Going to Florida, any suggestions?

[Lost Rider]

Lucky me, another trip!
Last month I took a 4500 mile trip, came home and left the next day to work on tour. It was sad to park my bike, with the weather changing in Chicago to winter. I didn't think I'd get any more trips in this year.
Well, I'm a freelance so my schedule changes often, and it seems that it's changed in my favor for a change.
I've been on the road working for 2 weeks now and am flying home on Tuesday evening. I have another gig (plane ticket has already been purchased by client) to be at by Thursday night in Orlando.
So I'm going to ride on down (1150 miles) to Orlando, work until the 25th, then I have no commitments for 7-10 days or so. Seems like a no-brainer to go to me!
I figure I'll head down to Key West at the beginning, then wander north up the coast.
I will be looking to camp, maybe a little fishing, and am open for any suggestions since I've never wandered the South-East corner of our country before.
I also will need to service my bike in Florida, possibly new tires too. Any dealer recommendations in Florida?
Thanks

-Joe

[GypsyRR]

I've wandered around the keys a couple of times, but not with a bike so I can't help you in that aspect. But, fishing.........well, I might be able to steer you in the right direction there. Fly fishing or regular tackle? Guided or self led? Wading or by boat?

Snorkeling is nice there too. Take the time to do the trip out of Key West to the Dry Tortugas if the weather permits. It's a nice day trip. Bahai beach is often listed as one of the nicest in the States, but......I wasn't overly impressed with it. I liked the middle keys better than Key West. Key West it too "touristy".

The laid back lifestyle is very evident, so don't be in a rush for anything in the Keys. It's a great way to live. I stopped wearing a watch after visiting the Keys the first time about 7 years ago. I still don't wear a watch. I check the time only when I have to.

[Lost Rider]

I've always wanted to snorkel, might have to do that. Never have.

But, fishing.........well, I might be able to steer you in the right direction there. Fly fishing or regular tackle? Guided or self led? Wading or by boat?

I will have 1 ultra-light, 1 medium action poles. 1 - 4lb, 1 - 6 lb line. Spinners, jigs, worms, etc. Micro tackle box. Just the basics.


I would like to find a place that I can camp, and walk to fish from shore, or rent a canoe/small simple boat. No guide, just looking to relax.

Thanks

[Sunbeemer]

There are several campgrounds in the Keys. Bahia Honda is a state park that allows camping about 40 miles from Key west on Bahia Honda Key. Sounds like it might fit your bill (see http://www.floridastateparks.org/FindaPark-Proc.cfm.

Pennecamp in Key Largo also offers snorkeling trips to the Coral Reef Park Marine Preserve, and is a pretty place to snorkel (see http://www.floridastateparks.org/pennekamp/default.cfm).

Note: Florida requires a saltwater fishing license if you're going to be fishing from a boat, but not from land or land structures (ie. bridges or piers). Don't get caught with any fish out of size or out of season as the penalties can be steep. (Rangers have been known to take an offenders boat, the trailer they towed it on AND the vehicle they towed it with, especially if they liked it! )

This is a good time of year to go as the weather is still benign and the roads aren't overloaded.

Also note: If it starts raining, be cautious of slippery roads as the oil/water emulsion rises to the surface and makes them slippery as snot. I try to stop for the first 20 minutes of a rainstorm to let it wash off, and by then it's usually over and done with!

[GypsyRR]

I think in October you might have some luck with Red fish and bonefish in the flats. I think the sea trout will have moved out to deeper water though. I would use plastics for fishing the flats. You have to sight cast to bonefish or reds and you will be able to see them if they are "tailing'. Get a good pair of polarized glasses so you can see through the water. Red fish are good fighters and they are one of my favorite fish to eat after grilling them. I'd fish a saltwater plastic with the gear you are going to use. Just stop by Walmart somewhere in Florida and pick up some Saltwater plastics. I think you can also get Reds on a spoon. I think you could also use some top water lures as well and then you could enjoy watching the Reds attack the bait. Both of these fish spook very easily so you have to almost "hunt" them rather than blind casting - wearing pastel colors instead of white because they can see you very easily. I am told that the tide from Atlantic to Gulf can vary as much as 3 hours so you really have a lot of time to fish during good tide movements. So try both sides. In the Gulf side, throw to the grassey areas for the reds. That is when you may want to use a top water so you can avoid the grass or a weedless. In the flats on the Atlantic side, throw to the cuts in between the sand bars if you can't sight any fish right away. You will see a lot of bait fish, so make sure you know what you are looking for when you start sight casting.

