A Typical Itinerary for a Florida Fishing Adventure (FA) at the Brinton Environmental Center (BEC)

Everyone has questions about the Florida Keys Sea Base high adventures. One of the most common is, what is the typical itinerary, beyond the printed schedule? Here it is, based on reports from from actual participants!

Also be sure to see

Sea Base, Brinton Environmental Center Florida Fishing Adventure (FA) on Summerland Key

This is a fishing-focused 6 nights, 7 days including arrival and departure dates, adventure! Expect to be catching mahi-mahi, tuna, mackerel, snapper, wahoo and more! You will also snorkel at Looe coral reef, seeing the fish in their natural habitat and explore Key West. There you may be able to get a local restaurant to cook your fish.

Arrival

Your crew mate will give you a tour of the facilities, assign you to your dorm, conduct your swim review, and then give you some time to settle in before a leader’s meeting at 5:30, and dinner at 5:45.

After dinner, there will be a brief opening ceremony and then its lights out.

The dorms are air-conditioned with bunk beds with twin-sized mattresses, large enough to sleep three crews. Linens are not provided. Shower and free laundry facilities (detergent included) are available. The Fishing Adventure dormitory is equipped with one footlocker per crew. Bring your own lock.

Note: participants say the bunks are AWFUL!! They are a very thin mattress on top of wooden slats. Bring an air mattress or pad to put on top of it!

Day 1

The fishing starts the next morning on one of a dozen 27’ Dusky center console fishing boats and one 33’ Dusky (the Dorado) equipped with outriggers and a tower.

The actual type of fishing you do on any given day is up to your crew, with constraints imposed by weather and what’s biting. Be sure to see this page of photos of the fish you'll be trying to catch! And this page has Florida Keys fish photos and detailed fishing information so you will know more than a newbie!

Note: If you have a Bass Pro Shop, Cabella’s, or something similar near where you live it would wise to take the scouts there and let them get familiar with this type of equipment. The reels BEC provided are usually Penn brand, with the lever drag. Its also good to get familiar with open-face spinning reels. Ask the salemen to show you how to use the bail, cast, set the drag, etc.

Weather-permitting, you will fish for 3 days in a row.

Days 2-4

The next day you will go snorkeling at Looe Key Reef, which is an AMAZING reef for snorkeling which immense diversity of life; in the morning before heading to Key West in the evening.

Key West has a restaurant called Kaya Island Eats that will cook your fish for you.All Burgers & Sandwiches Served with French Fries, Lettuce, Tomato, & Onion on the side (about $30 - $35 per person, total, including drink and tip). Also Tacos, Island meats, salads.
618 Duval St, Key West, FL, 33040.
Phone: 305-395-0213.

Last Day

The last full day you will (weather-permitting) go fishing again. Some mornings you won’t leave the dock until around 9 after eating breakfast at BEC. On other days you may do what the real fishermen do, get up early and head out before breakfast (eating snack food on the boat). BEC Fishing Adventure typical schedule