Hello;
I will be staying on Bahia Honda the last week of April and am looking for suggestions on what's best to target (and where!). Prefer fish for the grill, but mainly want to make sure my son and I catch something! Boat is 18.5' Key Largo bay boat. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

If you want fish for the grill, you can fish the bridge or venture off to patch reefs and the main reef on the Atlantic side.

Any live or cut bait will work well. I usually fish a Carolina type rig. Use 2 or 3 feet of fluorocarbon leader with an egg sinker appropriate to the current. I also usually use circle hooks.

Thanks for the reply. I've been down when the Atlantic side was a little to rough for my son to enjoy (he's 10) - any advice for the west side of the island in case I have to hunt calmer waters? I haven't spent enough time on the water in the Keys to be familiar with the really good locations. Thanks again.

I don't do a lot of fishing around Bahia. We usually go there to snorkel, kayak and enjoy the beach. But, you shouldn't have a hard time finding a good spot for mangrove snapper. Get a chum bag and set up around some good underwater structure or around a good rocky area along the shore. Get a box of frozen threadfin and cut the bait in thirds. A little searching and you should find a spot that holds fish.

Again, the bridge may be your best bet. You can usually pick up grouper and snapper at the bridge.

You may get some flat seas. If you do, it's only a 15 or 20 minute ride to the reef.