Islamorada, The Cure For the Winter Blues

Tired of winter? Got the shiver and shakes? Well the Fish Doctor has just the prescription, take two Islamoradas and don’t call me and definitely don’t call into work!

Islamorada is known as the “Sport Fishing Capital of the World”.  You can find marinas on every other corner with the most professional Offshore and Back Country Fishing Guides any where. These are the legendary waters of Ted Williams, Papa Hemingway, Lefty Kreh and Flip Pallot, waters teaming with Silver King Tarpon, Tuna, Sailfish, Marlin and Wahoo. I have fished the waters around Islamorada a lot and caught a wide variety of species- bonefish, redfish, snook, snapper, grouper,

spanish mackeral, sheepshead, flounder, speckled trout, ladyfish- just to name a few.

The Guides are plentiful in Islamorada and I have never had a bad one. There are three basic types of fishing- flats boats in the skinny water of the backcountry, inshore and offshore depending on your target species. Arrangements can be made through Bud N’ Mary’s, Robbies, the Loreli, or through the marina at World Wide Sportsman. Gary Ellis, Harp Heffernan, Billy Knowles, Mike Patterson, Mike Romero, Chuck Schafstal and Ted Wilson are just a few of the guides your iBass360 staff have used over the years.

Where to Stay? There are a variety of accomodations in the Keys. Nearby

Key Largo and Islamorada both have lodging ranging from World Class resorts like the Cheeca Lodge, Guy Harvey’s Outpost and the Hilton Resort, to more family oriented hotels such as Embassy Suites, Hampton Inns and the Pelican Cove Resort. Pick one that fits your vacationing style and budget. From Islamorada you can easily fish the mangroves of Flamingo, the bonefish flats in front of Jimmy Johnson’s home, the coral reefs teaming with fish life or the offshore haunts of Sailfish, Marlin, Wahoo, Tuna and Dorado.

Fly fisherman can easily expect a good shot at the Tarpon, Bonefish. Permit slam. Very few anglers have left disappointed. Have non-fishing family with you? No problem. Nearby Key Largo features world renown Dolphin Encounter programs were you can interact “face to flipper” with these amazing mammals. Scuba and snorkling trips are easily arranged at the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. A drive out to Key West or a boat ride to the famous Dry Tortuga islands hold fun for everyone.

Close your eyes and imagine the fish of a lifetime taking flight, jumping into the sky bouncing sunlight off its fin as only a sailfish can. Imagine a highly charged wahoo nearly ripping you from the chair as he breaks and runs at speeds only approached by your racing heart. It seems like hours as your arms burn but it’s only been minutes

since you hooked the tornado Tarpon.

By now, it is you that should be hooked. Drop the shovel, park the snow blower because the only thing you really need is that trophy dancing on the end of your line. This is what it means to fish in the Sport Fishing Capital of the World.

LIVE THE PASSION!