Marathon - Florida keys

So I'm not a very experienced saltwater guy but the more I do it, the more I want to ditch the bass tackle and head to the salt. The family and I are heading to the keys in a few weeks and I'm looking for any advice y'all could give me for fishing around Marathon. We will have a 25' center console for the week. Im wondering if anyone can give me info on how/where to catch some bait? Also any advice on places to take the family to do some bottom fishing so we can catch some dinner? Or areas to troll for some bigger fish. Any advice y'all could give me would be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance!

PS- I'd love to catch a tarpon and I hear Bahia Honda is the place to be. Any advice on tackle for the tarpon as far as line/hook size??

Best advice I can give would be to start out getting the book below.. you'll probably catch stuff you've never seen before and this book has the best pictures of what's what.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sport-fish-of-florida-vic-dunaway/1102472383

If you are driving down, the best fishing store in all the keys is in Islamorada, the World Wide Sportsman and right next to a great place to eat on the water.. Islamorado Fish Co.

https://goo.gl/maps/wGV6z8B1kPu

My favorite part of the keys to fish was at Channel Two Bridge. I've hung lots of tarpon, monster jacks and snook here, from shore and from kayak. A great place to get out of your vehicle and see the water up close. If you zoom in you'll see fishing bridge that parallels highway. Lots of folks will anchor their boats near high lines that run parallel to bridge and cast towards bridge for tarpon with live bait.

https://goo.gl/maps/9zB7kWFt31S2


Video below from Channel Two Bridge.


You're only about 30 minutes by car from Islamorada to Marathon, even less from Channel Two Bridge.

I never fished Marathon but did snorkel the most beautiful reef in the keys there.. Sombrero Reef.

Yellow tail fishing is very popular in the keys.. here is a good article on how to. Hope you catch a bunch!

http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?32645-Keys-FAQ-How-to-Catch-Yellowtail-Snapper

Thank you for the info! Sounds like the yellow tail is the thing to do!

Get some jig head circle hooks and some fresh shrimp and have fun around the bridge pilings and docks.

Can you recommend a GREAT fishing guide in Islamorada? I am interested about inshore and offshore.

I don't know any that far down the Keys.. best place for information would be from the Keys section of Florida Sportsman.. below are a few threads that might be of interest.

http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?220714-Heading-to-marathon

http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?221098-TIPS-for-Bahia-Honda-Bridge-Tarpons/page3

http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?221197-Upcoming-Islamorada-Trip-6-2-6-12

http://forums.floridasportsman.com/showthread.php?222284-Take-Charter-or-Rent-boat

check out http://budnmarys.com/?gclid=COOx1eDu_MwCFQctaQod2bgB9Q
they offer everything you are looking for.
Went with them 3 years ago 1 day back country fishing, 1 day deep sea fishing and one day party boat fishing with family ( small kids )

hey M.T.Pockets.. great link.. just wondering what type of fishing you enjoyed the most while you were there.. So many folks go down and might not realize how totally different the waters, the boats and the scenery are on those three trips you took.

I liked the back country trip the best. Caught a Fla. grand slam. Red Fish, Trout, Snook and a small Tarpon. As we were pulling in the snook the sharks were attacking them. managed to hook up with a very large bull shark on 20 pound mono and chased it for over a half hour. " GREAT TRIP." Guides from Bud and Mary's also had a show on the weather channel I believe it was called REEL TIME

Same with me.. I started out fishing offshore and once I fished the backcountry that's all I ever wanted to fish.. so much to see with all the different types of wildlife. Flamingo in Everglades National Park was my home waters for almost 15 years.