The odds of me catching a tarpon that big all by myself are zilch. To paraphrase someone else, fishing in the Keys is amazing – if you have enough sense to hire a guide.

Here’s the full article. And if you’re ever coming to the Keys to fish the backcountry, give Ted a shout. Snook, tarpon, redfish…I’ve caught them all with Ted – and I am a ham-and-egger kind of angler.

And as tragic as this oil spill is in the Gulf, the Keys have not been affected in any way, shape or form. The waters are as gin-clear as ever, and everyone is open for business. “Giddy” is not a term I would normally use to describe any of the guides down here, but they sure do seem to be smiling a lot lately. The fishing has been phenomenal – and tarpon fishing in particular is about to get even better this weekend. Why?

Two words.

“Worm hatch.”

Okay, maybe it’s an island thing. But here is much more about why you should absolutely, positively grab a couple of fishing rods and come down to the Keys this weekend. There is nothing quite like catching a tarpon. It will make you temporarily forget all about stock market corrections, oil spills, and European credit derivatives, for sure…

Music. Rum. Art. Smoked Fish Dip. Kites. Sailboat rides. Sandcastles. All will be a blast.

Nothing will compare, however, to the Giant Human Hamster Ball. I’m not entirely sure what that is, but I do know that I am going to either break it or set some kind of record in it.

More info is here, or click on the below. Hope to see you there!

But for some reason I am still fascinated by the idea that some guy in the middle of nowhere can stick a camera under his boat and beam live video of fish he likes to anyone, anywhere, anytime. The stream below mesmerizes me, and though I’m not entirely sure why, I don’t think it’s just because I like sushi.

From this site:

“This cam is live in Key West, Florida mounted under an anchored 40ft boat. Here are some of the aquatic species you will see – parrot fish, horseshoe crabs, grunts, snapper, hog fish, blue tangs, angelfish, puffer fish, octopus, spiny lobster, crabs, tarpon and barracuda. A flood light gets turned on at night which ignites the fish to feed.”

Live Video streaming by Ustream

The 15th Annual Gigantic Nautical Flea Market will be held February 20-21 at Founder’s Park here in Islamorada. You’ll find great prices on all things nautical…boats, dive gear, fishing rods, lifevests, and anything else you can possibly imagine.

It’s put on every year by the Upper Keys Rotary, easily the smartest and best-looking Rotary club in the world. Last year we had 25,000 people come by, and we grossed about $150,000. All profits go exclusively towards scholarships for kids in the Upper Keys.

Good time, good cause. And did I mention the $5 all you can eat breakfast?

Here’s more info about the flea market. And if you come, stop by the food tent and say hello!

Photo by Kevin Wadlow at The Keynoter

For some reason, the sub-head of the story about it in the local paper struck me as even funnier. It reads like the voiceover for a really bad movie trailer, no?

Boat ‘stolen’ a second time from Tavernier medical center.
This time, it’s just an image, not a vessel.

Mariners Hospital’s benefit boat vanished again before dawn Saturday — one year to the day since a notorious 2009 theft.

But this time, the culprits had to settle for a life-size picture, not the actual vessel.

“The reaction here was amazement,” said Sheila Konczewski, Mariners spokeswoman. “When I got the call Saturday morning, I had to drive in to see it.”

A sign promoting a Mariners Hospital Foundation benefit drawing for a 14-foot Boston Whaler boat remains at the hospital’s entrance, at mile marker 91.5 in Tavernier.

A gaping hole flaps where the photo image of the boat used to be, before a vandal cut it out.

In January 2009, thieves made off with the actual boat, motor and trailer — a package worth $15,000 — from the same spot.

“After that boat was stolen, we decided not to chance again and put up a billboard instead,” Konczewski said.

Both the 2009 theft and the 2010 sign defacement were reported to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office on the same day, Jan. 23.

If the sign vandalism was intended as an anniversary prank, authorities were not amused. The sign cost the Mariners foundation $935.

“They literally took the boat,” Konczewski said. “They cut it out very well and even left the trailer.”

Thankfully, the recent Bougainvillea Ball was a smashing success in spite of the above, and a lot of money was raised for all the right reasons.

The rest of the article from The Keynoter is here.

Tough to see, but here’s to hoping it keeps a little Teddy Roosevelt alive in all of us. Everglades National Park is a special place – and it’ll bounce back. Let’s hope our backcountry guides do, too.

Here are some more great pics, and a live webcam, too. Select “Tarpon Dock” in the dropdown menu on the webcam page.

Never mind Disneyworld. Bring 12 quarters to Islamorada, buy a bucket of bait fish at Robbie’s and get ready to smile.

Most notably, I think she’s a pretty inspiring entrepreneur. Sandra will be one of those overnight success stories that’s ten years in the making. She saw a huge need, boot-strapped her way to production, outsources her manufacturing to China, has national distribution deals with some very well known chains and has been on MSNBC. All from little ol’ Key Largo, Florida.

