Cheeca Lodge :

when we finally made it safely past the wreck. My only concern now was that this big fish was going to snap my 10lb test line. Larry successfully boated his permit. It appeared to be in the 20lb range and he fought it for over 20 minutes. Finally, after 30 minutes of battling for her life, my fish showed herself. She was a beauty!

We were very conscious of ensuring that the fish were unharmed and successfully released back into the wild. But not before, with the help of Captain Rich, Larry and I took some nice trophy shots.

DEEP-SEA FISHING
The next day, we had the opportunity to do some deep-sea fishing aboard a classic Hatters Sport fishing boat appropriately named Old Hat. The dorado were running and we were promised an action-packed day. You don't have to travel very far to reach the fishing grounds; it took us only 30 minutes to get the lines in the water so we could promptly begin catching fish.

Captain Ron More explained that the dorado usually like to congregate under clumps of sea grass. To be most productive, the strategy was to troll through the patches of grass. It wasn't long before we started to catch as many dorado as we could handle. When hooked, the fish lit up with florescent colors. We had an action-packed day on the water with everyone onboard catching at least one fish. In fact, Tom Bie of The Drake Magazine caught several on a fly rod!

MUST-SEE: WORLD WIDE SPORTSMAN
Billed as one of the largest fishing stores in the world, The World Wide Sportsman has something for everyone. You can hand feed tarpon in an open pen or get decked out in the latest casual fashions. Many of the store's display cases showcase museum quality fly fishing rods and reels that once belonged to Zane Grey and Ernest Hemingway. A full-scale replica of Hemingway's fishing boat, "Pilar" is also available for a self-tour.

CHEECA LODGE HISTORY
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. Cheeca Lodge & Spa, Islamorada, Florida Keys, 81801 Overseas Highway, Mile Marker 82, Islamorada, FL 33036

OVERALL
My getaway to Islamorada and the Cheeca Lodge was truly an over-the-top experience. It was the first time, in 15 years that the weather, fishing and accommodations all conspired to create the most perfect of vacation conditions. Now that I have it down perfectly, I'd go back in a New York minute. I hope that you too, will give it some consideration the next time you’re making travel plans!