Florida Keys 1966

[riverviewsteve]

From 1964 till 1966 I was stationed at Key West Naval
Air Station and did quite a bit of fishing off various bridges
and places. Close to the end of my tour of duty I was
looking for a place to fish one day and found a section
of the old wooden Key West Highway Bridge I beleive
it was on Big Pine Key. It didn't have any signs saying
it was dangerous or restricted so I carefully made my
way out to the end to fish. Lot of boards broken but
I made it ok and began to fish. I wasn't catching
anything so I kicked off my shoes and shirt and lay back
to take a nap. There were no rails or anything to lean my
pole on so I layed it on the bridge and wrapped the line
a couple of turns around my big toe. Big Mistake.
I had no more laid back when I finally got a hit and I
couldn't get that line off my toe fast enough. It was sore
for a week. I would like to know if any of you old timers
familiar with the keys remember that piece of bridge. It
stuck out in the water about 150 ft or so. I'm sure it's
long gone by now. Soon after that I got transferred to
the West coast. The morning I left a hurricane was
coming and the guy in charge when I was checking out
says we are going to lock that gate in about 15 minutes.
You better get in that new VW you got and don't stop
till you get to Georgia. That's what I did. I got in that VW
and didn't stop till I got to Georgia only stopping for gas.
All on 27. In them days that was quite a highway. OK if
anyone remembers I'd just like to know. Thanks for any
help.
riverviewsteve MCPO, USN, RETIRED

[BigDawg71]

don't know the bridge but laughed at your misfortune anyway
thanks for the post

[snookmook]

RVS--Great story. I don't remember that particular bridge, but I did catch my very first saltwater fish down in the Keys. It was a nice fat mutton snapper and the first of many that day.

I was about eight-years-old and was fishing with my beloved and now deceased Uncle John. This was about 1970. We were fishing from the old drawbridge catwalk at Islamorada, right there next to Bud and Mary's Marina and Bait and Tackle shop.

I slayed the mutton snapper that day. My Uncle John was so proud that his little nephew was such an adept angler as you all know how wiley those snapper can be. My Uncle John and I fed our two families a huge snapper dinner that night. Four adults and five kids, three of them teenagers. We had a good feast.

I sure do miss the old Keys and I sure as hell miss my Uncle John.

[riverviewsteve]

snookmook thank you for sharing that story. I got
fond memories of my time in Key West. Aside from
that other story I told I had many other wonderful
days fishing down there. I spent many days and
nights on the bridge catwalks. Right after I got there
I bought this little rod and reel combo at the Navy Exchange
on the Naval Air Station. I think it was a Garcia. Not
real postive. If I recall it had 12 pound test line. That
was all I ever used and I caught some pretty decent
fish with it. Now I probably got about 14 rods. I only
take 2 or 3 at a time but sure wonder how did I ever
do with only one rod. One evening I was on one of them
catwalks and it got very dark. I hadn't been catching
much and when I finally did I couldn't see it. I was
feeling around in the dark and it was a hammerhead
shark. I immediately went to my car and got my
flashlight. Probably lucky I didn't lose a finger. So
many stories and so little time. Thanks again buddy
and thanks for setting me straight about them
snappers. Snappers indeed. Key West Grunts. Ha
By the way I enjoy the imformation you put out too.
Keep up the good work.
riverviewsteve USN, RETIRED

[snookmook]

RVS--Anytime buddy. We'll have to meet up, wet a line, and share some of these old stories in person one of these days.

Have a Merry Christmas a Happy New Year my forum friend.

[riverviewsteve]

I'd like that snookmook. I don't get out to often
but I always try to give plenty of notice when I do.
I love swapping stories. In the Navy we always called
them sea stories.
Happy Holidays to you and your family.
riverviewsteve USN, RETIRED