Sandra also makes a heckuva product. If you’re a new parent, or if you’ve ever had someone else’s baby suddenly thrust upon you, you’ve probably asked yourself, “Where is somewhere safe that I can put this little booger, er, beautiful child while I ________ (find a stamp/make a sandwich/pass out from exhaustion)?” Take the answer to that question, then throw in a crib, splash pool and changing table, and you’re there…the Room to Grow inflatable play yard.

We absolutely love ours, and so does our youngest – to the point where I seriously considered asking Sandra to see if she could manufacture one for a lanky 200 man.

Lastly, thought I’d give Sandra a plug because despite the Keys being full of small business owners and entrepreneurs, it seems like most of the local press coverage in the Upper Keys lately has been about raw sewage. (Don’t ask.) Here’s a local business story that should get more attention.

And to be clear, this is not an ad or ‘sponsored post’ of any kind…though I think Sandra may now owe me coffee at the Conch House.

Here’s the general idea behind the Room to Grow…a commercial they recently taped:

And here are some of Sandra’s thoughts about being an entrepreneur in the Keys:

Q. How did the Room to Grow play yard come about?

A. We were traveling with our 6 month old daughter and needed to provide for her accomodations with something that would fit into a suitcase for the plane or car, and be easy to set up. There was nothing on the market for us or other families…so you could say “need” was the catalyst of this mother’s invention.

Q. At what point did you realize you had a serious business on your hands?

A. When we took it to our first tradeshow and heard the same comment made by so many people – “Where was this product when I had my children?”

Q. What has been the reaction from the national media and big chain stores when they hear where you’re based?

A. They are very interested, and are waiting to see what comes next. Individually they are jealous of where we live and work…especially in the winter months

Q. How challenging was it to find the right manufacturing partners?

A. We were fortunate to have an international company based in the states work with us on initial samples and then set up a meeting at their factory in China. Taking the big step of traveling there and setting up the initial order was something I will never forget.

Q. What do you find the most unique about operating the business out of the Keys? The most challenging?

A. Working and living in the same small community I have loved for 30 years helps. Most challenging? Not having the warehouse and logistics conveniences of the mainland.

Q. Where do you see the business in five years?

A. We got off to a great start, receiving awards and developing additional products to incorporate into a stand alone line that consumers want. However, given the state of the economy, we’ll need to find more working capital to continue into the next phase. Our plan is to go nationwide with a partnering company and/or licensing contracts.

Q. What words of wisdom do you have for other entrepreneurs here in the Keys?

A. Try not to let the business define the success of you or your life. Never give up, but don’t let it rule or destroy you. It’s tough unless you have ample money, time or support from others to make it work….and there’s no guarantee. Just do your best.

Q. Tell me more about your Dreamers & Doers program.

A. We work with charities and those who want to assist families in need by donating play yards for fundraisers or by offering discounts to those who want to donate to their favorite charity. It’s our way of paying forward where we can.

Q. Where’s the closest place folks here can go to check out a play yard?

A. We sell on our website www.GrowingRoomInc.com with free shipping if you need to ship one to someone directly. We also have a posted list of local stores, and do special offers to local daycare centers.

Q. Anything else you’d like readers to know about Growing Room?

A. We just received an award for Best Play Yard from Creative Child Magazine for our second year and an Award of Excellence for our Bathinet, which we will hopefully have out for fall.

For more info, visit Growing Room, Inc. Sandra is also currently looking for good salespeople. Check out her video here.

Update: Forgot to mention Sandra is on Twitter, too. She’s @GrowingRoomInc.

Sort of like Google Earth, but just for the Conch Republic. It’s all here, from the Islamorada Sandbar to Hens and Chickens to a Japanese tourist who has confused his beer bottle with a conch shell.

For Travelers

The Florida Keys: Laid-back Living With a Touch of Glamour. From The Independent across the pond.

All Keyed Up. The Washington Post.

For Newlyweds

Islamorada is #3 on The Knot’s top honeymoon spots, behind Venice and Paris. Take that, Oahu.

For Vacationers

Deep Blue, Pristine Waters Make This Florida Keys’ Island a Paradise. Video from Good Morning America.

For Subprime Borrowers

The Islamorada Dream Home. From HGTV’s annual contest.

For Recovering Yuppies

Best Places to Live. National Geographic rates Islamorada as #10 in the East. The list looks more rigged than an Iranian election, though. Jersey and Maryland can’t possibly rate that high.

For Conservationists

The Last Days of Florida Bay. By Carl Hiaasen.

For Football Fans

Jimmy Johnson Living in Luxury With Football a Distant Memory. Miami Herald.

For Foodies

Searching Margaritaville for the Perfect Key Lime Pie. NY Times.

