Fishing is fun.. So is a night on Duval Street. Rarely have we seen a good result when these two are mixed.

Fishing here in Key West is a little different than most areas you will fish, especially when flats fishing or backcountry fishing. More is required from our anglers. What I have found out in my 20+ years of professionally guiding fishing charters is that the faculties that are required for fishing are generally the ones impaired from drinking.

• Listening Skills
• Balance
• Eye Hand Coordination
• Being Nice.

It does not happen often but enough where it causes concern. So we decided to write a little page about Drinker fishing.

• Duval Street is open till 4 am
  • Fishing Charters get under way around 6-8 am…. Thats less than 2 hours sleep. or bottle to rod.
  • You don’t have to close the bars… They know how…
  • The later you stay the worst your day will be.. Both will cost you more money for less fun…
  • Your fishing guide will be as sharp as you are.
    • The Result ….. Generally a bad day, sometimes complicated with puking..
• 6 packs make terrible pillows.
  • I have showed up to my dock to find my anglers using a 6 pack for a pillow because that is where they slept that night or the last few hours.
    • The Result…. The day went very badly I wound up with 8 stitches in my arm pit from a well placed fly and the anglers had only a 2 hour full day fishing charter because of it.. They were repeatedly warned that a 12 o clock shot is not possible with a fishing guide standing at 6.
• Offshore fishing and Hangovers DO NOT MIX
  • If you have a deep sea fishing charter planned.
    • Drink less….
    • Go To Bed earlier
    • Drink LOTS of water..
    • Sea Sick stuff WILL NOT fix a hangover…
• Stripers are never at fault for your not tipping the fishing guide…
  • Your lack of discretion should not result in your fishing guide not getting tipped.
• Your Fishing Guide will be On his Game. Thats what you are paying him for.
  • So should you be.
• It Takes approximately 10 minutes to normally consume a beer.
  • You cannot fish and Drink
  • Are you out there to fish or drink?
  • Takes both hands to fight a fish
  • How many beers do you need to go fishing?
  • Moderate yourself.. 4-6 beers per angler is normal.
  • When we as fishing guides see two 18 packs of beer for two guys fishing on a half day.. We realize Your NOT taking the day seriously… Why should we?

Just a helpful little note from your neighborhood fishing guide.

Tight lines and happy Drinker Fishing.