order another one as I can confirm you can pull in 5 foot sharks with it https://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Salt-Striker-Spinning-Reels/1432814.uts?slotId=3

Match that with a decently heavy/medium heavy 6/7 foot rod and you would be set for the bigger fish/sharks.

My folks lived on Big Pine Key for about a dozen years. Fished with 'em several times on the Gulf side. Unbelievable fishing. Barracuda made northern pike look like sissies.

I use a quantum smoke on a couple rods. Med (maybe even med heavy dont recall) action st croix with 20 lb power pro. https://www.cabelas.ca/product/74262/quantum-smoke-pt-spinning-reel

It is a beefy bass rod, but I bet will work good.

Awesome. I cant wait now. Sounds like a blast

If your camping in a tent watch out for those crabs that look like a huge spider that crawl in your tent at night.

Hutch, I prefer to ask locals here: https://forums.floridasportsman.com/
AND
https://www.campflorida.com/Regions/South-Florida/
and
https://flafishingforum.com/ubbthreads.php before my trips to FLA.

The wife & I tent camp at Big pine Keys every spring. A very nice place to stay pool is on top of building very clean & nice for pictures at sunset.

Clean bathrooms & showers. Bring a set of ear plugs US 1 is right there very loud trucks. Great fishing under the bridge they sell bait at the store & can even rent a boat.

You will find lots to do. Key deer eat right out of your hand carrots or anything green. Bug spray & sun protection a must have, Enjoy & Relax

I will check those sites out!

That is all good to hear. I am going to have trouble keeping bait alive in the dinghy, but I am told shrimp will keep alive longer than fish. I feel like my wife will do just fine with a bait rig though, and with any luck keep a good supply of fresh bait.

Cool about the deer. Stephanie will like that. Around here they are generally hanging when she gets that close lol