Camping in the FL Keys ??? High expectations

[john59]

This coming March we will have our 1st experience camping at a State Park. The park is John Pennekamp, then we move down the keys to Sunshine Key. This private campground looks really nice. A bit nervous about State Parks.

Questions---John Pennekamp SP (Key Largo), how is it ?????
How is the month of March in the Keys ????
I am eyeing up Bahia Honda SP. Your thoughts.

Small tackle kayak fishing and kayak paddling (touring).

The fishing, Pirate Jeff and Born 2 fish may have suggestions.

Lay it on me----We want to have a blast, or am I over shooting !!!!!! We love clear, salt water. We have done the Bahamas and E & W Carribean, diving and snorkeling. Pretty much just snorkelers these days. We could probably squeeze another 5 days in, if having a blast is also within expectations.

A stop at DIS, on the way home is in order for a few days.
john

 

[stacktester]

I haven't stayed at JPSP but hear it's ok. Bahia Honda is beautiful. Haven't camped there but a friend recently went this summer and he kayaked the island. He didn't fish but he did say there is a reef within paddling distance to snorkel and see lot's of fish. I doubt you will have a hard time catching fish from a kayak. The only problem with Bahia Honda is it's very hard to get a site, especially that time of year. I usually stay in Marathon which is 1/2 way to KW. If you plan on a day trip to KW don't rush early in the morning. In the evening hours Mallory Square has performers who do magic tricks and shows. If you get there early you'll most likely run out of things to do before they start. The sunset is also nice to see from there. Sorry I couldn't be more help on Pennekamp.

My only other advice is to be patient and don't fill everyday with plans. There's lot's of things to do and if you rush it, you will miss them.

 

[m1tchells]

We haven't stayed JPSP or BH because up until about a year or so ago they did not accept pets (they do now). So since we couldn't stay at any of the SP in the Keys, I found one just outside of KW on the 14 MM called Bluewater Key RV Resort. http://www.bluewaterkey.net/ It is absolutely fabulous...and ranks as our 2nd favorite CG,right behind, well...you know

Now, with that said, we have stayed at many of the state parks throughout Florida and honestly prefer them over most CG (exceptions noted above!). The only downfall is that it can be really tough getting ressies because they book up so quickly.

 

[Pirate-Jeff]

Here is a couple of Florida web sites. I havent fished that area yet

http://forums.floridasportsman.com/forum/florida-sportsman-forums/no-motor-zone

http://forums.floridasportsman.com/

 

[stacktester]

Here is a couple of Florida web sites. I havent fished that area yet

http://forums.floridasportsman.com/forum/florida-sportsman-forums/no-motor-zone

http://forums.floridasportsman.com/

Jeff, all I need is another forum to get hooked up on. Next time you're on the way down here, plan a few extra days and we'll take the kayaks out for some redfish and flounder. I've only gone a couple times so far but I enjoyed being in the creeks.

 

[bama_ed]

John,

I spent a week in March this year down in the Keys with the Boy Scouts at their Florida Seabase at MM 32 and it is a beautiful time of year. We spent an afternoon at Bahia Honda State Park nearby as well plus a day in KW.

The weather is warm and at night we could open the windows and let the breeze blow through; it was great. As Stacktester/Donnie says, BH is a tough state park to get a ressie at - it fills up 11 months in advance. Long Key is a possibility but as close as we are to March it's probably full also. We fished a day, snorkeled at Looe Key for a day, sailed for a day, went to Key West for a day, slept overnight on an Island owned by the Scouts; it was really nice. We did some kayak paddling through mangrove swamps which was really cool - I think they offer that at Pennecamp so I would endorse that activity.

At BH they have a vendor that runs snorkel half day trips out to Looe Key so you might want to sign up there although there are other places to do it. We ate lunch on the way out in Largo near Pennekamp and it still feels busy there but I didn't go in the park. Like you I would like to plan a trip down the Keys. But the Keys have their own pace - slow - kinda like the Caribe islands so "no worries" take your time and enjoy. There are lots of places to pull over, put on some fins/mask/flag, and snorkel.

