Want to offshore fish in S FL

[jobberone]

Where's the best place to live. Don't speak Spanish. Don't want to live in too big a city nor spend too much for a home. Just me and the Mrs but expect kids on occasion. Keys not off limits. Love to sail, too.

[dexternjack]

Depends if ya scuba dive or not. Keys are not a bad choice but expect a lot of tourists year round. I prefer Destin/Panama City area. Great fishing off the coast there and some wrecks you can dive at. Quite a few local seafood restaurants to dine at and the nightlife is good, but not over the top. During March, I suggest you vacation somewhere else though

[Wolfpack]

West Palm Beach and the surrounding smaller towns are ok. Might look at Sarasota too.

[WPBCowboysFan]

Ive lived in West Palm Beach for 14 years. It has grown considerably and become more city like IMO.

Anywhere from WPB south to Miami is just one big sprawl. If you dont want Spanish then another area would be better. In Palm Beach County its like 20% of homes have Spanish for the language spoken. Broward County its like 40-46%, and dade County its around 60% or maybe even higher. Just read the stats a couple weeks ago.

The west coast of Florida is different although it is being built up as well. Things are slower and more laid back in a sense. Less $$$$ to live generally. You will find much more white middle class. More of a midwest type people generally. East coast is people from the northeast - NYers, Nj, some Philly, etc.

East side is where the money is. If you want to work or have a biz there is more money here. If you want the east side, Jupiter up to Port St. Lucie gives you some of the South Florida style but not the congestion. Hobe Sound is a quiet kinda lil town feel. Its right at the north end of Jupiter Island.

Any specific questions feel free to send me a pm.

[tomson75]

Originally Posted by dexternjack

Depends if ya scuba dive or not. Keys are not a bad choice but expect a lot of tourists year round. I prefer Destin/Panama City area. Great fishing off the coast there and some wrecks you can dive at. Quite a few local seafood restaurants to dine at and the nightlife is good, but not over the top. During March, I suggest you vacation somewhere else though

I'd suggest ANYTHING BUT the Panama City area....west of there, particularly along 30a is HiGHLY desirable, but anything near Panama City is garbage.

If fishing is a big factor, I'd head further south. The redneck riviera has ok fishing, but it is somewhat limited, and you have to go 40+ miles offshore before you start getting the best that area has to offer. If you're ok with Redfish, Snapper, Cobia, etc...then that area is pretty great.

The best tarpon fishing on the west coast of Florida is going to be found far south of there...closer to the Tampa area.

IMO, you have a lot more options on the east coast of Florida.... At least for fishing.

[WPBCowboysFan]

Forgot:

The gulfstream is here on the east side and WPB is good for that. There is a reason that Dale Earnhardt built a house here so he could fish.

You would also be very close to the Bahamas where people like to go fish.

If you want to live in Florida a big concern now is homeowners insurance. The policies have gotten crazy expensive because of the windstorm coverage. Insurance is a mess. Insurance companies have used this as an excuse to gouge. It is the main reason I would consider moving to another state. People are really held hostage by the insurance situation. It is one of the problems with the housing market here. Unless you are wealthy its something to consider.

[WPBCowboysFan]

Originally Posted by tomson75

I'd suggest ANYTHING BUT the Panama City area....west of there, particularly along 30a is HiGHLY desirable, but anything near Panama City is garbage.

If fishing is a big factor, I'd head further south. The redneck riviera has ok fishing, but it is somewhat limited, and you have to go 40+ miles offshore before you start getting the best that area has to offer. If you're ok with Redfish, Snapper, Cobia, etc...then that area is pretty great.

The best tarpon fishing on the west coast of Florida is going to be found far south of there...closer to the Tampa area.

IMO, you have a lot more options on the east coast of Florida.

Im not big on fishing. I like it, just dont go often.

I used to go grouper fishing in Ft.Myers every once in a while and we would go out about 35 miles in the Gulf. Thats Gulf fishing in large part. Here in WPB the gulfstream is a couple miles offshore.

[tomson75]

Originally Posted by WPBCowboysFan

Forgot:

The gulfstream is here on the east side and WPB is good for that. There is a reason that Dale Earnhardt built a house here so he could fish.

You would also be very close to the Bahamas where people like to go fish.

If you want to live in Florida a big concern now is homeowners insurance. The policies have gotten crazy expensive because of the windstorm coverage. Insurance is a mess. Insurance companies have used this as an excuse to gouge. It is the main reason I would consider moving to another state. People are really held hostage by the insurance situation. It is one of the problems with the housing market here. Unless you are wealthy its something to consider.

Good point. My homeowners insurance for my condo is roughly a third the cost of my mortgage. They also constantly change policies...it seems like I'm getting a letter every other month about some "erosion" policy that I'd don't have or somethingorother.

[tomson75]

Originally Posted by WPBCowboysFan

Im not big on fishing. I like it, just dont go often.

I used to go grouper fishing in Ft.Myers every once in a while and we would go out about 35 miles in the Gulf. Thats Gulf fishing in large part. Here in WPB the gulfstream is a couple miles offshore.

Yeah...it's a big factor. Fuel prices can drive a fishing trip in the Gulf much higher than the average fishing enthusiast can afford.

[Wimbo]

If I move back to Florida, it will be Pensacola for me. Same beaches/fishing/sailing/skiing/fishing as Destin, but half the tourists. Great water combination... inter-coastal area for sailing, skiing, grass flats fishing (trout, redfish); sugar white gulf coast beaches; nice shelf for bottom fishing (snapper, grouper); and accessible offshore fishing (marlin, sailfish, wahoo, tuna, mahi-mahi). Annual events like the Blue Angels, Pensacola Seafood Festival, Deluna Festival (small scale Mardi Gras type of celebration), etc.

[WPBCowboysFan]

Originally Posted by tomson75

Good point. My homeowners insurance for my condo is roughly a third the cost of my mortgage. They also constantly change policies...it seems like I'm getting a letter every other month about some "erosion" policy that I'd don't have or somethingorother.

The insurance and non homesteaded property tax rates drove me out of owning rental property. It really is out of control.

For condos the insurance is always changing. The condos will get an intro rate and then "wham" the jack-up hits. Change policies and its the same thing all over again.

I have seriously considered moving out of the state because of the insurance situation.

[JBond]

Originally Posted by jobberone

Where's the best place to live. Don't speak Spanish. Don't want to live in too big a city nor spend too much for a home. Just me and the Mrs but expect kids on occasion. Keys not off limits. Love to sail, too.

You my friend are a very lucky man. I love Siesta Key, just out side of Sarasota. Go every year with the wife. I would have already relocated, but my business is one that can't be moved. Gulf side is the way to go.

[Yakuza Rich]

Check out Jupiter or Naples.





YR

[dexternjack]

Originally Posted by Yakuza Rich

Check out Jupiter or Naples.





YR

I second this, right behind Destin. All three of these places are not cheap, but well worth it.

Doesn't Tiger have like a 2nd or 3rd home in Jupiter?

[WPBCowboysFan]

Originally Posted by dexternjack

I second this, right behind Destin. All three of these places are not cheap, but well worth it.

Doesn't Tiger have like a 2nd or 3rd home in Jupiter?

Tiger is on Jupiter Island.