Boot Key Harbor Fishing Spot

• Last Modified By: vinny60 on 09/13/09 12:32 AM
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Marathon, situated mainly on Vaca, Fat Deer, and Grassy Keys, is a 10-mile-long island city at the midpoint of the Florida Keys island chain. Locals call their home "The heart of the Keys" for geographic reasons, but also to reflect the old-Keys lifestyle they enjoy among the spectacular fishing, diving, snorkeling and sailing. Sombrero Reef, a federally protected section of North America's only living coral barrier reef, lies just a few miles offshore. Beyond it are the deep blue waters of the Florida Straits, which teem with billfish and tuna in the winter and dolphin fish in the summer. On the north side of the island lie the calm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Florida Bay and the Keys backcountry. Many of the island's marine activities are situated on Boot Key Harbor, a peaceful tropical cove in the center of the island. The harbor is famous for its sunset views and is home to the City Marina. At Marathon's Crane Point, visitors can hike through a wondrously preserved tropical hardwood grove and visit the home of an early 20th Century settler family.Food aficionados can enjoy fresh local fish prepared simply or gourmet style, and many of these restaurants are located right on the water. Perhaps best of all, visitors need not scrimp when it comes to accommodations. They can choose among private homes, condominiums, small motels and tropical resorts. Undoubtedly, the hottest ticket in town is Marathon's explosive tarpon fishing. Anglers continually marvel at the spectacular leaps, strong runs, and incredible endurance of the "silver king." The Seven Mile and Bahia Honda bridges are the sites of the heaviest tarpon fishing action. Tarpon fishing is the best way for a novice angler to catch a large fish. Offshore fishing is excellent for trolling for such Gulfstream pelagic as sailfish, dolphin fish, and wahoo. Marathon provides anglers with an additional bonus, the Marathon West Hump. Rising from depths of 1,100 feet to a peak of 480 feet, this underwater platform is a veritable dinner table in the Gulfstream for gamefish, providing an excellent spot for anglers targeting blue and white marlin, Mako shark, blackfin tuna, amberjack and a host of other fish. Reef fishing in Marathon provides anglers with great fishing for yellowtail, mangrove, and mutton snapper, along with grouper, mackerel, and the ever-present barracuda. With its beautiful coral reefs, Marathon also has numerous oceanside artificial reefs. Depths of these artificial reefs range from 25-200 feet, providing a wide variety of angling opportunities for both surface, mid-depth, and bottom dwelling species. Marathon is quite different from its neighbors to the east (Key Largo and Islamorada) in that the gulfside is deeper and more open, thus creating an entirely different style of bay fishing. Literally hundreds of natural ledges, wrecks and artificial reefs (made up of old lobster traps, drums and other wreckage) are scattered throughout the bay anywhere from 5 to 15 miles north of Marathon. These spots provide fast-action fishing of mangrove snapper, Spanish mackerel, and cobia. On a day when it's just too rough to fish offshore or on the reef, the bay works as an excellent alternative, as it's comfortable even in a stiff breeze. It's the perfect choice for family fun fishing.Another exciting type of fishing, flats fishing, involves light-tackle, sight casting to such gamesters as bonefish, permit and even tarpon, as they cruise the shallows in search of a meal. Light spinning or fly casting tackle is used to target wary gamefish that require a quiet approach and delicate cast.Regardless of the style of fishing you prefer it's wise to hire the services of a local licensed guide who knows the area and understands the movements and feeding habits of your quarry. There are many charter boats and captains available for private charter. Marathon is also home to a number of large party boats. Party boat fishing offers an angler a more economical means of enjoying a day of fishing. One party boat runs multi day, day trips to the Dry Tortugas. Seldom are reservations required. Fishing from one of the bridges is the perfect place for the person who just wants to "wet a line". The bridges are a combination of fishing pier and artificial reef all rolled up into one package! Excellent fishing can be had from the Long Key Bridge, both the bridges at Toms Harbor, and the east and west ends of the Old Seven Mile Bridge.