Bama ED

 

[we3peas]

We just came back form camping at Long Key at the end of September. We checked out the other FLSP camping parks while there.
Our thoughts: John Pennekamp-very tight, short, and very unprivate spots. If you want to know everything going on in the campground this is the park you stay at. But FWIW you probably won't be in your campsite too much. The have 2 snorkeling beaches and you can rent kayaks and boats there to take you out to the reef where you can dive and snorkel.

Long Key-The water is 2 ft away from your campsite. Beach is gross and full of garbage because of the way the tides run there. Take a float and walk out 1/2 mi and it's great. They also rent canoes and kayaks. Snorkeling really can't be done unless you have a boat to get to the lighthouse, it's too shallow.

Curry Hammock-was our preferred campsite but they were replacing the entrance bridge so they booked us at LK instead. It looks cleaner all sites are huge. Beach is nicer but still too shallow. They also rent kayaks.

Bahia Honda-the most preferable place to stay. Good luck getting reservations they usually are booked to the minute 11 months in advance. They have everything, marina, rentals, snorkeling, scuba trips, nice beaches, environmental center, several camping areas and cabins also.

There are several private campgrounds in the Keys. I don't know anything about them-I'm too cheap to spend the kind of $ they want for a campsite. I'll spend that kind of money at FW because of the amenities but not anywhere else.

 

[my2dogs]

We've stayed at all the campgrounds that you mentioned plus a couple more

Bahia Honda is beautiful! And we would stay there again! Sunshine Key was fine. We were on the water there. Not as island-like as Bahia Honda.

Sugarloaf KOA was not somewhere I would go back again. Packed in like sardines. More like a parking lot with campers. There is a small beach but it's pricey.

Last spring we stayed at Bluewater Keys RV. VERY very pricey but it was very much an tropical paradise. We had our own dock and tiki hut (had electricity and fridge,wet bar). Someday we will go back there (when we save up some more $$$)

We stayed at Pennecamp too. It was close quarters and the raccoons would steal you blind. But it was nice there for swimming and snorkling.

We love going to the Keys!

Linda

 

[shirley 38]

We've stayed at all the campgrounds that you mentioned plus a couple more

Bahia Honda is beautiful! And we would stay there again! Sunshine Key was fine. We were on the water there. Not as island-like as Bahia Honda.

Sugarloaf KOA was not somewhere I would go back again. Packed in like sardines. More like a parking lot with campers. There is a small beach but it's pricey.

Last spring we stayed at Bluewater Keys RV. VERY very pricey but it was very much an tropical paradise. We had our own dock and tiki hut (had electricity and fridge,wet bar). Someday we will go back there (when we save up some more $$$)

We stayed at Pennecamp too. It was close quarters and the raccoons would steal you blind. But it was nice there for swimming and snorkling.

We love going to the Keys!

Linda

Thanks for the input Linda----I can handle the racoons at Pennekamp. We just back from DIS and I was Kung Fooing the armadillos. I agree with KOA in Sugarloaf. Before we got our 5'r we rented a unit at Sugarloaf. I think it was in the vicinity of $160 to $175 night. We are exploring other CGs on Big Pine. Bahia Honda is ressed out, but it really looks nice.
john

 

[john59]

Thanks for the input Linda----I can handle the racoons at Pennekamp. We just back from DIS and I was Kung Fooing the armadillos. I agree with KOA in Sugarloaf. Before we got our 5'r we rented a unit at Sugarloaf. I think it was in the vicinity of $160 to $175 night. We are exploring other CGs on Big Pine. Bahia Honda is ressed out, but it really looks nice.
john

I just keep doing it---I answered Linda with my wife's sign on---Call me a nudge/ditz, whatever pleases you. My brain is in the Fl Keys or somewhere unprintable.

'No animals were hurt with this post'
john

 

[john59]

We have put the final nail in the Keys.

Staying at John Pennekamp 5 nights, Sunshine Key Rv Resort 7 nights, Grassy Key Rv 7 nights.

