Everybody loves a little excitement from time to time. Life seems so boring if you don’t take the time to go out and explore what the rest of the world has to offer. If you’re thinking of going on a vacation, Key West can offer you an unbeatable kind of experience.

In Key West, you’ll find everything that you love. It boasts of popular restaurants that serve delicious cuisines from all around the world. There are also various tourist spots in the city, like world renowned museums. And of course, Key West is a beautiful island which mixes both the cosmopolitan and simple kinds of life.

Most people would enjoy riding a bicycle around, sunbathing, partying at night and of course, taking up exciting sports. Examples of popular sports in Key West include jet skiing, windsurfing and wave-running. These are the kind of activities that releases tension brought about by life’s daily hurdles.

Parasailing is probably the crowd favorite. What could be a better way to soothe one’s tired body than going high up above and flying like a bird? This is the kind of “water” sport that instead of going down into the water, you go up into the sky instead. From up above, you’ll get a spectacular view of the beautiful panorama below.

Parasailing involves harnessing the person into a chute which serve as his wings. To propel the person up, the chute is attached to a moving speedy vehicle such as a fast yacht or a jet ski. It may sound dangerous to be flying openly with only a chute, but it isn’t.

Parasailing is considered to be a safe sport. But of course, you would also have to be proactive to better ensure your safety. Before you go flying, enroll yourself first in a short parasailing course. There are many vendors in Key West which offer this kind of service.

Aside from learning how to parasail from the experts, you also need to get yourself good and high quality equipment. You surely wouldn’t want to save a few bucks, and risk equipment failure while you’re up in the sky, right?

The next time you happen to drop by Key West, don’t just be contented in tasting their famous cuisines. Be a little more adventurous and go get yourself a parasail. Parasailling really helps people maintain a young heart, especially those who haven’t had the time to have real fun.



By: Joy Smit

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Introduction – If you plan to go fishing in the Florida Keys area, the best option is to book a fishing charter. Forget about the complications and leave the job to an experienced captain and his crew. They will take care of anglers, licenses, live bait, tackle and cleaning of fish. They will also filet, package, and freeze your fresh fish. You will only have to worry about food, drinks, sunscreen, and having fun.

Rates – Rates for booking a Florida fishing trip go from $550 to $950. There are options for all budgets and schedules: half a day (4 hours either in the morning or in the afternoon) for $550; three quarters of a day (6 hours) for $650; or a full day for $750. You can also book deep bay or deep offshore trips for $800 or tarpon trips (either in the morning or afternoon) for $400. If you want to catch some big tarpon and multiple species of fish but have limited time, your captain can also organize a trip tailored to you. For example: tarpon fishing in the morning, then a half day offshore, reef or backcountry, followed by tarpon fishing again in the evening.

Fishing Calendars – You can catch a wide variety of sportfish species in the Florida Keys, among them: amberjack, barracuda, blackfin tuna, blue marlin, bonefish, cobia, grouper, king mackerel, dolphin, permit, sailfish, shark, snapper, tarpon, wahoo, white marlin, and yellowfin tuna. Before booking your Florida fishing charter, it is advisable you check a Florida Keys fishing calendar in order to know about the best recommended fishing dates for your favorite sportfish species. For example, tarpons are available all year long, scarce from October to March, but fairly abundant from April to June, while white marlins are available from May to August only.

Boats and Equipment – The best fishing experience can be provided only by an experienced captain and his crew, an excellent vessel, top quality fishing tackle, rods, reels, onboard GPS and Depth Technology.Fishing in the Florida Keys demands a extremely versatile vessel, one that provides an excellent performance, be it offshore, backcountry, or tarpon fishing. Look for a vessel that’s able to fish both the bay and the ocean, able to fish all gamefish species in the entire Florida Keys region.When it comes to rods and reels, trust Shimano, and when it comes to fishing lines, trust Sufix. Expert fishermen usually choose Northstart GPS equipment for their geolocation electronics needs, and Furuno Electronics for depth finders technology.



By: Benicio Brown

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Fishing in the Florida Keys: Islamorada

At the southern most part of the United States, located between the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Florida Bay are the Florida Keys. Not only is this one of the most amazing places to vacation, with breathtaking scenery, sandy beaches, and crystal clear water; but there is an abundance of fish that inhabit the warm waters of the Florida Keys. Here, the enormous variety of fish species ranges from Kingfish to Permit. You can go off shore fishing for the big game such as Tuna and Marlin, but the Keys are also ideal for flat fishing on the Florida Bay for Bonefish or Tarpon. Each of the Keys is acknowledged for a special type of fish. Although the species of fish available may vary in different seasons, there is always something to catch year-round in the Keys.

Islamorada is one of the Upper Keys, and known as the sport fishing capital of the world. There have been more record-breaking fish caught here than anywhere in the world. Unlike anywhere else on the Atlantic Coast, the waters of the Gulf Stream are only a few miles offshore. These waters carry hundreds of different species of fish, as well as all warm water game fish that swims in the Northern hemisphere.

Fly fishing is becoming increasingly popular in Islamorada, catching many different types of fish. Some of the most popular fish caught on fly are Spotted Trout, Blue Marlin, Tarpon, and Bonefish.

You may choose to go offshore fishing in the breathtaking blue-green waters of Islamorada. Here you will find fish such as Sailfish, Dolphin, Marlin, Kingfish, Yellowtail, Wahoo, and Mutton Snapper.

If you fish in the beautiful backcountry bays, you will likely find Redfish, Snook, Sea Trout, Tarpon, Bonefish, Permit, as well as many other fish. The waters here are calmer and shallower than that of the ocean. This allows for the use of flats and poling your boat.

