By MONICA HATCHER

Since they were 14, Hialeah sweethearts Angie Profera and Luis Perez have been sneaking away on Perez's boat to a little brushy island near Key Largo during the summer.

Sunday afternoon, like always, they thought they were alone -- until they heard voices murmurring behind the bushes.

'We swam back to the boat ... and started shouting, `Are you fishermen?,' '' Profera, 46, said.

''No, we're Cubans.'' the voices responded.

Profera said more than 20 Cuban migrants, including several teens and children, emerged on the shore.

VOYAGE FROM CUBA

The migrants, thirsty and hungry after their voyage across the straits, told them they had left Cuba Saturday night and were picked up by a boater who dropped them off at the island near the Ocean Reef Club and Card Sound Bridge.

The couple called the Coast Guard, which confirmed it sent a crew to investigate.

Both the Coast Guard and the U.S. Border Patrol said there was a landing, but neither would say how many migrants arrived.

COUPLE OFFERS AID

The couple gave their cooler to the Cubans who Profera said were ''thankful but scared at the same time'' to receive their help.

The migrants shared water, sodas, and ice while Profera and Perez waited for the Coast Guard from their boat.

Under the government's wet-foot, dry-foot policy, Cubans who reach land are generally allowed to stay.

Those intercepted at sea are generally returned home.

Last fiscal year, 955 Cuban migrants landed in South Florida, according to Border Patrol figures.