While you’re fishing in Florida, you may also want to try your
luck at one of the state’s many bays. Since bays are relatively
shallow, there are often a wide variety of game fish that frequent
their waters. Some of the more popular 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, and Pensacola Bay. Florida
jetties can often provide a good place to angle for tarpon, snook,
redfish, jacks, and mackerel. Concrete or rocky jetties often
line both sides of a spot like the Sebastian Inlet – look for
that type of structure surrounding similar inlets as well. Many
of them actually cater to fishermen by providing access and facilities.
If you opt to cast off from one of Florida’s many shorelines,
you will not be alone. Islands, beaches, and even rocky coastal
areas can be successfully fished. Just make sure you move along
quietly in these areas – fish can hear slight noises and sometimes
can even see you. It’s a good idea to soak a bait on the bottom
or cast parallel to the beach to tempt snook or reds hunting the
troughs. One other suggestion is to try fishing from a pier. This
has become increasingly popular in Florida and fishermen regularly
land Spanish mackerel, snook, tarpon, sheepshead, redfish, trout,
and many more. The pilings themselves serve to attract fish, as
do the lights shown in the water at night. Particularly good pier
fishing can be found in Broward, Miami-Dade counties, and in the
Panhandle.
Florida’s waters offer more than a few opportunities to satisfy
the saltwater fisherman’s desire to experience a sample of many
different kinds of fishing. Though there are certainly fish just
waiting to be caught in the waters of Florida, it’s also important
to remember to check on federal guidelines to make sure that you
adhere to all regulations set forth.
To get the full "Florida's Best Saltwater Fishing" article you'll need to download it here.
