Florida's Best Saltwater Fishing

Florida is often viewed as a saltwater fisherman's paradise. Hundreds of miles of coastline offer a wide variety of available fishing experiences and locations. The state's unique make-up offers access to the Gulf Stream, reefs, wrecks, estuaries, bays, inlets, and rivers - enough variety to keep an eager fisherman busy for a long while. There's an opportunity to land everything from marlin to bonefish, depending on where you choose to look.

Undoubtedly, one of the most popular and oft caught fish in Florida is the snook. With its tremendous force and resilience, the snook has proven to be a worthy opponent sought after by many a fisherman. Other popular Florida species of fish include the sailfish and bass. However, with Florida's varied geography, the opportunity to exists to catch a wide variety of fish, depending simply on where you choose to fish.

The Gulf Stream is one of the most popular fishing destinations in the country. It boasts a wide variety of gamefish, including blue marlin, wahoo, sailfish, dolphin, kingfish, swordfish, yellowfin and blackfin tuna, and sharks. Trolling lures and live baits will be your best shot at landing one of these fish, though according to reports, offshore fly fishing has increased in popularity in recent years.

Rivers also provide a good amount of opportunity for a saltwater fisherman seeking to do a little recreational fishing. The overhanging trees and shrubbery covered shorelines allow fish to avoid contact with direct sunlight, thus encouraging them to flock to such locations. Though when you are fishing a Florida river, it's best to remember to avoid dead trees limbs or any other obstructions that might be in your path. Also, it's a good idea to cast up current.

Another great fishing spot in Florida is the flats, which are basically the trademark of the Florida Keys. People employ a number of methods when fishing in the flats - from wading to casting from the shoreline to fishing from a boat being silently navigated by a guide. Many fishermen choose the wading technique because the readily available snook or redfish usually reside in shallow waters (specifically those that are less than two feet in depth). If you're interested in a little night fishing, you may want to look into fishing from one of Florida's many bridges.

One good method is to cast a jig tipped with a shrimp up current and hop it back to the piling. Though you'll likely lose a few rigs in the rocks, you'll also stand a good chance of catching snook or tarpon. Most ideal fishing bridges are located in the Keys There are also a couple of good ones in Tampa (such as the Sunshine Skyway). Because fishing from bridges is relatively popular in Florida, some bridges actually offer catwalks and other facilities conducive to fishing. However, some bridges don't allow fishing either, so you need to make sure to be aware of posted regulations.

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