CAUTION: Sharks do get up in the shallows and it is the younger sharks that seem to have hassled me the most the last time I was there. Wear the polarized glasses and watch the water around you.

ALSO, be sure to wear some sort of protection on your feet and learn the "sting ray" shuffle. Scoot your feet across the sand. Do not step. If you scoot your feet, or shuffle them, you will cause enough disturbance to scare off any sting rays that may be laying in your path. If you don't, and then you step on one, they will put a barb in your leg that you won't forget!

Once you get there, any one in a local tackle shop will be able to tell you what the fish are taking and where to go. I think there is a wildlife refuge on one of the keys. Islemarada and Marathon seem to be the two big fishing keys. But I think some of the lower ones like Pine Key have good fishing too. I've stayed in Marathon most of the times when I have gone. I hope this helps some. There's a wealth of info out on the web I'm sure if you look for it. Or, like I said, before, just ask someone in the tackle shops. Captiva and Sannnibel mid way down the Gulf Coast of the mainland of Florida is suppose to have very good fishing areas. I have a friend that goes there very often. You may want to try there before you get to the keys too.

have fun.

[Lost Rider]

Thanks GypsyRR ! Very useful info.

I have some Merrell water shoes to wear, and polorized shades, so I have that covered.
Going to the local fishing shop is always fun, I will get some more info there along with any license's I need.
BTW, how do you clean these types of fish?
Also, what is a typical shore-lunch recipe?

Sunbeemer, Bahia Honda park looks great. Perfect, thanks.

Thanks

-Joe

[GypsyRR]

You wouldn't eat the bonefish. I think bonefish are a sport fish and there may be a season for them. I'm not sure. You might be able to catch some Permit too, but I know those are a sport fish and you wouldn't eat them. Redfish are probably not limited by a season, but you will be limited in how many you can have and the slot.

For Reds on the grill, just fillet them, but leave the scales on one side of the fillet (called "on the half shell"). Season and butter and lemons on the meat side. Place it on the grill or whatever you are using and grill it like that. The scales keep the moisture in the fish and it cooks up fine through the bottom. You could always fry them too, but I think they are better grilled. If you do happen to catch some speckled trout, you would enjoy eating them as well. They are very good on the grill or fried.

[taosports]

Reds on the half shell...YUMMY!

[Sunbeemer]

Reds will be looking for holes later this month as the water cools (at least in Tampa Bay) and may not be terribly hungry, so you have to really entice them, but it's worth it as GypsyRR's recipe indicates, they are good! Specs have a very soft mouth, so don't yank if you feel them tugging on your line or you'll rip the hook through their lips, but I don't think you'll see many down there... Bonefish are usually just caught for sport (and they are great fun to catch if you use a steel leader since they have a lot of sharp teeth and will cut your line), but they can be eaten carefully if you have lots of patience i.e. bones!

BTW, heres a websight w/ Florida fishin info http://www.florida-outdoors.com/fsred.htm

Tight lines Y'all!

[TonyT607]

Joe, I've stopped in a couple of times at the BMW Dealer in Orlando. They seem like a nice bunch. I get down to Orlando on business a few times a year and try to stop in and say hi or grab a t shirt or whatever. I believe they were bought by the big BMW Dealer in Daytona after Orlando's owner was killed a few years ago. (Single vehicle / sans helmet MC crash in the parking lot. Or so I heard).
https://www.bmwcyclesdaytona.com/

Good luck and have a great trip. We're all jealous.

Hi Gypsy !

[12bar1]

Reds do have seasons where you can't keep them but right now I don't know when that is. As for tackel use 20# mono for a leader instead of steel. Reds and Snook are spooky fish and will spot a steel leader and usually get lock jaw after that. Try taking a red or snook filet and wrap it in tin foil with some onion, white wine, a little garlic and a couple of ice cubes then toss it on the grill for about 15 minutes or so, turning once or twice until done YUMM. Another species you can usually catch in the keys pretty easly is yellow tail snapper. They also have a slot limit but any of the tackle shops can help you. Also if you are on the west coast and want a nice place to camp Ft. Desoso Park in St. Petersburg is really nice and there are a lot of wade fishing areas in the park. If you happen to camp around any fresh water watch out for gators they are in almost every fresh water body in the state. Enjoy your stay and if you run into any trouble while you are here drop me a line if I can help I will.

