Fishing in Florida's Cheeca Lodge Guide

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Fishing in Florida
The Florida Keys offers amazing angling and The Cheeca Lodge is the perfect place to relax after a wonderful day out on the water.
By Chuck Taylor

Just thinking about booking an excursion to the Florida Keys gets me all jazzed up! I'll be honest; it's taken me 15 years of traveling to the Keys to figure out how to do it just right. It has been a challenge to find both the right upscale resort and a captain who's willing to share his secret fishing holes, but now that I've got it all down, I'm going to take you on an adventure that will make your trip to the Florida Keys a memorable experience.

When I got the unexpected invitation, the thought of drinking cold Margaritas while listening to live music and dining al fresco at my favorite restaurant after a perfect day of fishing was enough to seal the deal. And so, I'm off to Islamorada to stay at the world famous Cheeca Lodge. It doesn't get any better than this in the Florida Keys.

GETTING THERE
Miami International Airport (MIA) and Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL) offer a wide variety of carriers and flights to meet your itinerary needs. You can also fly into Marathon Airport via Delta Airlines.

I live in Fairfield County, Connecticut and recently, I discovered the Westchester County Airport in White Plains, New York. With little or no traffic, it takes only 30 minutes to get there. I booked my flight on AirTran to Fort Lauderdale. Discounted fares are usually available if you book online two weeks in advance. If a seat is available at check-in, you can upgrade to first class for an additional $60. The seats are roomy and comfortable and you'll feel refreshed and relaxed upon arrival.

YOU'RE NOT THERE YET ...
If you fly into Fort Lauderdale, you can save valuable time by renting a car at one of the rental car concessions located right at the airport. I frequently use the Hertz Number One Gold service and rent a full size car with a Never Lost navigational GPS system.

Your most direct route to Islamorada is the Florida Turnpike to the Overseas Highway. It's a two-lane highway with no Jersey barriers. But be warned: it can be extremely dangerous especially on busy weekends so drive carefully!

THE SECRET
To avoid the Overseas Highway construction and congestion, take a scenic detour via Card Sound Road. Locals use it to avoid weekend bumper-to-bumper traffic Plus, it's just safer.

Pick up Card Sound Road in Homestead, Florida. The road provides a second crossing between the Florida Keys and the Florida Mainland and you'll have to pay a $1 toll when crossing the Card Sound Bridge. Note that Sunpass will not work at this crossing.

The Cheeca Lodge is located on the Atlantic side at mile marker 82 on the Overseas Highway. The resort's entrance can be difficult to spot and many guests pass by it on their first attempt. You can avoid missing it by keeping an eye out for the towering flagpole flying the stars and stripes. You can't miss it. It's huge!

CHEECA LODGE
The Cheeca Lodge was originally founded in 1946 as the Islamorada Olney Inn. It was a luxury retreat for sportsmen like baseball slugger Ted Williams and sports color man Curt Gowdy, who came to fish for permit, tarpon and bonefish. Islamorada is widely regarded as the Sport Fishing Capital of the World.

Carl and Cynthia Twitchel of the A&P grocery chain bought the property and completely rebuilt the resort, renaming it "Cheeca" by merging their names. Coca-Cola bottler Carl Navarre then purchased the property in the 1970s and the family still maintains a home on the grounds.

The property takes pride in its eco-friendly operation and its groundbreaking programs for children.

This history and pride lives on today at the Cheeca Lodge. The property has been extensively renovated and now offers 199 guest rooms and 60 suites along 27 acres of Atlantic beachfront.

A traditional resort view room starts at $159 per night in low season and can jump to $349 per night during peak periods. With the exception of those on the lower floors overlooking the front entrance portico, most rooms have fantastic views.

The deluxe rooms have a West Indies-inspired decor featuring rich mahogany accents. They also include marble bathrooms with a separate soaking tub and shower. The beds boast pillow-top mattresses and fine linens. You can relax watching a favorite show on the 42" plasma screen televisions. DVD/CD players and wireless high-speed Internet access are also available in-room.

OTHER AMENITIES INCLUDE:
• 27 acres of lushly landscaped gardens
• 1,100 ft. private white-sand beach lined with mature palm trees
• 2 Heated swimming pools and a wading pool
• 6 lighted tennis courts
• Jack Nicklaus designed par-3, 9-hole golf course
• Concierge
• The Spa & Fitness Studio
• Meeting facilities
• Camp Cheeca for kids
• Dining: Atlantic's Edge restaurant, Curt Gowdy Lounge, Ocean Terrace Grill
• Water sports: Parasailing, windsurfing, snorkeling, kayaking and sailing, backcountry and deep-sea charter fishing trips

Cheeca Lodge & Spa, Islamorada, Florida Keys, 81801 Overseas Highway, Mile Marker 82, Islamorada, FL 33036, Reservations: 1-800-327-2888, Direct: 305-664-4651.

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