Popping Cherries in the Keys (Very Long)

Well it all started with a spontaneous partner in crime that was no where to be found since my friend had bailed on me the day we had to go, so I had no one better to take with me than my own blood. My Dad and I got to Long Key a little later than both he and I wanted to it was already really hot and the elusive fish that I had a Livewell full of crabs for was not as big in numbers as they should of been. I met with some guys that I know from Dania Pier and they already had one laying on the pavement with some methods of fishing I wouldn't even resort to, hand lining. They told me that the morning bite was good right around 7am it was already 9 by now and with the exception of a few loner fish most disappeared. We setup up close on the bridge, something I don't like to do considering the amount of people that like to crowd around. It didn't last long before I got bored of Yellow Jacks and a few decent Grovers. Although my Dad was having fun with the snapper we wrapped it up and trekked a mile down to a spot I like to fish where I have been getting keeper muttons and yellowtails on Free lines but that wasn't the case at all just the residential tarpon and the thousands of throwback snapper that crowded the chum bag. After limiting out on grovers, slack tide hit and there were large mysterious creatures in the water hugging tight to the pilings. I saw the jewfish come out and swim a little and be more active so i rigged up the 12/0 and floated a bait right into the piling after some heavy inspection by this sucker he turned away. I left the 12/0 on clicker and walked away about 10 minutes later I hear my clicker go off and saw the jewfish wrapping itself around the pilings a desperate hook set didn't make the situation better but at least I got my rig back. It got extremely hot and movement was simply impossible so my Dad and I called it quits and wanted to get a room since we planned on staying the night and trying to get the permit the next day.
After cold showers,some great Lunch at Lazy Days ,and after we got the ittus and feel asleep, we woke up rejuvenated and ready to fish. We decided to hold tight and not travel that far from he hotel and fish channel 5. We got there and got a couple grovers and I put out crabs at sunset in the hope of maybe getting a permit but it wasn't happening. I put out the 12/0 and after a good hour it got whacked I let it eat and it just spit the bait. The only shark hit of the night and I was pissed. But did get some interesting things while snapper fishing with a yellowtail jig and pieces of mackeral got me a lobster and an octopus. When the cars would stop I could hear the pops the pops that you hear while bridge fishing in Miami. I tied on my flairhawk and off I went towards the end of the bridge to the light at the end of the fender, leaving my dad to watch the rods in the hopes that he realizes how to use a conventional reel when one of my rods got hit. But it was nothing but lots of little jacks popping bait on top in the light I managed to get one and lose a few more. We called it a day and went back to the room for some rest and woke up 6am sharp to some complimentary breakfast. We got to the bridge right as the sun was just rising and I guess I got lucky but there it was permit heaven. I grabbed a crab out the well and casted to no avail. I was getting pissed off and resorted to shrimp and no takers. So back to crabs it was, next cast as the crab is drifting with the current the permit makes a 360 and eats it at full speed. The stella is getting smoked, never realized that a spinning reel can get hot I've had it happen on a conventional before but never on a spinner. But the moment came when high fives and lots of commotion were heard down the bridge as the metal ring of the net plopped on the pavement and so did the permit. I never expected to be able to catch one on freeline off a bridge but I did. I ended up going 3/5 the two that were lost were due to me being an idiot and trying to land one on my 2500 stella which was not a good idea. I never thought I could transform permit fishing into catch and release off a bridge but I did.
The keys still had some surprises the snapper that I put out for the cuda that was lurking in my chumslick got eaten by a tarpon and with wire and the realese sg lever drag reel I horsed him up. But slack tide hit and the jewfish came out to play again but this time it was pop him or stop him I got him straight up and down but wasn't able to get the picture in time before the mustad came flying out of his mouth. We decided to call it a day and head back home and I had to let my dad drive because I was just worn out and my shoulder were in pain. The biggest permit was about 27-28lbs and the other two were right around 16-17lbs.As for the Keys Ill see you next week.

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