BAY VS OCEAN FISHING

One of the most under-rated fishing grounds available is the back country. Worried about rough seas and sea sickness, young children (the wife -sh!)? Not here! The back country is just a stone’s throw from Seven Mile Bridge to the North. Between the islands that you see from the Seven Mile Bridge, the waters abound in all kinds of fish. Lip smacking mangrove snapper, lane snapper, mackerel, spotted sea trout, grouper, cobia, barracuda, sharks, just to name a few. There is no Charter Captain who knows these waters better, fished here as long and has pulled in as many fish as Captain Donnie. And here you can be guaranteed calm waters no matter what the forecast (unless, of course, it’s hurricane season). The water is gin clean - what you would call an aquarium - and shallow - 5 to 7 feet. Children get a real kick out of watching the loggerhead turtles and dolphins swim by. This is the perfect place for a family outing.

OK. So, you’re ready for a bit of the Big Action. Then it’s off to the high seas. Start the morning off deep dropping for mutton snappers. These fish are so big they will knock your socks off. Catch a couple of these behemoths and you’ll get a good night sleep!

Then head towards the Gulf Stream for some tail jumpin’ action. Whether the sailfish are biting are the dolphin are running, Captain Donnie will put you where the action is. Depending on the season, marlin, sailfish, wahoo, dolphin, tuna, cobia, permit, kind fish, etc., roam these waters. You never know just what you might catch.

The afternoon brings you back to the reef for a try at a black, red or even a goliath grouper and maybe some yellowtail snappers. The Florida Keys restaurants are well known for their ability to cook to perfection your catch for you. Might as well take them up on it! Just ask Captain Donnie what he recommends. He’ll send you to the best watering hole that will cater to your every whim. As Captain Donnie would say “that fish was so good it would make you slap your grandma!”

No matter how you spend your day either in the Bay or out in the Ocean, the Florida Keys host the most spectacular sunsets. And there is no better way to toast the sunset than with Captain Donnie’s Sunset Toast.

Best Sunset

“Here’s to the tall ships

Here’s to the small ships,

Here’s to all the ships at sea,

But here’s to the best ship,

Our friendship,

Here’s to you and me!”