Some private CGs are really expensive. Actually, astronomical. I think we did pretty good on rates at these 2 private CGs.

Grassy Key is really small, looks clean and reviews are good, but on the water. They have beaches, but not swimming beaches.

Anybody out there stay at Sunshine Key or Grassy Key ??????

john
PS: For Jeff or Frank----Doing homework on fishing. Believe it or not, they recommend ground menhaden chumming in the backwater or around the bridges. I though this was only done in North New Jersey.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

We have put the final nail in the Keys.

Staying at John Pennekamp 5 nights, Sunshine Key Rv Resort 7 nights, Grassy Key Rv 7 nights.

Some private CGs are really expensive. Actually, astronomical. I think we did pretty good on rates at these 2 private CGs.

Grassy Key is really small, looks clean and reviews are good, but on the water. They have beaches, but not swimming beaches.

Anybody out there stay at Sunshine Key or Grassy Key ??????

john
PS: For Jeff or Frank----Doing homework on fishing. Believe it or not, they recommend ground menhaden chumming in the backwater or around the bridges. I though this was only done in North New Jersey.

Thats what we did when we were there, anchor'd up current of the bridge, chummed real good, waited a while, then went down current at the bridge an start'd fish'n. We fishe'd, my son swam til Denise caught the first shark, reck'n swimm'n wasn't the smartest thing to do. BUT we did well fishing , we caught a nice varity of swimmers.
We bought the chumm at a local bait shop.

 

[john59]

Thats what we did when we were there, anchor'd up current of the bridge, chummed real good, waited a while, then went down current at the bridge an start'd fish'n. We fishe'd, my son swam til Denise caught the first shark, reck'n swimm'n wasn't the smartest thing to do. BUT we did well fishing , we caught a nice varity of swimmers.
We bought the chumm at a local bait shop.

Frank---You are absolutely right about sharks and other biggies in the chum slick. A fellow I am in contact with (in the Keys) also said "have a quick release anchor and hang on". Can you picture me going like a bat in my kayak or having a big tarpon taking up residence with me, in said kayak. For bait, the fellow said just about any cut bait (live is better) or various rapalas, 4 inches to 8 inches work pretty good, reeling in through the chum slick. Silver is the best color. Broken back rapalas are the best.

Cutting the line will be a big option with me----Taking a 40 mph ride in a kayak, heading out to sea is not an option, but I would like to hook up with something that big for a minute or two.
john

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Kayak, sounds fun. Jeff says yayak fish'n is awesome. I have never done a kayak.
Your friend is correct, cut bait works well,,After chumm'n we turned back our catch, cept for the trash fish which was our cut bait
The only lures we used that trip were large spoons, which worked well. And if your not careful the pelicans will dive for your lures and catch also.
When we went to the keys it was round christamas holidayz.
Don't know when you are going but if you go this Christmas , be sure to take some pics of the decorated palm trees and cactus.

 

[john59]

Kayak, sounds fun. Jeff says yayak fish'n is awesome. I have never done a kayak.
Your friend is correct, cut bait works well,,After chumm'n we turned back our catch, cept for the trash fish which was our cut bait
The only lures we used that trip were large spoons, which worked well. And if your not careful the pelicans will dive for your lures and catch also.
When we went to the keys it was round christamas holidayz.
Don't know when you are going but if you go this Christmas , be sure to take some pics of the decorated palm trees and cactus.

Frank: Thanks for the info----We are going in March. Also, I have plenty of spoons and jigs. I actually like Shad Darts over the jigs.

You don't have to warn me about Pelicans. I was fishing in FL and saw a Pelican tangled in 30/40 lb mono. Yes I was going to do a good deed. Lure the Pelican in with shrimp, grab him/her and cut the mono loose. I wound up wrestling with a bird that was a bear. They are absolutely ferocious, I wound up getting most of the mono off, but I was battered and bruised. I understand there is a proper way to do this, but I did it the wrong way. This good samaratin is going to read up on 'doing it the right way'
john