Although you are likely to find most species of fish year round, there are certain seasons when specific fish are most abundant in the area.

Winter

Cobia, Grouper, Kingfish, Sailfish, Tuna, Shark

Spring

Blue Marlin, Dolphin, Snapper, Tarpon, Yellowtail, Wahoo

Summer

Tarpon, Dolphin, Yellowtail, Blue Marlin

Fall

Wahoo, Kingfish, Grouper, Bonefish, Snook

There are many fishing tournaments throughout the year in Islamorada. Some of these tournaments include; Captains take “the Cup”, Islamorada Swordfish Tournament, Islamorada Sailfish Tournament, Take Stock in Children Backcountry Challenge, George Bush Cheeca Lodge Bonefish Tournament, and Hog’s Breath King Mackerel Tournament.

There are hundreds of fishing charters, boat rentals, and guides located at the many marinas, to familiarize you with the best areas to fish. The different fishing charters include backcountry flats fishing, light tackle fishing, party boats, and offshore fishing. Because of the importance of local knowledge, it is best to choose fishing charter captains from locals who are familiar to fishing in the area.



By: Kristy Bateman

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If you are a saltwater angler, Key West is the place for you. Quite arguably, it is one of the premier places to fish in the world. So if you are planning a saltwater fishing trip, you won’t want to miss out on Key West. Key West has the Caribbean feel without the need for a passport. Sit back on the beach and sip you’re sweet cocktail and you’ll never know the difference if you were actually sitting in Key West or the Bahamas. I would highly tout Key West as the place to be on a fishing excursion simply because of all the fishing options and tropical climate.

Travel south for the winter? You can’t get much further south than Key West. You can escape the snow and get a tan all at the same time. No worries about the winter-time fishing opportunities either. Go back-country to tap those beautiful baby tarpon or snag some snook. Head off to the flats and chase those ever elusive bonefish. Do it on the fly for double points and kudo’s. Or take on those pulling titan permits. Such an odd looking fish to me but man can they pull. You won’t be dissappointed.

Stick around for those spring and summertime fun when the water really starts jumping as schools of huge tarpon come rolling thru. Definitely the kings of the waterway during these times. Their annual migration leads them right thru Key West both going and coming as they circle Florida for the best breeding grounds. Have you ever hooked a tarpon? If you haven’t, once you do, you’ll chase them for life!

Probably the best way to go and fish Key West if you’re visiting is to charter a guide. These people live there. They fish basically everyday. Following the different pods of fish around and know what’s available and how to put you on the fish with what they have been feasting on. Even if you come down with boat in tow, do yourself a favor, find out how to go about it by getting a guide. Let them take you out for that first trip. Let them show you where the honey-holes are located. Ask them why the fish are holding there. Ask lot’s of questions and be friendly. Let them show you what you need and how to be rigged for the different types of fishing you’ll do when on a charter. Information is king (well, luck plays a little part as well) when it comes to fishing in Key West and the more you know the better you will do. Besides, doesn’t everyone want a successful fishing trip?

You are there to learn more than anything while undertaking a guides services so ask pertinent questions. Ask questions like, do the fish bite better here on a falling or rising tide? Are we fishing a falling tide? Do you have any success catching them on another type of bait? Why do you think the fish are holding here? You get the drift.

If the budget affords it, plan some specialty guided fishing trips. Key West offers so much because of it’s location you can do virtually any type of saltwater fishing there is. From pristine flats to a lush backcountry, from channels to offshore, it has it all. Personally, I would plan for at least a flats fishing expedition for tarpon, permit, barracudas and bonefish as well as a backcountry tour for more tarpon, snook, redfish and trout. And if I had any money left over and the wife agreed, you could bet I would head offshore for some reef, wreck and trolling sport fishing for snapper, grouper and whatever else would hit the line. Bottom line is, if you like to fish, no matter what type of fishing you like, Key West has it and has it in abundance.



By: Chris Copeland

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So just what is the best time to go Key West Tarpon Fishing? The simple answer to that question is anytime you can get a line in the water. Tarpon are found year round in these beautiful waters surrounding Key West. At any given moment, you could be fighting one of these absolutely fun and acrobatic fish that do a tango on the water like no other fish you have ever seen. Good luck getting them boatside though as they are not ones that give up easy.

What’s the best time of day? For the most part, the best time of day to go catch tarpon in Key West is really angler independent. Without a doubt, fishing is going to be better in the early morning times or the later afternoon hours. Tides tend to fluctuate with moon phases and tarpon can definitely be tidal feeders. So when the moon is just starting to rise on that horizon or if it is getting near to setting, you can guarantee that the waters will be moving and the tarpon are going to act quickly and abruptly. However, that being said, don’t count out night fishing for tarpon.

Most guides that charter for Key West tarpon fishing do run night trips and have more than frequently reported that night time tarpon fishing can be overall much better than anytime during the day. They can be a little harder to land, but as far as hookups, it’s been noted that night fishing for tarpon can definitely out weigh day time hookups. Don’t worry, you will still be able to see their aerial assualts but you get the added anticipation from being able to hear them before you can see them if you’re quiet. What a thrill!

What’s the best time of year? Key West is privy to a prime location for tarpon as they incur an annual migration that loads these fish up to number in the thousands during certain times of year. The annual tarpon migration floats thru Key West beginning sometime in March and can stay around as late as July. April, May and June are premier months but just be aware that there are a lot more anglers on the water during these times. It’s not uncommon to see massive schools of these huge tarpon during those months.

To sum it all up, the best Key West tarpon fishing time is really whenever you can get down to Key West. If you can get to Key West during the annual tarpon migration you will be in for the treat of a lifetime.



By: Chris Copeland

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