OK, with that in mind, offshore stuff is cash, pure and simple. You will pay for the opportunity to tangle with marlin, sails, mahi, tuna, and anything else pelagic. Now if you just want to catch fish, the keys is damn near nirvana for a fisherman. A backpack full of metal spoons, jigs, plastics, basic cranks, and live bait tackle will put you waist deep in fish. Any, and I do mean ANY bridge, dock, road ditch, or minimal structure you can find within casting distance will yield untold numbers of AWESOME table fare fish. With that in mind, go with a plan. A plan is where you will stay, what kind of transportation will you have, coolers, pots/pans, etc. etc. etc. The keys are a no shit OVERLOAD of opportunity. You can't do it all. Plan, Plan, Plan, execute, and enjoy. DO NOT get sucked into all the possibilities. Doing that results in you ending up doing nothing whilst trying to do everything. I went down with a focus on tackle and what I could catch with the tackle I brought. I was woefully outmatched to try to target tarpon, sharks, snook, and most everything else that gets over 10 lbs. I had a blast. I caught more fish in 4 days than I thought possible, but I kept my eye on the ball. I ate like a king. Mangrove snapper, trout, redfish, flounder, permit, pompano, mackerel, and a whole host of oddball fish that kept me in a food coma most of the time. If you want mahi, blow your wad on two days of charter fishing and take what you can get. Wishing you all the best and post pics if and when you get there so I can live vicariously through you. Thanks and good luck!!!