On thursday im leaving to go to the keys and im goin to take my 8 ft rod with 30 lb test braid. I will try beach fishing from the hotel beach. I will be about 4 miles away from the downtown keys area.

suggestions for preferably dead bait because im going to need the space in the car. not really looking to throw lures just because its the keys i just want to cast something out and let it sit. 8-)

insight/bait choice?

also if you have a addictive fishing forum u may have noticed that i posted this topic there aswell..i posted it here because i am more likely to get the help i need.

I like (live)shrimp the best but pilchards and cigar minnows work great too. With shrimp I would use a poppin cork. With bait try the bottom or normal cork. I was in the keys last month and we caught a TON of speckled trout and lady fish.

I lost a tarpon that was close to 10 lbs on a light spinning rod >

If you catch anything small, use it for bait. You should pick up some pompanos off the beach. Keep your eyes peeled for sand fleas as they make great bait.

Make sure you bring bug spray with as much DEET as possible.

do you think the doa deadly combo would work and good if the surf was calm enough?

I did not have any bites on them. Try some spoons or white/red bucktails tipped with shrimp . We saw tarpon all over the place so you may want to get some live crabs.

Let us know how you do.

i'll take a stab at the tarpon just b/c i have never caught one. but my mom and cuzin from finland will be there

so maybe some tips on fish i can eat like pompano?

Find some pompano jigs that look like small bucktails, the more colorful jigs with strips of mylar work well.

Here is a link that you should like:

http://www.floridasportsman.com/4cast/ke/

All I have to say is Tarpon, Tarpon, Tarpon!!!!  

The tarpon should start showing up strong around the bridges and channels.  Make sure you bring at least a 7' med to med/hvy outfit with plenty of line capacity. I like 65lb braid with  30-50lb. floro leader.  Some great lures to throw are DOA Shrimp, Terror Eyez, Mullet Imitating Swimbaits, Super Spooks, and Topwater Chuggers.  My favorite lure though has to be the glow in dark DOA Shrimp.  Also, if you can afford it hire a guide, it will be the trip of a lifetime.  Beach fishing is hit or miss depending if you see bird or fish activity.  You can also catch food fish around the bridges (i.e. Snappers).  Make sure you know the fishing regulations though and don't keep anything that will get you in trouble.  

yeaa im kinda 14 yrs old so i dont have the budget and setup. just planning to set up on the beach and relaxxx 8-)