[abc_123]

Thanks for the replies. To answer some of the Q's. We're going to be staying at the Coast Guard Station at Marathon and renting a cabin (unless they booked since we called them mid last week) Wife wants slow-paced. Likes that we can rent tackle/small boat if we want to put around. Somewhere around 9-13 April (+-). (depending on leave dates)

The wife aiting the hook? Squirming, sliming bait? No problem. She grew up fishing and crabbing in coastal GA. Taught me how to throw a cast net. Showed my boys how to bait hooks with crickets, how to use caught fish for cut bait and how to clean catfish when I was deployed a while back. Saltwater fishing, I definately defer to her (although she's don mostly inshore).... in our family she's the fishing expert.

Although my wife's dream is to catch a wall-hanger sail or marlin, we're not looking to trophy fish. Just looking for an enjoyable trip for the boys (and her), and at the same time hopefully catch some fish that we can cook up and eat while we are down there. We're thinking that a 3/4 day will be enough to peg our boys fun meter.

There are lots of charter boats advertising online, and i'm sure that there are lots more that i haven't found. Just looking for some local recommendations and if there is two-tiered (tourist-non-tourist) pricing in effect, I'd appreciate a hookup so that I don't get raked over the coals.

As we plan more.. Maybe i can con the wife into letting me go solo on a 1/2 day trip for tarpon or something.. .that would be cool. (won't take the fam on that one).

Thanks again, gents. Appreciate the info!