On our drive down the keys we drove through Bahia Honda Key which is a small key roughly halfway between Key Largo and Key West. The key is about 500 acres and is comprised almost entire of a state park which is known for having some of the best beaches in the keys. We got lucky, found an open campsite and decided to spend a couple days there on our way north.
Jim, I and the boys got a fishing charter on the 25th and headed about 10 miles offshore. On the boat ride out it was amazing to see the water changes different shades of green and blue. Closer to share it was a light blue-green color, further out it turned sky blue and once we got about 5 miles out the water was a deep royal blue. It was also very clean – way different than the comparatively muddy, murky water we are used to in the Puget Sound. We fished near a place they call the wrecks where the US has intentionally scuttled some old Navy ships in about 350 feet of water. Our captain didn’t have the bait in the water for 10 minutes and we had fish on. We ended up taking 4 amber jack – each between 50 and 60 pounds - with the boys teaming up to reel one of them in. On the way back in we caught 4 dolphin – the fish not the mammal – which averaged about 7 pounds each. We could get used to this kind of fishing J. All of us loved being out on the water for the day although the water was a little rough and James did get seasick by the time we got back to flat water. The girls enjoyed a relaxing day hanging out at the RV and playing in the ocean.
The kids all loved swimming on the ocean beaches and gulf beaches which were only a few hundred yards apart! There was lots of sea life to be found and they wasted no time finding hermit crab, conch shells and a variety of other sea creatures. We also lucked out and were able to see a manatee swimming in the small marina at the park. I actually reached down from the dock and was able to pet it. It seemed very friendly as it surfaced close to the dock for quick a while as we looked on and it didn’t seemed to mind being touched at all. Very interesting creature and a cool thing to see.
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| Newest member of the family - Buddy |
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| Beachcombing is serious buisness |
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| Jim with one of the keys' bridges behind |
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| Zach reeling in a 50 pound Amber Jack |
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| James and Zach with their catch |
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| Back at the dock displaying our dolphin |
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| Cleaning the catch |
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Sunset at Bahia Honda Key
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