Trapped in Key West

Summary

Author Peter M. Bacle grew up in the world of Key West commercial fishing. As Key West developed into major tourist destination, Pete fished for lobster and stone crab, cruised the Caribbean, survived numerous confrontations with drug smugglers, adapted to the influx of refugees from Cuba, and relaxed with family and friends on secluded islands and beaches.

Pete’s Key West may live in the shadow of Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, but for native families, the schools, churches, ball fields, and surrounding sea are where they find their pleasures. The author’s father, Pete C. Bacle—pictured on the cover—is central to many of the stories in the book. Pete Sr. went to sea at the age of 15, and founded the family fishing business. He was an adventure seeker, who fought naval battles in WWII, fished the distant Dry Tortugas and Bahama waters, searched for sunken treasure, battled trap robbers and drug smugglers, and still found time for his family. Pete loved the ocean, and always believed that earning a living from the sea in Key West was a privileged life that few people would trade. Peter Bacle’s stories are now part of Key West’s past, but Stock Island Lobster Company is little changed by time. The Bacle family still buys, sells, and catches lobster, and life continues today much as it has for the past 60 years.

Reviews

I loved the book. I was in Key West from 1970 to 1983. I fished out of the A&B Lobster House and then Ming’s Seafood on Stock Island. So, I am familiar with Maloney Ave and Stock Island Lobster. I was in Key West at the time of the Mariel Boat Lift. I remember all the drug trafficking that was going on also. It was a good read and his father was a remarkable man.

Capt Bo Davis

I just finished reading Mr. Bacle’s book for the second time. He is a fantastic story teller! I believe it should be listed on the “top 10 island books ever written” list. To me it’s a cross between Treasure Island and The Old Man and the Sea. What a fantastic tribute to his father, Peter Bacle.

Laurie Cook

I received my copy directly from the author, a really nice guy. This was well written, and provides some insight into life in Key West that might otherwise be overlooked. Rather than a narrative, this is a series of vignets that provide insight into the life ot local Key West residents over a couple of generations. It is well worth the time at to read.

Amazon Customer