First day fishing at Lignumvitae Cay

It was an uncharacteristically overcast and cool (60s) day today, so we took the Key West out with our friends Rick and Sandra and went fishing. 

Rick and John taught me how to jig. I caught a strawberry grouper but it was too small.

 



John was showing me how to jig, and he caught a gorgeous mutton grouper.....

....with MY NEW ROD!
We came back to the marina on the east side of Lignumvitae Cay which was 2 feet deep at high tide. It was a rocket ride.......

Rick gave John some pointers in fileting the fish.........

 

....then I cooked it up for dinner in a Matacumbe preparation.

 

Stay tuned for more fish stories.

Arrived Great Harbour Cay Thursday

We left Key Largo on Tuesday and anchored near Pumpkin Key overnight. 

When we leave a marina, I follow John in the little boat, we hook it to the tow line,

then I climb into the big boat Navy Seal-style.

We went through Dusenbury Creek to get to Pumpkin Key. 

 

 

 

 

 

These people were fishing out of their kayaks

 

 

We headed to the Bahama Banks before sunrise Wednesday morning.

 

Heading out to the Atlantic

Sunrise over the Atlantic

The Key West (aka Pink Cadillac) towed very well.
 



Sunset Wednesday at Mackey Shoals

It was a 12-hour day, but we had to take advantage of the good conditions.

We anchored in 12 feet of water on the Mackey Shoals in the Bahama Banks. This is the anchor. It's like boating in a swimming pool.

Sunrise Thursday morning was spectacular. The water was smooth as glass.  

 

 

Sunrise looking West........

 

There was no demarcation line between the sea and the sky.

It was a blur of color.

 

 



 Captain Scruffy naps while I drive.

 

 

 JR made this rearview mirror so we can see what the Key West is doing. 

 

 



 

Will post again soon!

 

 

 

 

JR's 61st Birthday.....

.....was yesterday and we celebrated it at the Giant Nautical Flea Market that is being held here at Founders Park.        http://www.keysrotary.myevent.com/3/events.htm

John got his shopping on.

 Best deal of the day was a tiny propane torch ($6.00) for sealing the ends of cut lines.

 

This thing was truly gigantic:  



 

 

 

These dogs were available to adopt

 

Fish made out of coconuts

 

Taxidermy crustaceans

 

 

Alcohol before noon.

 

My favorite boat pet so far

 

We tried out the Pickle Ball Court this morning and discovered it is harder than it looks.  It's fun though. 

Day 3 Plantation Key, Islamorada

It was hairy getting here:

 

 

But this is how the day ended:

 



 

 

I KNOW! It was more spectacular in person.  This is the view from the flybridge looking at Florida Bay.  The mangrove hedge hides a jetty that you can walk on at low tide.  

 

Yesterday was a rare, calm day so we took the Key West out to the ocean side. 

 

Fishing boat with tuna tower

First (and only) Mate Gilligan





Views from the flybridge

Captain Scruffy grilling steaks for dinner





Seen on our dock:

I took this picture for Alison

And these for Lorne:

Yuck!

This Saturday is JR's birthday and there is a giant Marine Flea Market being held here at Founder's Park. He's pretty excited.

Faro Blanco Marina, Marathon

We've been here several weeks and MAY have a weather window this Saturday for heading north so we can eventually cross to Great Harbor Cay.  We'll see.

Last weekend the Florida Powerboat Club was here. These boats go 145 mph! They were fun to see.

 



This boat had 2, 1350 hp engines.

 

Iguanas by the swimming pool



 



When we were in Key Largo, we went to Davis Reef on a calm day. The water was gorgeous.  Lots of barracudas. 

 

 

At anchor in the Everglades National Park.

 

 

 

This is the 18ft Key West that we tow behind the Mainship. When it's calm on the Atlantic side, we take this out snorkeling.