[Sunbeemer]

Ditto what 12Bar1 said

[Lost Rider]

Thanks for all the info guys, very helpful.
I feel like if I can't catch any fish to eat, well............. no excuses.

I've made it to Orlando just fine. 804 miles the first day, then 350 today. Slept in Macon GA. It's like 95 degrees here, miserable IMO. Unfourtunatley I have no mesh gear.........

I stopped at the Louisville BMW on the way down, great people there.
They had a new r1200r in the showroom. Looked nice.
Some things on it are impressive, but it didn't make me feel like I should trade in my R1150R at all. As cool as it looks, it's not $6000 better than my R1150R. IMO ,.hmmm.

Maybe the powers that be will move this into the Rides section, I'll just keep posting my trip pics and such here.........

Thanks again for the advice.



Early morning in Chicago


Starting mileage



Ahhh, the Chicago skyline


After 1 day of riding


Final mileage


Final stats

[12bar1]

Glad you made it ok, it's kind of hot right now but by Tuesday we are supposed to get a cold front that will drop the day time highs to a firdgid 75ºF. You may have to turn on your heated grips.

[Lost Rider]

Glad you made it ok, it's kind of hot right now but by Tuesday we are supposed to get a cold front that will drop the day time highs to a firdgid 75ºF. You may have to turn on your heated grips.

That is good news, I want to stay and wander Florida next week after I' done working. If it is this warm, I'd be likely to wander North back into the Smokey Mountains.
Just as someone from a warm climate might avoid the cold, I'll prefer temps below 75º
It was 50º when I left Chicago, not too bad. By the time I was in Indianapolis it was 65º----perfect for me.

Would it look weird for me to take off my touring windshield and strap it to the stuff on the back? at least while I'm in the tropics? lol

Speaking of heated grips, my left hand side stopped working somewhere on the way here. I had forgotten that on the way home from my last trip the front left turn signal-stalk broke off while driving down a Interstate misteriously. No reason at all. I'm missing a signal so that sucks for obvious reasons, but the real problem is my windshield is only held on by 3 mounts. That's why I stopped in Louisville, but they didn't have 1 in stock. They said it's kind of common to break. I called Orlando BMW, they didn't think they had one also, but he was going to call me back to confirm. He said I would have to pay for overnight if I wanted it by next Wednesday, and they didn't have it ......hmmmmm.

I'm at 11,500 miles so a 12,000 mile service is going to happen soon. My tires are also about due for replacements.
Pilot Roads in back, original Z4 in front, 5500 in back 11,500 in front. Getting flat in back with about 1/4 inch left in the center. I would like to get more life out my rear tire, but I like the way the feel, especially in the rain, I'm going to try my best to replace them with the same if available.
my2¢

[12bar1]

I was cleaning out the garage today and came across an extra set of mounting brackets for the sport or touring shield. If you need one of the mounts let me know.

[Lost Rider]

I was cleaning out the garage today and came across an extra set of mounting brackets for the sport or touring shield. If you need one of the mounts let me know.

Thank you very much, I did remember to bring the bracket but it's mounted with the turn signal stalk that I am missing. I'm still waiting to see where I'm going to get a turn signal from.
What I don't understand is if it's common for these to break, why none of the dealer stock it..........

Thanks again for the offer.

[boxermania]

ChiTown......get yourself a Cuban sandwich, a flan and a Cuban coffee.....you'll love it like I loved Chicago style hot dogs while I was residing there.

[Lost Rider]

I wouldn't dare travel to southern florida without getting a Cuban sandwich.
Now if I could just get through these terribly boring meetings I'm in now, and on with some riding.........

[Parkblu]

ChiTown,

just came back from a trip and saw your post - are you still in Fla?

If so why don't you come by, I'm located in Fort Lauderdale. Would be a pleasure to show you around a bit.

You can e me directly at parkblue at gmx dot net