Fishing in the Florida Keys – Survival Tools

Matt and I just returned home from our 2nd annual fishing trip in the Florida Keys. It has quickly become one of our most anticipated vacation spots. I’m not sure I’d survive the summer heat there, but March seems to bring the perfect weather. Flip flops, cool breezes, and sunny skies. Last year – our first year – we went in blind not knowing what to expect. We were left feeling like we forgot to pack a few necessary items but this year we were much more prepared. Read on to see what we added to our suitcase this time around.

1.)THE YETI BEER COLSTER

Probably the single most used Christmas present Matt has ever received. After suffering through too many warm beers and having to pour the end of his cans out to his homies (stale Natty Boh doesn’t work quite the same as the chum bag) he scribbled this goody onto his wish list. After my mother gifted it to him this past Christmas it has become attached to his hand as a new appendage. He is continuously amazed at how cold his beer stays 20, 30, even 40 minutes after cracking it. A beer lasting that long around my Matt is an anomaly, but for slow sippers like myself this is a godsend. Especially for long days on the boat with little to no shade to keep your drink cool while you’re busy baiting up and reeling in fish. The price tag on this seems a little steep, but it is well worth the investment. Plus, it’s Yeti, so it’s just cool.

2.) OUR G-SHOCK WATCHES

I used to hate watches. I received plenty of them as gifts over the years and they sat idle collecting dust. Who needs a watch to tell time when you have a phone? In the last few years, I realized no, you’re wrong, watches are fabulous.  My wrist feels very naked without a thick band and beautiful face wrapped snugly around it. I’ve almost all but eliminated the reflex to reach for my phone when someone asks “what time is it?” Thanks to my new G-shock that Matt surprised me with earlier this year, I too was able to maintain my well-accessorized status on the boat. He’s had this one for years and swears by it. He wears it on a regular basis, even when rain isn’t in the forecast and random bursts of water aren’t a threat. Aside from being waterproof, it’s also great for people who have the “dropsies” like myself. They are shock proof (hence the name) and they even have a line for women. At first I thought it was a bit bulkier than the watches I have become accustomed to but now I love it and have the tan line to prove it!

If only my other jewelry had the same durability. On our last night of vacation we went for a walk to watch the sunset. Somehow in the process the charm of my necklace fell off and I didn’t notice it was missing until the next morning. We walked the path we had taken the night before to discover it in the middle of the road, crushed by the weight of a passing vehicle. I’m not ready to test the theory, but I’ll bet my watch would have fared much better!

Turns out it’s difficult to get a flattering shot of your watch when it’s on the wrist with your trigger finger. So here’s a lemon wearing my watch. Seems like a perfect opportunity for a “who wore it better?” side-by-side comparison, but something tells me the lemon might win. If you think you could wear it better, here is the link!

3.) WIRELESS WATERPROOF SPEAKER

I think it goes without saying that when on the water, music is pretty much a requirement. Anyone else remember the big, bulky radios that were a staple at the beach growing up? My family was always too armed with snacks, boogie boards, and sandcastle-building supplies to haul our own music up to the beach, but we certainly benefited from those that did. Thankfully those beasts are a thing of the past and it’s much easier to transport tunes these days. Another one of our favorite recent gifts is this portable, wireless, waterproof speaker from Altec Lansing. They are super affordable and easy to throw in your beach bag or purse. It is bluetooth so we paired it with our phones and enjoyed our playlists all day – both on the boat and while cleaning the fish upon our return.

 

Matt, just steps from the house, proud of himself for finishing his work and managing to NOT get any blood on his favorite fishing shirt.

Speaking of favorite fishing shirts, these lightweight Bimini Bay shirts account for most of our wardrobe while fishing. They can also pass as “dressy enough” for going out to dinner. Win win!

4.) FILLET KNIFE

When your cooler is loaded and it’s time to clean your fish, it is essential to have a good knife. Not only will it make your life easier, it is much safer. A dull knife is far more likely to slip and enable you to cut yourself. Although this knife* doesn’t get pulled out on a regular basis at home, having it for this type of trip is vital. Matt probably spent a good hour each evening preparing the fish. He tried to teach me so that I could help lighten his load but I much prefer keeping his beer coming and monitoring the music. If you are staying in a well-equipped rental, it is likely there will be knives at your disposal, but we learned last year that those aren’t always in the best shape. We sent our own knives down this year to make sure we had what we Matt needed.

*this knife is very similar to the one we own. Matt purchased ours from a flea market on Big Pine Key at the end of our trip last year. The flea market is only open on Saturday mornings but is filled with a ton of great items at reasonable prices. Make sure you purchase one with a non-slip handle as your hands will become very slippery as you handle the fish!

My favorite part of this time of day was the audience that showed up to watch us Matt work. Unlike me, they weren’t there to learn, they were hoping for a meal!

These guys were a nuisance when we were fishing but I didn’t mind them hanging around in the evenings. If you aren’t careful they will take your fish right off your hook. One especially feisty pelican managed to get himself tangled in our lines. We had to pull him aboard to free him. This guy here, he lucked out with a little snack!

5.) FISHING PLIERS

Inevitably you will hook a fish that decides he loves your bait so much he wants to swallow it, hook and all. Some of these fish – they will have teeth. Wanna stick your fingers in there to try pulling your hook out? No? Neither did we, which is why I was incredibly thankful we remembered to pack our pliers this year! Matt not so casually sent me the link to order these prior to our trip and they were a lifesaver! Among the group, THREE hammerhead sharks were hooked in a matter of two days, along with some mangrove snappers that were trying to make a meal of Matt’s fingers. The pliers allowed us to maneuver the hook free from our fish without incident.

With any luck, you’ll avoid the rookie mistakes we made the first time around! Anything else we should add for next year? Let us know in the comments!

 

Cheers,

Megan & Matt!