Capt'n Pete's Pro Shop

Capt'n Pete's Pro Shop sits on the Overseas Highway at mile marker 103 in Key Largo, and it opens at 6 a.m. Monday through Saturday, which tells you exactly who it is for. This is the stop you make on the way to the ramp, not on the way home.

The shop keeps live bait, shrimp and crabs, alongside frozen, and carries rods, reels and terminal tackle from names like Shimano, plus Costa sunglasses for when the glare wins. They build custom rods and they repair them. If you flew in without gear they rent rods, and they sell Florida fishing licenses over the counter, so that is one less thing to sort out in a parking lot at dawn.

The counter is the other reason to stop. Staff will talk through what is biting and where, which for a visitor with one morning to fish is worth more than most of what is on the shelves. Open until 6 on weekdays and Saturdays, until 4 on Sundays. Call (305) 890-6939.