Fish For Tarpon, Bonefish, Permit, Redfish, Snook and Trout

 

Backcountry Slam – Snook-Redfish-Trout

Snook - The local backcountry offers some excellent Snook fishing. The average size is 5 to 9 pounds and 24-34 inches. You will find them around bridges, mangroves, pilings just about any structure. They eat Mullet, Shrimp, Pilchards, Pinfish and a multitude of artificial lures or combinations of live and dead bait.

  Redfish - Redfish love the warm waters of south Florida, the oyster beds, mangroves, and grassy flats are their regular haunts. They are prolific, and definitely not timid when it comes to eating - Which makes them a great sport fish for light tackle and fly-fishing. Redfish are often seen "tailing" (very similar to bonefish) on the shallow flats as they feed.

Seatrout - Seatrout are frequently targeted from December to April. When fishing for them you can use the old standby a popping cork rig with a shrimp or artificial hanging below the cork. Remember Pop the cork Sea Trout come to the gurgling sound the cork makes.Sea Trout are found over grassy bottom and in the"muds" that is muddy areas where the bait is routing in the bottom stirring up shrimp and small fishes.

Flats Slam – Bonefish-Tarpon-Permit

Bonefish (“Grey Ghost”) - Known for very fast and very long first runs, this is probably the species most synonymous with Florida flats fishing. There is a reason why they are called "gray ghost of the flats" and are a real light tackle challenge. Here in the Keys, bonefish generally average in the 6 to 8 pound range with fish of 10 to 12 or larger not uncommon. They are usually fished in water less than two feet deep, and sometimes are seen so shallow that their tails and dorsal fins show as they root out food from the bottom. This is called "tailing" and is the most demanding of angler skills. Bonefish prefer water temperatures over 72 degrees, but can sometimes be found in slightly cooler conditions.

Tarpon (“Silver King”) - These incredible fish offer the ultimate in a shallow water big game fish. During the spring migrations, fish can average from 80 to over 150 pounds. They can be found rolling and feeding in deep backcountry finger channels, in shallow grassy basins or along the edges of bars and flats in 4 to 6 feet of water. Tarpon tend to prefer water temps in the mid 70's for the channels and usually need 78-79 degrees for the flats. The big fish are here in good to excellent numbers from March through July and small tarpon 8-20 pounds are here year-round, disappearing during cold fronts in winter.

Permit - The permit is a very strong and hard fighting fish, averaging 8 to 16 pounds. Fish in the 20 to 35 pound range are common with fish to near 50 pounds showing fairly often. They seem to tolerate slightly cooler and slightly warmer conditions than the bones, and are also here all year with February thru November probably being most productive. Permit are usually found in waters less than 3 to 4 feet deep and will also float in channels or off flat edges in calm situations.

Key Largo Marinas

PILOT HOUSE RESTAURANT & MARINA
Phone: 305-451-3142 *  Fax: 305-451-2706
13 Seagate Blvd.
Key Largo ,  FL  33037
Nestled in a safe harbor, our marina offers you the opportunity to slip into the tranquility and easy living of the Keys' lifestyle like no other marina in the area. Slips available for boats up to 65’. Dine dockside at the Pilot House Restaurant.

MARINA CLUB at BLACKWATER SOUND
Phone: 305-453-7800 *  Toll Free: 866-734-1524 *  Fax: 305-451-4900
104500 Overseas Hwy, MM 104 Bayside
Key Largo ,  FL  33037
Premier upper keys waterfront rackominium ownership marina, offering boaters ideal location, superior water access, 5-star concierge services & amenities, fee simple deeded real estate, security, & technologically advanced boat storage. $90,000-150,000

BLUE FIN MARINA
Phone: 305-852-2025
81 E. 2 Street
Key Largo ,  FL  33037

BLUE WATERS MARINA
Phone: 305-853-5218
230 Banyan Lane
Tavernier ,  FL  33037

CROSS KEY MARINA
Phone: 954-326-4195
599 MORRIS AVE
MM 112.5
KEY LARGO ,  FL  33037

CROSS KEY MARINA
Phone: 954-326-4195
599 Morris Ave
MM 112.5
Key Largo ,  FL  33037

CURTIS MARINE, INC.
Phone: 305-852-5218
229 Banyan Ln.
Tavernier ,  FL  33070

GARDEN COVE MARINA
Phone: 305-452-4696
21 Garden Cove Dr.
Key Largo ,  FL  33037

KEY LARGO HARBOR MARINA
Phone: 305-451-0045
100 Ocean Drive
Key Largo ,  FL  33037

MANDALAY MARINA
Phone: 305-853-9777
80 E. 2nd Street
Key Largo ,  FL  33037

MOLASSES REEF MARINA
Phone: 305-451-9411
1550 Ocean Bay Drive
Key Largo ,  FL  33037

PELICAN CAY HARBOR MARINA
Phone: 305-451-2128
299 Morris Lane
Key Largo ,  FL  33037

TAVERNIER CREEK MARINA
Phone: 305-852-5854
MM 92 Bayside
Key Largo ,  FL  33037