Florida Keys Lure Fish And Anglers Alike For Exciting Fishing
A sailfish leaps while hooked up to an angler's line off Islamorada in the Florida Keys. A highly prized catch-and-release gamefish, sailfish is one of a myriad of saltwater species that attract visitors to the Keys on a year-round basis. The Keys features a diversity of sportfishing opportunities, ranging from deep water angling for blue marlin to flats fishing for bonefish and tarpon. Photo by Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau)
Heralded as one of the world’s premier saltwater sportfishing destinations, the Florida Keys & Key West offers sensational year-round fishing opportunities. Ideal geographical location, beautiful weather, spectacular scenery and flourishing fisheries combine for exceptional fishing.
Warm, nutrient-rich waters from the Caribbean Basin pour into the Straits of Florida, combining with water flowing out of the shallow-water nurseries of the Everglades and Florida Bay to create a profuse food chain. That in turn sustains massive amounts of bait fish which attract abundant stocks of game fish to the Keys.
The close proximity of the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Florida Bay provide anglers with the opportunity to fish more than one body of water within the same day of fishing to capitalize on the wide variety of fisheries. It is not uncommon for captains out of Key West to fish the Gulf of Mexico in the morning and the Atlantic Ocean in the afternoon. Further up the island chain, anglers can fish for sailfish and dolphin offshore during the day and bonefish or tarpon inshore during the late afternoon and early evening.
Uniquely situated between the Atlantic and the Gulf, the Keys benefit from ocean breezes that keep temperatures moderate year-round. Key West’s average daytime high is 81.9 degrees Fahrenheit, with similar readings throughout the islands. The short-sleeve weather and clear blue skies of winter, and the brief summer showers, permit anglers to fish on a daily basis.
Conservation efforts designed to enhance fish stocks have been in the forefront of sportfishing in the Keys for decades. Catch-and-release fishing, followed by size and bag limits, and more recently bans on gill nets and fish traps in state waters, have enabled stocks to stabilize and grow.
Pelagic, (migratory ocean fish), flats and reef species are plentiful throughout the Keys, and world records attest to healthy and productive fisheries. According to the International Game Fish Association, the Keys are home to more sportfishing records than any other destination in the world. During recent years, the waters surrounding the Keys have produced an annual average of nearly 15 percent of all IGFA saltwater world records.
Sailfish and dolphin (the fish, not the mammal) are two of the most popular offshore species pursued in the Keys. Prime sailfish season is during the winter months, while dolphin is the focus of the summer months.
Flats fishing, or hunting in shallow water, focuses on the “big three” - tarpon, bonefish and permit. Top season for tarpon is April through June, while permit and bonefish are most active from spring through fall, although many flats species can be targeted year-round.
Anglers looking to wrestle monster denizens up from Keys reefs and deep-water structures continue to be surprised by excellent catches. Primary targets in this fishery are snapper and grouper which are available year-round.
Abundant and healthy fish stocks are only one advantage available to anglers fishing the Keys. The region also is home to the world’s best fishing captains and guides, who practice their trade 365 days a year. Offshore, inshore, backcountry and flats charters are available throughout the island chain with skippers who know how to catch fish regardless of the conditions.
Year-round, there’s always something to catch in the Florida Keys. For more information on fishing in the Keys, call 1-888-FISH-KEYS (888-347-4539). For lodging information call 1-800-FLA-KEYS (800-275-5397), or visit the Web site at www.fla-keys.com.
Filed under: Fish and Game, Fishing Spots by FishNLand
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Big Pine Key, Florida Keys -(FishNLand.com)- Steve McKenna of Cudjoe Key, Fla., took first place in the 16th annual Big Pine and Lower Keys Dolphin Tournament that ended June 14.
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