Key West New Year’s Eve Celebrations

Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008

Here in the beautiful Florida Keys we can’t find a big apple to drop on New Year’s Eve, so… The next best thing:  A GREAT BIG CONCH SHELL!

The Southernmost City in Florida celebrates at one of Key West’s most famous hot spots, “Sloppy Joe’s Bar & Grill, located at 201 Duval Street to watch the Conch drop at mid-night.

Dropping of the Conch Shell at Sloppy Joe

If the Conch doesn’t suit you.. We have more than one way to bring in the New Year. Here in the Florida Keys, we believe that variety is the spice of life!  Try a Giant 6’ Red High Heel, descending from Sushi pole at Bourbon Street Pub, 7 Duval street. Or, watch a Pirates Wench drop from a Tall Ship Mast in the Historic Key West Seaport, located at, 0 Duval street.

For all the great folks that spent their vacation in the Florida Keys, fishing, diving, snorkeling and just having a good time with Harbour Point Marine rental boats in the past, we want to thank you for your patronage and for sharing your time on the water with us.

Now’s it’s …PAYBACK TIME!!!
Contact Us with a couple of your favorite pictures from your Harbour Point Marine rental boat trip, your current mailing address and telephone number, BECAUSE…

We are having a drawing on Easter Sunday just for YOU!  Local Capt. Bill Alch will be reaching his hand into the hat to draw the winning name.  The winner receives a (2) day rental “FREE”. The winners photo will be displayed on our website, you will receive a “rental certificate” by mail, and on Thursday April 16, 2009 we will announce your name and gift on our live radio show from (WFFG AM 1300).

And now, the fine print:
The Harbour Point Marine free 2 day rental gift is not transferable, can not be used with any other coupons or specials. This certificate is not redeemable for cash or trade and cannot be used to add to other cost or exspenses on other rental vessels or purchases. The customer redeeming the certificate will be asked to make available a current credit for which a $500.00 deposit will be held until vessel is returned and check out has been done. The customer will be responsible for replacing the fuel back to the amount on board when rented. The vessel is to be determined by Harbour Point Marine and will be subject to availability. The certificate is not redeemable during peck periods and must be booked 30 days prior to date of scheduled arrival. Renewal or date change for the certificate once scheduled will be at the discretion of Harbour Point Marine, and inclimate weather or medical emergency will be considered with documentation.

When coming to the Florida Keys, fishermen will need to know if the fish they’re catching are the correct length. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) uses one of two methods for measuring saltwater fish; Total Length or Fork Length.

The Red Drum, Mutton Snapper, and Yellowmouth Grouper are members of the “Total Length” species. There is also a more detailed list of fish below.

Total Length species are saltwater fish that are measured from the furthest part of the head with the fish’s mouth closed to the furthest part of the fish’s “pinched” tail, while the fish is lying on its side. The photos show these “How to Measure” points in detail.

Measured via Total Length:

Black Grouper
Gag Grouper
Red Grouper
Yellowfin Grouper
Yellowmouth Grouper
Scamp
Red Snapper
Gray (Mangrove) Snapper
Dog snapper
Blackfin snapper

Cubera snapper
Lane Snapper
Mutton Snapper
Schoolmaster Snapper
Vermillion Snapper
Yellowtail Snapper
Queen Snapper
Mahogany Snapper
Silk Snapper
Red Porgy

Black Sea Bass
Red Drum
Black Drum
Snook
Spotted Seatrout
Weakfish
Tripletail
Bonefish
Sheepshead
Flounder
Marine Life Species (Gray Angelfish, French Angelfish, Blue Angelfish, Queen Angelfish, Rock Beauty, Butterflyfish, Gobies, Jawfish, Porkfish, Spanish Hogfish, Cuban Hogfish)

A Fishing Boat plus a Captain! Now that’s a good combo.

So you’d like to rent a boat while relaxing in the Florida Keys, but just don’t know where to go and really don’t want to worry about running into shallow water or being at the wrong place with the wrong bait!

Harbour Point Marine can help.

We can arrange to have a captain on board with you for the day or for a full week. Captain Bill Alch is one of our local captains ready and willing to take you and your family out for some offshore fishing, a little inshore and flat fishing or just out snorkeling around the area reefs checking out the sites.

Captain Bill is a Florida licensed Captain who loves to fish and enjoys teaching people about the many beautiful and interesting sites here in the Florida Keys. Our customers come back time again to request Captain Bill aboard their favorite Harbour Point Marine vessel that they have made their own while visiting in Marathon Key Florida.

Captain Bill can even pick-up your rental boat from Harbour Point Marine for you, arrive at your home dock or resort, ready for a fun filled day of excitement on the water. How’s that for convenience?

For more information simply contact us.

Thanks to the Ratliff Family of Pikeville, KY, for these photos of their catch while fishing with Capt Bill.

If you need a place to stay while you’re in the Keys, please consider a few of our friends:

Mirabella Seafood Company
1-305-481-7202
lobstercrawl@gmail.com
vacation home address:
400 62nd street ocean
Marathon, fl 33050
view this home at:
www.vrbo.com/48817

Florida Keys Penthouse
1-586-612-9600
info@FloridaKeysPenthouse.com
vacation home address:
1217 Sombrero Blvd.
Marathon, fl 33050
view this home at:
Florida Keys Penthouse

Casa de Addison
1-305-745-6463
Dave@rentalsmarathon.com
vacation home address:
5303 Ocean Terrace
marathon, Fl 33050
view this home:
www.rentalsinmarathon.com

Hi Friends, and welcome to Janis’ Corner!

I’m Janis Short, general manager of Harbour Point Marine, and in a world where there’s already communication overload, I’m hoping to cut through the clutter and provide some meaningful information about your vacation in the world famous Florida Keys.

And by the way, this corner is for all of our friends in the Keys, as well as Florida and beyond.  Perhaps I should call it “Short’s Shorts,” because that’s what I plan to offer.

MARATHON KEY, FLORIDA (For Immediate Release/with photo) – The state of Florida is offering kids the chance to fish free for one day.

That’s the word from Janis Short, general manager of Harbour Point Marine, where kids with their families have been coming  for years to recreate and fish in the Florida Keys.
The marina is one of the statewide supporters of the annual event.

“The goal is to promote youth awareness and responsibility of our vulnerable marine ecosystems in the beautiful inshore and offshore waters of our state,” explains Janis.

The program is sponsored by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.

An additional goal is to teach fundamental saltwater fishing skills and provide children with the opportunity to enhance a positive fishing experience, she noted.

The one day education event covers casting, knot tying, fishing tackle, good angling habits and touch tank.  “In some parts of the state, kids will actually get the chance to fish,” remarked Janet.

Following completion of the introductory fishing primer, each child will receive a free rod and reel donated by local sponsors.  (HPM’s role in this?)

For more information and a current copy of events, contact www.myfwc.com or your local department of motor vehicles.

Thanks again…