Keys Cuisine: Flavors of the Florida Keys. Book. Try the seafood linguine recipe. You’ll pass out.

Keys’ Eats. From one of those magazines in the seat pocket in front of you.

For Colonoscopy Patients

Miami resident Dave Barry at the top of his game. This has nothing to do with Islamorada, but everyone should read it.

For Anglers

Going Fishing with The Kid. Ted Williams in Islamorada.

In the Florida Keys, Bonefish Oblivion. NY Times.

If You Teach a Man to Bonefish…You Can Feed His Soul Forever. Chicago Tribune.

Waiting for Godzilla. From Sports Illustrated.

The Real Thing at Islamorada. Another oldie but goodie from SI.

Guiding Light in The Keys. “Caustic or kind, Florida’s famed light tackle guides are obsessed with leading you to the fish—and you sure better catch them.”

The Bonefish: Ghost of the Shallows. From Sports Illustrated in 1959.

The Tempestuous Tarpon. From 1958. “There is little else to do at Islamorada but swim, bake in the sun and after fishing enjoy an incomparable meal of green turtle soup and stone crabs at the Green Turtle Inn.”

Stu Apte’s Fishing in the Florida Keys and Flamingo. Book. The chart of Stu’s fishing spots alone is worth it.

And lastly, from Man Alone:

It is a rare man who does not sometimes ache to go forth alone and be lost and solitary under the enormous sky—to savor his own uniqueness and make all nature his private vision. So moved, Fishing Guide Jimmie Albright stands in silhouetted battle with a tarpon somewhere between the cloud-veiled afternoon sun and the Florida Keys. His fish did not strike at once.

Hours passed after he shut off his motor, staked out his boat, stood carefully in the silence and made his first intent and rhythmic cast. The sea’s color was lost in glare. Clouds darkened above the horizon. Then, without warning, he found himself in combat with something—a leaping, glittering, savage form—which bespoke all the mysteries, the dangers, the riches of the deep.

For 15 straining minutes Jimmie Albright lived in a wild world of his own. Then he gaffed the tarpon, lifted it high, released it. He mopped his brow, laid down his rod, started his motor and steered for his palm-shaded Islamorada cottage and the world of other men.

Funny story. This is my firm’s old logo:

After first seeing it last year, a friend up north asked, “Why is that bank robber in your logo holding a broom? Looks like he’s standing at home in Fenway ready to jack one out.”

As I explained at the time, it was actually a backcountry cowboy – a fishing guide who specializes in the flats and backcountry in Florida Bay. Kind of an iconic image down here, and I liked the symbolism. He’s wearing a balaclava as protection from the sun and holding a pushpole to move his skiff around the flats, which are often too shallow to motor through.

Behind the scenes, we’d been in a start-up mode. Every minute counted. I couldn’t find a picture like Pat’s above at the time, so I rushed into the backyard, stood on the picnic table – with a real broom – and asked Mrs. Cale In The Keys to take this pic:

Then I sent it to Gail at Gecko Graphics to work her magic. Thing was, though, I didn’t want the guy in the logo to actually look like me. How egotistical would that be?

Gail’s solution was simple. She gave the guide beefy triceps. Cuz mine are so anemic, apparently.

Below is our new logo. No artificial testosterone was used in the making of this version.

And now if anyone asks about the bank robber, I’ll just send them Pat’s photo.

From the new Live Rock USA store at MM 85, by Pasta’s studio. And it’s for saltwater aquariums.

The owners recently started harvesting live rock from a 600,000 pound tract of limestone that was hand-set in an aquaculture zone off Islamorada ten years ago. Now that the rock has matured, they collect it, store it in a dozen big curing tanks out behind the store and ship it all over the country to reef tank owners. They actually pump the seawater up through the ground underneath the store to circulate in their curing tanks. I was impressed.

And if limestone aquaculture is anything like owning a gravel quarry, these guys are going have a real business on their hands. Even without selling to tourists.

Gorgeous boat, great crew. Then there was the tropical breeze, perfect music and cold beer…plus dolphins, a black powder cannon, some truly impressive shiphandling and – most important – mounds of free jelly beans for the kids. I should do a commerical.

Their website is www.calypsosailing.com. The clip below doesn’t do it justice…I’m sort of the anti-Coppola behind a camera. But here’s another vid for the jet ski crowd, a future postcard, and a clip of her off Sunset Key the day before, too.

Yeah. I’ll stick to investing.

Tarpon on Fly Rod

Leaping Tarpon

Down the Hatch

Captain Ted Wilson and geek Cale Smith.

Here’s a video of the above, another of the tarpon leaping, and Ted where he’s most at home. Also, from the bow of Ted’s skiff, running through the mangroves.

Ted’s site is http://www.captaintedwilson.com, and you can read more about the silver king here.

And, yep, he swam away just fine.