by Eric Henson
The Florida Keys can be one of the greatest places in the world to take a kayak and go fishing. There are many different places to go and types of fishing down there. Driving from the first key “Key Largo” down to the last key “Key West”, is roughly about 3 hours. I generally like to stay somewhere in the middle so, I can easily access all the different keys. If you have never driven through the keys, be prepared for mostly one lane roads and slower traffic. Just relax because it is an absolute beautiful scenic drive and you are on island time! : )
I personally like to prepare for just about every type of fishing from fly to spinning and light to heavy tackle… Most of the time I fish inshore so, I use 3-4000 size spinning reels and 6-8wt fly set ups. But, you don’t have to go far to be into serious drag pulling fish so, don’t be scared to bring some beefier gear as well. Whether you are chasing bones and permit on the flats or hunting giant sharks, tarpon, and jewfish, I promise that your gear can’t be too heavy.
Although there is a ton of water to cover between all of the keys, there are lots of shallow water estuaries that are perfect for kayak fishing! The first thing I like to check before choosing my fishing location is the wind direction and the tides. It is usually pretty windy but, there are many different islands that you can tuck away out of the wind, even on some of the windiest days. Also, there are some seriously strong currents that can be ruthless if you don’t time it right. You just have to get your calculations done and you will be golden.
A couple of things I suggest: first, to go and check the local FWC laws because there are lots of areas where fishing is prohibited. Also, it is always a good idea that you do the buddy system and carry a VHF radio because cell phone service is very spotty down there. As always please be safe! Take care of your local waters and respect all the anglers on the water. There is plenty of enough water out there for everyone to enjoy! J