Although i like the lighter tackle, the variety of species and sizes fishing the patch reefs makes me lean to the heavier side. For some of the easiest, surefire fishing to be had in winter in florida, motor out to the keys. Fishing the patch reefs and inshore rock piles in the lower florida keys. Any halfdecent marathon fishing charter will be able to get you pulling in fish after fish, with various species of snapper and grouper swarming the. Coffins patch is a great reef close to the marinas and no more then 30 feet deep, you can see small nurse sharks, barracuda, rays even eels. Lets take a few moments to look at just a handful of marathons best dive sites.
The sanctuary preservation area spa is approximately 4nm 7km southeast of key colony beach. Seasquared now offers boat tours and excursions in marathon fl keys september 1. A fishing reef is a place where marine life congregate and thrive. Would you associate this place or activity with entertainment. Also included in the show notes is a strike line charts under 3d sonar image of some good patch reef fishing spots off key largo. Fish patch reefs in cold weather florida keys weekly. This is typical patch reef fishing all found 2 miles or less from shore here in marathon, florida. Marathon key patch reef fishing american fishing co. The patch reefs deliver for first time anglers in the florida keys. If you dont mind bagging a mixed batch and really, who does. This is a great way for the whole family to enjoy a great day on the atlantic waters just off of. Half day charter florida keys angling adventures marathon.
Marathon fishing charters marathon fishing charters. A lively reef, some coral and plenty of fish around courtesy of the boat crew feeding them. Florida keys mutton snapper florida and the 120 mile stretch of the florida keys has the only living barrier coral reef in the continental united states. When the winds howling across the florida keys, light tackle jigging over shallow patch reefs can save the day. Most of the patch reefs are 5 to 15 feet deep and 100 feet or less in size, and most are accessable with a small boat.
Marathon is called the heart of the florida keys and features the 7 mile bridge, sombrero beach, crane point, pigeon key and marathon airport. This is a great way for the whole family to enjoy a great day on the atlantic waters just off of marathon key, florida. He eventually found them over a structure in about 200 feet of water. Often times, when we get cold fronts here it will blow very hard from the north for days at a time. Light tackle, small reefs, but big fun and lots of. A gpx file download is provided at the bottom of the page if youd like to import all the locations into your gps. Reef fishing charters in marathon, florida keys coral charters. The middle keys gps numbers include florida bay on the bay side and the atlantic ocean out to the straights of. Fishing the patch reefs and inshore rock piles in the lower florida keys can be a lot of fun in the winter and can yield some tasty fish. The tackle i prefer to use while fishing in the shallow waters of the patch reef is light spinning tackle in the 10 to 20 pound class. Florida and the 120 mile stretch of the florida keys has the only living barrier coral reef in the continental united states. Florida keys patch reef fishing is a local term for fishing shallow water reefs, rock piles, coral heads and small ship wrecks inside the florida. The locations below are primarily artificial reefs and shipwrecks.
Coffins patch is a great reef close to the marinas and no more then 30 feet deep, you can see small nurse sharks, barracuda. Explore your marathon fishing, dining, accommodations and watersports options here. Light tackle, small reefs, but big fun and lots of action. Hunting mutton and grouper off the marathon bottom coastal. This round, upcropping is full of nooks, crannies, and holes and is a perfect home for grouper and other bottom species. One of the largest spur and groove reef formations in the florida keys, sombrero key reef features lovely fingers of lettuce and brain coral, with lush stands of gorgonians and brilliant forests of elkhorn coral separated by white, sandy valleys. Ross gallagher shares his technqiues for shallow water jigging mutton snapper out of marathon. Florida keys fishing spots with over 500 fishing spots with gps coordinates for inshore patch reef fishing and offshore fishing spots in the florida keys from key largo, islamorada, marathon, big pine key, key west and all keys locations for reef fishing, bottom fishing and trolling. They are great for family fun trips, patch reef fishing, and anglers just wanting to get out there and catch some fish and not take up the entire day.
Bringing a few of my semi experienced fishing buddies, along with all our wivesgirlfriends. Coffins patch sanctuary preservation area noaa florida keys. Often times, when we get cold fronts here it will blow very hard from the north for. Keys patch reefs and wrecks produce a wide variety of species, including this big african pompano. Marathon florida vacation planning monroe county tdc. Marathon florida keys fishing report captain chris johnson, seasquared charters december 28, 2010 our good client, jerry moore, escapes western pennyslvania every christmas to spend some. Many species of fish and other sea life are abundant on the patch reefs. Top 10 marathon, fl fishing charters for 2020 fishingbooker. Just looking for some atlantic patch reef fishing tips that would be easy to have the ladies enjoy. Florida keys patch reef fishing seasquared charters. Key west fishing link 801 eaton st, key west, fl 33040 305 8536036. Reef fishing charter fishing the reefs off of marathon in the florida keys is nothing but a hop, skip, and a jump from land. It is a picturesque east marathon snorkel spot with lots of live hard coral and fish.
Patch reef fishing angling adventures florida keys fishing. Start off with a heavy spinng reel with 20 25 lb test mono with no leader and 50 eagle claw long shank hooks. Youll be fishing anywhere from 20 feet of water on the patch reefs out to a little over 100 feet for big yellowtail and other snapper and grouper. Our waterfront villas are situated right on the gulf of mexico and comfortably sleep up to 6 people with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a queen sleeper sofa in the living room.
