Top 5 Fishing Destinations and Most Sought After Fish in Florida

Good Monday morning everyone!  We have decided to blog on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  The post on Mondays will be a general article about fishing or a "how to" article, Wednesdays we will be sharing a fishing related picture or quote and Fridays will be about a particular product we have or a cross promotion for another product or company.  

The first article I've chosen to share with you is one of the first ones I wrote for a previous blog.  It was a popular one and relevant so I figured why not?  I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.  Since my husband and oldest son are avid fishermen, this was an easy topic for me.

Whether you are a serious pro angler or a recreational fisherman, I’m sure you will agree that the five following locations are premier fishing destinations in Florida.

Islamorada in the Keys is located in Monroe County; it is part of the chain of islands known as “the Upper Florida Keys”.  The most beautiful aqua blue water surrounds this “village of islands”.  Three of the most popular fish in this area are bonefish, tarpon and permit.  It is often referred to as the “Sportfishing Capital of the World” because world record fish have been caught more from here than any other area.  Islamorada is known for having the biggest bonefish in the world.  The bonefish is a saltwater game fish found primarily inshore and in shallow water less than one foot deep.  The bonefish has a skeleton composed of numerous small fine bones.  The average size of this unique fish is 3-5 pounds in Florida and it can live in excess of 19 years.  The state record bonefish is 16 lbs, 3 oz and it was caught near Islamorada!

Boca Grande Pass is located in Lee County; it is the mouth of the waterway at the southern tip of Gasparilla Island.  Tarpon is one of the most sought after fish in the world and Boca Grande Pass is world famous, known as the “Tarpon Capital of the World”.  This fish is nicknamed “silver king” and is a premier saltwater game fish often found inshore and in shallow waters; however it can enter fresh water and tolerate the change in salinity just fine. The tarpon is an extremely interesting fish; it is the only fish with an air bladder, which allows it to breathe air from the surface.  The “rolling” effect of the tarpon makes it quite easy to spot.  The tarpon can range in size from 40 pounds to 150 pounds and the average life span is 55 years.  The state record tarpon is 243 lbs and it was caught near Key West.  

Mosquito Lagoon is located in Brevard County, it is a shallow golden waterway, home to an abundant population of redfish and speckled sea trout.  

Mosquito Lagoon is referred to as the “Saltwater Shallow Water Fishing Capital of the World”.  The redfish, also known as the red drum, is a premier saltwater game fish often found near seagrass, muddy sandy bottoms or spring fed creeks.  During spawning season redfish use special muscles, rubbing against their air bladder to produce a “drumming” sound which is where the name red drum came from.  The redfish is bronze in color and it’s most distinctive feature is a single solid black spot on the tail, but it’s possible to have many spots at the base of the tail.  The average size of a redfish is 5-10 pounds; however catches over 20 pounds are common.  The redfish can live up to 40 years.  The state record redfish is 52 lbs, 5 oz and it was caught in Cocoa.  

Stuart is located in Martin County on the Treasure Coast between West Palm Beach and Fort Pierce.  Stuart is widely recognized as the “Sailfish Capital of the World”.  In addition to the sailfish, snook are an extremely popular inshore species in Stuart.  The sailfish is Florida’s state saltwater fish.  It is a large sportfish found exclusively offshore.  The sailfish is characterized by a very long dorsal fin which is sail shaped.  This amazing fish is quite possibly the fastest fish in the ocean, reaching speeds of 68 mph.  Sailfish can grow up to 10 feet long and the average weight is around 140 pounds.  There appears to be a controversy on how long a sailfish lives; it seems to be somewhere between 5 years and 16 years.  The state record sailfish is 126 pounds and it was caught near Big Pine Key. 

I think the snook warrants a few words because of its popularity.  The snook is a premier saltwater game fish, usually found inshore in coastal and brackish waters.  The snook is not able to tolerate water temperature below 60 degrees Fahrenheit.  The snook is a beautiful fish with a distinct lateral line.  The average size of a snook is anywhere between 3 to 15 pounds and is estimated to live approximately 20 years.  The state record snook is 44 lbs, 3 oz and was caught near Fort Myers.  

Kissimmee Chain of Lakes is located in Polk and Osceola Counties, spanning approximately 21,000 acres.  The lakes that make up the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes are Lake Tohopekaliga (better known as Lake Toho), Lake Cypress, Lake Hatchineha, Lake Kissimmee and the canals that connect them.  Here is where you will find the best largemouth bass and crappie fishing anywhere in the world; it’s no wonder why it is such a popular location to hold fishing tournaments.  The world famous Bassmaster Classic has been held here.   Lake Toho is a frequent location for large and small bass tournaments.  The bass is Florida’s state freshwater fish and it is the most popular game fish in North America.  The average size of a bass is between 1 and 6 pounds with an average life span of 10 years.  If you catch a bass that is 24 inches or 8 pounds, it is considered a big catch.  The state record bass is 17.27 pounds and it is unknown where it was caught at.    

Not only are these some of the top fishing destinations in Florida, but they are also some of the most beautiful places to plan a vacation!

Erica at Treasure Coast Tackle

http://www.treasurecoasttackle.com/