Decided to drive to Islamorada today. Got in traffic jam quick, after if took half an hour to go ten miles, I changed my mind and made a U turn at the first possible opportunity. Wasn't in the mood for 3 hour drive at the rate I was going.

Been hearing on the local tv news about wildfire in the wetlands south of Homestead.. its been burning for a couple of days.. now up to 2000 acres and moving directly towards town. Decide to try and check it out since it so close and I can smell it ... not much to see, no way to get closer, back to Flamingo.


Planned to fish the last few hours of daylight as that's when the fish have been turning on each day. On the way to Flamingo, I decide to take a detour to the Miami Brewry to pick up something for my sister, who's been taking care of my cat. I don't know squat about wine, wineries, or tastings... all sounds kinda gay to me. Wasn't in any hurry to fish, get sunburned, or mosquito bit.. this could be interesting.


There were 50 cars in the overflow parking... this place was packed... I'm parking up close as I see someone coming out... hope its not valet parking. See some hot chicks walking in, nicely dressed, much like myself. Wished I'd shaved in the last 2 weeks. First impression of the place is old drug money.






It was a very nice place... and the lady that greeted you was nice as well, even with the mask. I told her upfront, I knew nothing about wine and just wanted to look at the pictures on the bottles and I would be happy. She tried to explain the tastes of each variety, I explained it would not be for me. She explained that the wines I chose were not made from grapes... that's even better in my mind. Bought three bottle after looking at them..

CAT 2 as explained on back of label says its best served after hurricane knocks out your electricity and cows are flying by.
CAT 3 has a taste that will blow you away
Florida Sweet Avocado... made from avocados... with a picture of alligator on it because back in the day avocados were called alligator pears because the skin of avocado resembled an alligator skin.

Anyway.. it was a short, nice experience and I'm glad I stopped by... didn't fish today though I did drive down to Flamingo eventually. Took this picture on the way back out.






Ash from the fire has been falling all night.. my sign that its time to go... all packed up.

And for those that plan to visit Flamingo and looking for things to do..

https://miamibrewing.com/

Totally AWEOME thread! Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for sharing!

bien

The best thing about that place is there are no mosquitos or no see ums!

Outstanding Post!!

Spent the day in Hollywood and Ft Lauderdale. Now headed to Chokoloskee, Everglades National Park for a day or two. Hitting the water in the morning.

Chokoloskee Island Park

I’ve had enough... lots of snook on top water this morning.. a few trout and plenty of wind. I’m done.. headed home in the morning.. pics later, when I have a better internet connection.

I haven’t been on TFF for years, till recently. This post makes me want to hang around awhile! Florida has been on my list for a long time. I was there doing claims after Irma, took a very small jaunt south from Naples just to look around and really wished for my fishing gear… Work was intense, the pay was intense, and next thing I knew it was done and I was back in Texas, never having wet a line!

Bring a bug suit and hat, just to be on the safe side.. and a jug of deet. Picture from 15 or so years ago when I got stranded for hours until tide came back in. Tried to take a short cut across a flat that would get me off the water before dark when I knew the mosquitoes would be swarming. Went through half a can of deet and still had at least 50 bites on each knee, elbow, shoulder, and anywhere else the fabric was tight against my skin. Mosquitoes aren't fazed by deet out there. Not too bad this trip as the wind had them grounded most of the time


This was what I was surrounded by at dead low tide that night. Each of those little lumps are baby crabs.. thousands of them in every direction. Kept thinking a python would soon be coming over the top of the grass since I was less that 50 yards from Joe Kemp Key. The drone of mosquitoes was driving me nuts.. Most miserable night I've ever experienced. When I made it back to ramp and loaded up, there were mosquitoes all in my car. I drove home with windows down and a/c blasting. Rolled windows up when I got home. Took car to car wash the next day to vacuum out ... counted over 200 of them dead from the car getting hot inside the next day.

A few pics from my last day fishing.. stayed at Chokolosskee Island Park Marina and Lodge.. what a great place! Most scenic part of the island, best facilities, and nicest folks running the place. They have everything you need to have a great time whether you're fishing or just relaxing.

https://www.chokoloskee.com/

All my fishing buddies prefer this to Flamingo.. its definitely more civilized. I usually spend a day or two here on way home as its on the way... kinda. Day in, day out, this would be my first choice if I absolutely had to catch a fish no matter what the weather. Lots of places close by to hide out from any wind direction and much less paddling to my favorite spots here. Have caught as many as 10 species of fish in one day here. For some reason, the top water bite here is much better here than Flamingo.. Caught a dozen snook on Saturday... and missed many more on bone colored Rapala Skitterwalk... had a good one bust me off when I couldn't turn it and it went over an oyster bar. Caught small trout as well. Was done by 1:00, paddled back in and took a nap, woke up around 5:00 and fished a couple more hours. Was too tired to paddle a half mile to my favorite spots so just stayed close to marina and caught a few more before dark. Woke up the next morning early and decided to head home instead of fishing.. I want to get home and get rest.

Saw this canoe drifting by early morning... didn't know if someone had died and was in it or what. Unloaded kayak, grabbed a rope and pulled it back to marina. It was fully loaded with rods/reels, yeti cooler, all kinds of stuff. Reported it to marina and they contacted someone... found out later it was a homeless man's that lived on the island and that this was the third time he had "lost" it.




Lots of small snook...all but this one caught on top water





All in all it was a great time... didn't see a single tarpon entire trip.. first time for everything. Didn't catch any snook the size I was hoping for but had a couple on that would have been pushing 32 inches.. I know they are there... its just tough when they can drag you wherever they want, and you're fishing right next to the mangrove roots. I've been going down the first week in May the last three years to avoid the heat and bugs... its been hit and miss. I'll wait until June or July next year when I'll have Flamingo to myself as most folks won't deal with it. It will be brutally hot, no wind, really buggy and plenty of tarpon around. Might be going back down there this fall, which is my favorite time of year, but you get tropical storms/hurricane that time of year.

Wow! ! ! Sure have enjoyed the report and pics. Thanks!