One Rod and Reel for Florida Keys Fishing. Save Your Money! 

I agree with everything he said. For perspective.... I caught a 50" tarpon with a 6' medium heavy Ugly Styk, 3000 Shimano, 30 pound braid, MirrOlure 52-M with the barbs clamped to barbless.... from a 12' plastic boat with a trolling motor. The boat HELPS because you can move with the fish while it gets tired. From land, that 6000 is going to be MUCH better. For 20 pound reef fish, there's no comparison. The 6000 is WAY better. But..... for slinging lures for mangroves, reds, trout, Spanish, juvenile tarpon, flounder, sheepshead, jacks, and many more.... a 3000 will do a LOT of work. Lastly, I NEVER use a leader and catch tons. I am not discounting the effectiveness of flourocarbon leaders. It's just that I am extra lazy, and I like to keep my rigging extra simple. I tapped the thumbs up 👍 button to feed the algorithm monsters.

Wonderful advice on tackle for keys fishing 🎣 Often times less is more . Always enjoy your channel!

Wow that is a lot heavier gear than I've ever used in the keys since braid became available. I've been using 4000 or 4500 size reels with 300 yards of 20 pound braid and 10-60 mono leaders. But I wade fish or kayak fish. Lots of Tarpon and sharks have been caught on outfits like that and it will still work on the flats for wade fishing.

I've been taught that fishing in the Keys is all about catching big fish on light tackle and oh boy, some of those fish has been close to killing me! Large amberjacks! Man, those are real fighters!

Thanks for the advice. Headed down the second week of April for my first Keys trip.

The last time when i was fishing in Florida 🌴 South i caught a Hogfish and it was thin and cooks quickly, it will marry and enhance any flavor you introduce to it like lemon, tomatoes, and basil all work well with the top dog

That speedmaster 25 is a great reel. I have several of those and have had zero issues with them.

👍👍 I love baitrunners

Great advice! Easy to overdue the gear

When I take my bay boat down to Marathon from NC each Spring, I take 2 Penn 6500's, 2 Daiwa BG 6500 on Ugly stick jigging rods and a Shimano Stradic 2500. I only take the (4) 6500's in case a shark destroys one. Typically go down in late April - early May for tarpon and shark fishing.

So helpful!!! Thank you.

Thanks good class.

Thanks Mark for the advice 👍

Good video Mark. We tried to rent gear in May and found it a bit difficult. We visited a local tackle shop on Marathon and they were very helpful. We purchased a couple of spinner setups similar to what you have shown here and they shipped them home when our vacation was over. We use them for catfishing here in MI.

Useful all-around info, thanks!

Good information. I sure could go for some fresh snapper! Thanks.

Thank You Sir

Do you catch a lot of snook down there?

How long is the rod?