Heading down to Islamorada on the 24th anyone have any fishing spot suggestions or live near by and want to take a northerner out on the water?

Not bass but go down to Bud n Mary's and get on the party boat.  Cheap and you'll catch a few, a good time!  I like just fishing the bridges piers, and marinas, any will do.  Use #10 cricket hooks with a small piece of shrimp weightless near pylons or rocks and you'll catch stuff that looks like it came out of an aquarium, big fun for kids of any age.  Most of the marinas have tarpon pass through and also an occasional bonefish.  Proper tackle and your A game will be needed for either.  Any questions just ask.  It's my fav place on this planet.   

I'm going down through the keys in mid April. Is it easy to find spots to fish from the shore? 

There are lots of parks along the highway and old sections of the highway that have been turned into fishing piers.

Islamorada is an awesome place to fish. Bone fishing on the flats with fly rods is my favorite salt water fishing. For deep water, the party boats that take you out to the hump are always good.

I'd wager that most of us don't live primarily in Islamorada. It's a healthy drive to get there for the majority of the guys on Bass Resource.

That being said, if you really want to treat yourself, book a guide. Islamorada is truly a world class fishing destination.

http://www.bridgemapper.com/maps/fl/fl_monroe.htm

Plenty of bridges to fish from. Not all bridges are open to fish from. 

There is shoreline to fish from...look for signs, some places are off limits/private property. Google map your area, I found several spots that were secluded and little to no traffic on several of the lower keys. You can get shrimp and other bait pretty much everywhere. 

You will not find it difficult to find a place to fish.

Have fun!

Bridges, shoreline for bone fish>>>have a great time.  Love that place.  

>>>Envious.

I'd wager that most of us don't live primarily in Islamorada. It's a healthy drive to get there for the majority of the guys on Bass Resource.

That being said, if you really want to treat yourself, book a guide. Islamorada is truly a world class fishing destination.

Could not agree more. Drop the coin on a guide, you will not regret it, before you get back to the dock, you will be planning your next trip down.

Eat at the islamadora fish company, if its a warm day take a snorkel trip out of bahia honda state park down by the seven mile bridge, and like atcoha said get a guide that will keep u on the fish. 

Use the charter or guides equipment, they carry the right gear.  Fishing by yourself from shore, I do not recommend using your bass outfit unless you have no other alternative.

What would you recommend as a suitable general beach lure fishing outfit for the keys?

I do a lot of beach fishing.  This is very easy fishing, either the fish are there or they aren't, you're either catching or you're not.  I would be using a spoon, no one is really better than another, I do like Kastmaster for the distance. Bucktail jigs are a staple, as is a plastic fluke style bait on a jig head.  Can never go to the beach without a topwater lure, Poppa Dogs and bottle poppers are my choice.  Don't really need anything else.

Don't miss eating at Lazy Days Restaurant on the south side of the Island.  It looks like a stilt house but its a quality place, beautiful view of the main cut, and the prices are not bad.   If you catch some fish, they will cook it for you, for a small charge.   I have been going there for 20 years.  I never go to the lower keys without a stop at Lazy Days!!!

I do a lot of beach fishing.  This is very easy fishing, either the fish are there or they aren't, you're either catching or you're not.  I would be using a spoon, no one is really better than another, I do like Kastmaster for the distance. Bucktail jigs are a staple, as is a plastic fluke style bait on a jig head.  Can never go to the beach without a topwater lure, Poppa Dogs and bottle poppers are my choice.  Don't really need anything else.

What rod, reel and line would you recommend? ML, 2500 and 10lb braid?

What rod, reel and line would you recommend? ML, 2500 and 10lb braid?

 

If I were casting lures from the beach I would not use a m/l, even for smaller fish.    Having only 1 outfit with me I'd be using a mh rod with 20# braid, preferable a 4000 reel.  Especially if this kind of fishing and the species are new to you. You never know what you can run into down there.  

A 2500 is just asking to get spooled. Like Snook said 4000 at least. Especially from a beach. If you get into a good jack, shook, or cuda, you'll need the extra line. A ML could possibly work, but you'll be going in under gunned. I'd be surprised if you were able to turn a decent fish around on that light of a rod. Would make for one fun fight though.

Thanks. I was surprised when a ML rod was recommended previously. Your recommendation sounds more reasonable.

I tried to come up with a good answer using heavier gear than a ml rod and 2500.  It's difficult to explain if one has little experience in this venue, short answer just as easy to catch a 45" barracuda as a 1# blue runner.  

 

One aspect that never gets discussed is having respect for the fish if the intent is C & R.  It's common practice to land a bass real fast as not to stress it, should these fish be treated differently.  My answer is no, an overslot snook or tarpon should be handled with care, if the fight is too long those fish should be broke off IMO.  Being illegal to keep them there is no reason a responsible fisherman would risk those fish dying from exhaustion.  Just like wanting to catch a big bass again by treating it with care, I want to catch these fish again too.

Just a little bit of rant...........I dislike when people come to Florida and abuse our resources, you don't mishandle your bass, don't mishandle my tarpon and snook.

Don't miss eating at Lazy Days Restaurant on the south side of the Island.  It looks like a stilt house but its a quality place, beautiful view of the main cut, and the prices are not bad.   If you catch some fish, they will cook it for you, for a small charge.   I have been going there for 20 years.  I never go to the lower keys without a stop at Lazy Days!!!

Amen brother, the best!!  Walk out on their little dock at dusk and be amazed at the tarpon and nurse sharks all around you

I tried to come up with a good answer using heavier gear than a ml rod and 2500.  It's difficult to explain if one has little experience in this venue, short answer just as easy to catch a 45" barracuda as a 1# blue runner.  

 

One aspect that never gets discussed is having respect for the fish if the intent is C & R.  It's common practice to land a bass real fast as not to stress it, should these fish be treated differently.  My answer is no, an overslot snook or tarpon should be handled with care, if the fight is too long those fish should be broke off IMO.  Being illegal to keep them there is no reason a responsible fisherman would risk those fish dying from exhaustion.  Just like wanting to catch a big bass again by treating it with care, I want to catch these fish again too.

Just a little bit of rant...........I dislike when people come to Florida and abuse our resources, you don't mishandle your bass, don't mishandle my tarpon and snook.

Many thanks. I'm from England, where we virtually invented catch and release fishing as a standard practice. Believe me, if you were seem boat flipping fish here it wouldn't be long before someone had a word! I completely get what you're saying and dislike people fishing too light and exhausting fish unnecessarily. I'm amazed the IFGA still promotes line class records as it leads to things like people trying to catch marlin on 4lb line. Very clever, but not for the fish.