Saltwater

Captain Benny Blanco piloted his sleek Maverick flats skiff across the green expanses of Florida Bay and slowed down at the "entrance" to Snake Bight. He then cut the engine, tilted it up, and grabbed his pushpole as he climbed the over-the-motor tower. It was May and the unfolding warm weather had put the spotted seatrout into the shallows purportedly in the hundreds. As Benny poled into the depths of the bight and onto the crown of the huge flat, he discussed the unique tackle, conditions and plugs we'd soon be involved with — and it bears repeating.

There had been talk of springtime tarpon and trout between cold fronts in Miami's North Biscayne Bay. Indeed, there had been a specific report from Captain Jim Hobales of Caught Lookin' Charters that he had hooked and released three tarpon over 100 pounds only days ago right on the bay side of Miami Beach, east of the Miami mainland. What an irresistible prospect!

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It had now reached the season where Florida's cold fronts were more wind direction "around-the-clock" changes without any deeply meaningful temperature drops.

Snook are one of the premier saltwater game fish of southwest Florida. Unfortunately, a "cold kill" occurred in 2010.

Like so many marine coastal anglers in the southeastern U.S. and Gulf States, I have a fierce addiction to fishing for redfish: small ones, big ones, on topwater plugs or on soft plastics.

Any marine angler who loves Florida's west coast and its abundant inshore and offshore fisheries should spend lots of angling time in Charlotte Harbor.

The vast reaches of the Everglades National Park encompass a vast swath of gamefish habitats all the way from inland fresh waters out to the briny salt water of Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. When wintertime comes to this region- particularly a very frigid season, like this one- cold blooded fish head to the warmest strata possible. This includes deeper thermoclinic regions of creeks, rivers, and channels as well as heat retaining mud bottoms.

A Landmark Vision for Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Management was recently unveiled by Policy and Industry Experts. A blue ribbon commission recommends enhanced fisheries management while upholding saltwater recreational fishing’s economic, social and conservation benefits.

It's easy to take on a stereotypical mindset about the saltwater fishing, lifestyle and attractions in the Florida Keys, but the truth is that specific regions of the Keys offer different experiences. From a hydrogeological point of view the Florida Keys begin with Miami's Key Biscayne and "end" with the Marquesas.