FLORIDA KEYS OVERNIGHTER

THE DRY TORTUGAS IS NO LONGER THE FINAL FRONTIER, BUT THE BOTTOMFISHING IS STILL WORTH THE TRIP.

- GEORGE POVEROMO

CAPT. DJ BARRIOS WAS THINKING AHEAD THAT MORNING. WE WERE ON A YELLOWTAIL SPOT NOT FAR FROM THE ANCHORAGE AT FORT JEFFERSON, WHERE WE HAD JUST SPENT THE NIGHT. I WAS FREELINING SLIVERS OF BONITO AND PULLING IN SNAPPER AS FAST AS I COULD. BUT BARRIOS HAD SOMETHING BIGGER IN MIND.

As I landed yellowtails, he lowered a live pinfish to the bottom on a 20-pound-class spinner and quickly found himself in a give-and-take struggle I wasn't sure he'd win. He prevailed and up came a firetruck red grouper-one of the largest I've ever seen. Obviously, I wasn't the only one who was stalking the yellowtail school.

THE SHRINKING FINAL FRONTIER

The Dry Tortugas, some 70 miles west of Key West, has long been dubbed the final frontier of Florida Keys fishing. Reaching Dry Tortugas National Park by private boat can be an arduous undertaking. Brisk winds and conflicting currents along some stretches can spawn tumultuous seas, such as the gap between Boca Grande and the Marquesas, the Quicksands and Rebecca Shoal. A boat's seaworthiness, power, reliability and fuel capacity factor prominently in any decision to embark on such a journey. The reward? Superb bottomfishing with little pressure.

With today's larger center-consoles, the Dry Tortugas is now a day run for many anglers and Key West guides. With light winds, one can depart Key West at sunrise, fish most of the day, and return around 5 p.m. We've done this with my boat. High speeds make short work of the long run; the Dry Tortugas is now readily accessible. That "final frontier" moniker doesn't work anymore, but it's still an amazing place to fish.

FUN AT THE FORT