Marathon reef site bridge rubble, 100 deep gps coordinates. I included detailed patch reef fishing tackle and fishing tips. When it comes to florida keys snorkeling and novice diving, coffins patch, a reef at marathon, is an amazing florida keys dive site. The patch reef fishing was red hot this past winter, he told me as we set up on a patch almost within swimming distance of marathon. This is an elbow shaped coral reef stretching generally east and west about 200 yards. How to fish patch reefs in the florida keys red rum. Marathon is a beautiful place to vacation year round with a relaxing atmosphere and plenty of activities to keep anyone busy.
Informations on the diving spot of coffins patch marathon key. All of our units accommodate six people in an octagon shaped villa with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and living room and a full kitchen. Boating and angling guide to the middle keys, side a little duck key to grassy key, including marathon,key colony beach, sombrero reef, and coffins patch. Jan 09, 2012 this is typical patch reef fishing all found 2 miles or less from shore here in marathon, florida. We started this half day trip catching nice mangrove snapper for almost an hour before we anchored up on a shallow patch reef for some. This vibrant coral reef system is considered the backbone of all life in the florida keys. When selecting a patch reef, look for one with large ferns and little rock or structure preferrably 10 14 ft in depth. Click on a location on the map to see its description and coordinates, or scroll down to the list to see all the details. With lovely patch reefs everywhere, and numerous dive operators to choose from, plus plenty of great shore dives, marathon is a great place to escape from the cares of everyday life, for divers new and experienced alike. There are not many spots on this planet that can offer the diverse fishing available in islamorada. And it was always changing from one day to the next. The reef at marathon waterfront villas in the heart of.
A shared community pool is available to you, it is located a minute or two walking distance within our park grounds. The patch reefs offer awesome light tackle fishing in the winter months. Fishing the many different patch reefs that average 20 feet or so in depth is fantastic. Mangrove snapper, yellowtail, blackfin, hogfish, wahoo, grunt and barracuda always provide good fun for any angler. Grecian rocks, french reef, molasses reef, conch reef, and alligator reef are also shown. Snorkeling is fantastic at numerous nearby reefs and state marine parks coffin patch reef, sombrero reef. Patch reef fishing 2 miles offshore from marathon key, fl. Each villa has a fullsized washer and dryer and a large storage area. Start your vacation right with some of the best florida keys diving and snorkeling at captain hooks. Coffins patch key colony beach 2020 all you need to know. Mar 21, 2012 the patch reef fishing was red hot this past winter, he told me as we set up on a patch almost within swimming distance of marathon. Florida keys snorkeling best snorkeling in the keys.
On the atlantic side you have the benefit of offshore fishing the patch reefs and artificial reefs which produce an abundance of feisty florida fish throughout the year. Patch reef fishing angling adventures florida keys fishing trips. Fishing patch reefs are a good way to start out fishing in the keys,and learn the techniques of florida keys fishing. Several snorkelboats leave duckkey and marathon for daily trips to nearby reefs. You will be able to catch many different species of fish and enjoy the wonders of this type of angling. The shallow patch reefs of the coffins patch sanctuary preservation area spa, located approximately four nautical miles off key colony beach, offer some of the best snorkeling in the middle keys.
Fishing in the florida keys off of marathon island with american fishing co. With two locations to serve you, captain hooks takes daily trips the marathon reefs and looe key reef located in the middle and lower keys. Patch reefs are small coral reef formations inside of the main barrier reef. How to fish the patch reefs in the winter bullbuster. Patch reef fishing angling adventures florida keys. Grassy key is an island in the middle florida keys, between crawl key and. I will be heading to marathon for a week and we will be renting a boat, my family and i have been 6 times before and have fishing experience at the patch reefs and other areas, but we have never been during the summer. Coffins patch key colony beach 2020 all you need to.
Other inshore and offshore patch reefs in the surrounding area remain open. The middle keys gps numbers include florida bay on the bay side and the atlantic ocean out to the straights of florida including long key to marathon between longitude 80 45 and 81 09. Feb 26, 2012 inshore patch fishing marathon with mike kevin johnsen. Marathon florida keys vacation planning is a breeze with, the official tourism site of the florida keys. Its home to over 500 different species of fish and 1,400 species of marine life. Sombrero reef marathon 2020 all you need to know before. Florida keys patch reef mutton snapper the intrepid angler. The overall area is composed of 6 different reefs, each sporting a predominantly different coral. Mm3 marathon hump west hump spearfishing ok in this area. May 25, 2017 a patch reef in 40 feet of water may be thirty feet in diameter and the water depth on top of the patch may be only 10 to 15 feet deep. Some nice mangsyellowtail for dinner and stuff to keep the ladies busy catching. The reef at marathon is a timeshare ownership community of waterfront villas available for rental and purchase.
Fishing the reefs off marathon in the keys florida sportsman. The reef includes rare pillar coral and other coral species unique to the keys. Concrete bridge spans long key bridge 5 patch reefs. The shallow patch reefs of the coffins patch sanctuary preservation area spa, located approximately four nautical miles off key colony beach, offer some of. Florida keys reef and bottom fishing opportunities. In addition to the wellknown coffins patch and sombrero reef snorkeling spots, there are many other healthy and beautiful shallow water patch reefs close to marathon and duck key, fl. Just a few minutes from our dock in marathon is one of the most beautiful coral reefs on the planet.
The reef at marathon is a unique resort in the florida keys. Offshore, patch reef, gulf and bay, back county, everglades, the flamingo, and bridges are all active destinations for the largest fishing fleet in the world. The reef at marathon waterfront villas in the heart of the. Dave spent the early part of the day hopping from wreck to wreck and patch reef to patch reef, briefly prospecting each one with baits before moving on in search of hungry fish.
1005 1036 833 1136 1368 1153 870 1054 597 1066 494 793 981 1496 1201 673 290 1503 572 1076 772 464 336 191 463 36 352 1107 994 1164 190 399 217 1104 395