fishing and diving, Keys’ style Fishing . . .
As Winter ends and water temperatures begin to stabilize, Florida Keys’ backcountry waters begin to become more predictable and reliable. Some very large bonefish will be taken every spring as the March winds blow more and more out of prevailing wind directions. These warm and windy conditions will yield some of the largest fish of the year, potentially over fifteen pounds. Plenty of permit fish are also taken as the early Spring winds make them much less spooky, with lots of fish being taken on fly as well as naturals especially small live crabs. Tarpon also begin to funnel into many Keys’ channels and bridges, where they are primarily fished for using live bait or large swimming plugs. For fly fishermen, tarpon will be available in the backcountry if we have several warm sunny days following a cold front, but become more and more available in March. On the ocean side of the Keys, tarpon become good targets for sight-casting fishermen sometime in mid-to
late April and really begin to “pour” in May.
In Florida Bay, trout fishermen will begin to catch some of the largest specimens of the year as the large breeding stock comes into shallower water. Snook fishing around many of the islands in the Everglades picks up as well as more and bait floods into the bay and get ambushed as they make annual migrations. Shallow water redfishing just gets better and better as water temperatures continue to rise, as they seem to be on of the most temperature-tolerant species that lives in Florida Bay. Always check ever-changing rules for accuracy before putting any fish in the cooler or better yet, take a picture and release the fish!
Diving . . .
Famous for its abundance of fish and coral reef formations, the Florida Keys are home to North America's only living coral barrier reef. Encompassed by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, protection of the coral reef is a top priority.
The reef is very versatile, and offers diving and snorkeling opportunities for enthusiasts of all experience levels. Here you'll find shallow reefs, deep ravines, underwater caves and even glimpses into Keys’ history with coral-encrusted ship wrecks, ranging in age from wreck of the 1800's to current modern “wrecks”, such as the Spiegel Grove.
Most dive sites are equipped with mooring buoys, which serve to protect the reef from anchors and make tying off easy. Located an average of 5 miles offshore, the reef is easily accessible via a short boat ride from shore. There are an abundance of professional dive centers ready to cater to all of your diving needs.
On the Water
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