FLORIDA KEYS - A not too easy place to get to is really worth the effort.
Just north of Boca Chica Key there is a wonderful place called Jewfish basin.

By Capt. Rod & Susie Stebbins

Just east and a little bit north are the Mud Keys. Between Jew Fish Basin and Waltz Key Basin right at the Mud Keys there are thin cuts through the mangroves caused by tidal flows. Just west of these cuts, about two nautical miles, their Magellan 5000DLX GPS says they are at (24-39.000N/81-44.000W), right at the Lower Harbor Keys there are similar cuts. These cuts for the most part are about eight feet deep with some holes as deep as fifteen feet.

The flow of water has undercut the mangrove roots creating large bowls. These bowls, also known locally as "key pockets" have laying within the mangrove roots fish of kinds and all sizes. We have pulled out Mangrove Snapper, Red Drum, Snook, Barracuda, Grouper and Jewfish. At low tide one can slip into the water wearing a mask and enjoy literally hundreds of snapper feeding on that which comes from the flats. These flats are breeding grounds for all sorts of swimming things to say nothing about shrimp of all sizes. These flats have lots of grass and within the grass there is all of the bait fish one could hope for. A little bit of chum, a cast of our ten foot cast net and we are set for a couple of days.

This area is great for anchoring and in most places camping is allowed. Check out the preserve regulations before you go to verify those areas that might be closed to camping. Our last trip found us anchored just off the Lower Harbor Keys. Our anchor was in about eight foot of water and SANCHO's stern was in about three feet. My wife, Susie, loves to fish and has the patience of a typewriter. It was about 2:00 AM when I heard Susie squeal "honeeeeey!!!" I was nicely settled in for the night. Susie knows that I don't wake up in the best of moods, especially for nonsense. I managed to kick the table leg with my little toe on the way aft which made the mode of moment a bit trying. When I saw Susie sitting on the deck with her back braced against the stern gunwale, her feet pressed heavy against the seat in front of her, both of her arms were wrapped around her pet pole. The pole was being pulled into a sharp ninety degree bend pointing into the darkness.

Strong jerks caused Susie to plead for help while complaining that the "thing" was trying to steal her tackle. I could not help but laugh and the silly scene brought tears to my eyes. There was no doubting the fact that Susie had hold of a good size "thing" and it was a fighter. I took the pole from Susie long enough for her to regain her composure and confidence. She took a deep breath, grabbed the pole and the fight was on. For the next ten to fifteen minutes Susie wrestled her "thing" to the boat. We could hear the splashing but we could not see what had a hold of her. A couple more pulls on the rod and I pulled Susie's "Bull Red" out of the water. It was longer than Susie's leg and she could hardly believe the strength of this fish. We released Susie's "Bull" and she smiled as it swooshed away leaving only our memories. We poured a couple of sodas and toasted the fight and the release. Shallow water fishing can be really exciting.

We are early risers and the next morning I found that Susie had snorkeled over to her "pocket." It was just past day break and the sky was a wonderful deep blue color. The water was gin clear and mirror flat. I could see the white herons standing in the mangroves. Not a boat in sight and not a noise to be heard. Paradise indeed. I slipped into the water. With swim fins for propellers, a mask for visibility and a spear gun for protection I snorkeled the fifty yards to Susie's side. She was armed with her mini-spear gun and had a nice string of 18 to 20 inch mangrove snapper. Grinning, she managed the word "breakfast."

My chores aboard SANCHO is to drive the boat, pay the bills, take care of the fixing and to clean the fish. I tried to teach Susie how to clean fish, but being the boss she opted for cooking instead. Hungry from the swim I filleted the catch. Susie had the makings for a fish-stick omelet and once done lasted only a heart beat.

We always take an inflatable with us as we like to row about the mangrove edges looking for neat fishing spots. Right between largest north Lower Harbor Key and a small mangrove island there is a nice cut. At the point of the large island there is a fairly deep hole. This hole is great for fishing. Our inflatable has a 3 horse Sears outboard that makes trolling in and out of these cuts quite easy. Having fished as a young man in Canada I came to know a spoon called a "William's Wabbler." This lure is great for Northern Pike and Musky. I thought for sure it would work in salt water too, so I dug deep into my box of memories and tied one to the end of an 8 foot 80 pound leader. My leader was attached to our 40 pound line with a large brass swivel. I "salted" the lure with the long belly of one of those delicious snapper from the night before. I steered Susie and I through the cut heading into Jewfish Basin and right at the point I got a great hit. A large water swirl grabbed my heart. I had a big one and I felt sure that Susie wasn't going to best me on this trip as she so often does. Susie took the handle of the motor with her foot and reeled in her line with great fervor. Like a master she the boat around and put the little "Sears" in reverse. This way I could fight the fish over the bow. A clear view and lots of tugs made the next minutes pure excitement. Susie was trying to get the boat into Jewfish Basin otherwise I might get my line tangled in the mangrove roots. My fish had other ideas, for as much headway that Susie made, my fish took and equal or more amount of line from my reel.

Sensing I might loose the fight I tightened the drag a bit hoping I would be able to gain what I had lost. Soon I had the monster coming my way and soon we could tell I had snagged onto a large Barracuda. We got the "Cuda" next to the inflatable and found my "Wabbler" was very well caught deep into the Cuda's mouth. No pliers, no way of holding the fish and we sure didn't want to pull such a thing into our boat. No choices left and if we stalled a bit more the "Cuda" might die unecessarily. Susie took her diving knife and cut the leader and my monster was gone. But what a fight and those bright colors, great excitement. Neither of us had much to say on the way back to SANCHO. We were beat...

The rest of that day was spent lounging about while we awaited high tide. We needed all of the depth we could get to get SANCHO (36 foot Sea Ray) back into the Gulf of Mexico again. At the north end of Jewfish Basin there is a nice pass to the Gulf and will accommodate boats that draw about four feet at high tide. This allows for about a foot of water below the keel at low tide. The tides run about a foot and a half to two feet normally. Beware of shallow water for there is lots of it.

We have been to "our place" many times and we have yet to be disappointed. Fishing is great, there is lots of privacy most of the time, and it is far enough away from the "easy places" to nearly assure and over abundance. The "Back Country" of the Florida Keys is full of fish and offers surprises by the moment. At home we talk about Susie's "Bull Red" and when I try to mention my monster, Susie is quick to say, "That's the one that got away."

NOS Chart 11445.

Jewfish Basin 24-39.000N/81-43.000W;

Mud Keys 24-40.000N/81-42.000W;  

Capt. Rod & Susie Stebbins of Weak Industries can usually be found surfing the internet or cruising up & down Florida's Suncoast in a Sea Ray boat of type (depending on Rod's mood).

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