Marco Island??

[Newbie]

Well, we seem to go every year but this year we are thinking of draggin the boat 750 miles down too. Anyone familiar with the area? What are the must see's by boat, day or overnight trips etc? Decent marinas to stay at. Looking at a map, I would guess key west is about 100 miles straight line from Marco, a bit too far nonstop for my 260 but are there any fuel stops along the coast line? Looks like mostly everglades till you get to the keys. I dont really care for KW myself but my wife would like to go back so I'm OK if its too far fuelwise for my 260:grin: Thanks SB

 

[missnmountains]

Marco is one of the last stops before Key West. The water is very skinny going in on the north side of Marco. You might consider the following:

1. Ft. Myers Beach
2. Pine Island Sound up to Cabbage Key or Useppa
3. Sanibel
4. North Captiva

If you have enough gas or can carry extra, Key West is great. The West Bight has quite a few transient slips. We really like Conch Harbor Marina.

 

[Morpheus]

#2 gets my vote, right there at the entry to Charlotte Harbor is where you will find HUGE Schools of Tarpon being fished.

I currently keep our boat down there in Punta Gorda Isles very nice boating there lots of places to fish.

In Charlotte Harbour great place to dock and eay is Harpoon Harrys. We will be down there out on the boat the Week of May 30 - June 8th.

May/June is Love Bug season look out they suck and make your boat dirty dirty with all their dead bodies everywhere (millions of them) was bad last year.

When do you plan on comming?

 

[unklbuck]

If the keys are your thing, go to Key Largo, put in there and have a blast making your way down to key west.

go to boatersed forum and the MIami key guys chat it up alot more than at this place.

i just got to ft myers and love this place. from what i hear, the guys in marco and naples all head up here to boat.

this place has alot of protected water and is fantastic for boating. ft myers beach, and all mtns mentioned are great.

going to sarasota tomorrow to get a runabout and will really start to enjoy the waters now.

 

[dpvandy01]

Circumnavigated Marco a few weeks ago, beautiful but tricky. It gets very shallow and the channel gets tight on the East side of the island. We were in a small Glacier bay with twin outboards, not too much of a draft. I'd be extra cautious back there in a heavy draft cruiser. Get good charts, tune the depth finder and be sure to have an extra set of eyes or two looking for the markers..

 

[Fishnut]

If you go to the keys head down to Goodland and cross there, the water is calmer, generally and waterway is a little deeper. You would hit the keys at Marathon. Plan on 90 miles to get there.

 

[unklbuck]

Fishnut, looking to start some fishing up around ft myers.
assume you are a fish nut and have some local know.
interested

 

[Fishnut]

I don't know whether you like inshore or offshore better. You are coming at a great time because our water has never been better. The clarity around Pine Island and even right in the river downtown fort Myers has been really clear. Use Florocarbon leaders and have at it. We have been getting trout and reds on gold spoons and DOA jigs in white and green colors. Check out the Florida Sportsman forum for some very good info and fishing reports.

 

[unklbuck]

i'll look for you out there. I am at palmetto point, in a 27 everglades, Tiger Tail, and in Uncle Buck on Tuesdays--going to lunch at Parrots something in Ft Myers Beach.