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It doesn’t get much better than saltwater fishing in Florida! Here you’ll find the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf Stream, reefs, wrecks and inlets.
The Gulf
Stream The Flats They don't call it "flats" for nothing! You'll get your best results in water two feet or less. You'll have even better luck in water with sea grasses, bottom contours and sediments which provide an excellent playground for crab, shrimp and other fish appetizers. Whether you wade or kayak, you'll find flats fishing in Florida is rewarding. And for the ultimate challenge, try sight-fishing from a boat being poled! Best flats fishing location: The Florida Keys.
Bays Bay fishing can be quite diverse - you can use light, medium and/or heavy tackle and you can expect to bag a wide variety of fish. Some of Florida's hottest bay fishing spots include Biscayne Bay, Florida Bay, Whitewater Bay, Chokoloskee Bay, Ponce de Leon Bay, Charlotte Harbor, Tampa Bay, Homosassa Bay, Waccosassa Bay, Apalachee Bay, West and East bays (Panama City) and Pensacola Bay. Jetties The best jetties are those lined with concrete or those that line both sides of an inlet. Many of Florida's inlets offer fishermen easy access including bait shops and facilities. Here you'll fish for tarpon, snook, redfish, jacks and mackerel. Bridges Snook and tarpon are popular catches from bridges and night fishing is usually best, especially during a full-moon. Shrimp tossed up current work well. As far as location goes, the bridges in the Keys and the Sunshine Skyway in Tampa rate at the top. Piers There are dozens of saltwater piers and parks for fishing without a boat in Florida. Click here to see our extensive list. Rivers Mangroves give fish a place to take a break from the sun, so if you can cast along the edges of the shoreline you're bound to get lucky, especially along dead tree limbs and other hiding spots. Click here to learn more about Florida's mangroves. Remember to keep only the fish you're going to eat to ensure a healthy fish supply for future anglers!
Fishing Safety
Boat operators who are boating in the vicinity of fishing boats should:
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This massive swordfish was caught in a 34' Center Console boat, several miles offshore in Palm Beach County.
Recreational Saltwater
Fishing License A few years ago, not one southern state required a saltwater fishing license. Today, six of the nine coastal states in the southern United States require these permits. Whether you are a proponent of these licensing requirements or not, the fact is that the revenues provided for fiscal year 1991 exceeded $11,000,000. Florida's license income is spent according to legislative mandate. Our laws specify that not more than 2.5 percent of the total fees collected are deposited into the Marine Fisheries Commission Trust Fund. This money is used to fund the Marine Fisheries Commission, which establishes fishing regulation, and to finance marine research projects. At least 2.5 percent of the total funds generated from your saltwater license fee are deposited in the Save Our State Environmental Education Trust Fund, which is used for aquatic education purposes. Five percent is set aside for administration of the law, including printing of the license. The law requires that the remaining 90 percent of the allocated funds be distributed among marine research; fisheries enhancement such as hatcheries and statistics, habitat restoration, and building artificial reefs; and law enforcement.
Fishing in the Florida
Keys
Florida Shark Fishing
Regulations Some text on this page provided by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. |
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