Florida Saltwater Fishing

Florida showcases some of the best fishing in the USA. The region has a wide diversity of fishing habitat coupled with warm temperatures most of the year. Environments include backwater marshes, millions of acres of flats, coral reefs and deep sea dropoffs.

The variety of habitats give anglers opportunities to catch fish such as spotted seatrout, redfish, mullet, tarpon, sharks, black drum, snook, sheepshead, snappers, grouper, bonefish, pompano, permit, amberjacks, cero, king and Spanish mackerel, tuna, sailfish, mahi mahi, swordfish, wahoo and more.

Red Snapper

Red snapper is one of the most sought after and highly prized saltwater fish caught around Florida. They range from North Carolina to the Florida Keys and throughout the Gulf of Mexico to the Yucatan in depths from 33 to 623 feet. The fish are long lived, sometimes reaches ages exceeding 50 Years. They may attain lengths of 36 inches or more and weigh up to 50 lbs. Red snapper is low in saturated fat and sodium and is a very good source of protein.

Red Drum - Redfish

Red drum, also known as redfish are common in Florida. Redfish inhabit shallow bays and esturaries, targeting crustaceans and baitfish. They are highly prized as a recreational fish. Some redfish anglers compete in national tournaments that are similar to freshwater bass fishing events.

Florida Pompano

Florida Pompano range from Massachusetts to the Gulf of Mexico as well as in parts of South America. Florida Pompano are schooling fish that are often found in the surf. They average 1-2 lbs, are are highly regarded as a food fish. Florida pompano are said to bring the highest price per pound of any fish in the United States.

Greater Amberjack

The Greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) is one of the largest jacks. They have a rounded head, large pectoral fins and a moon-shaped tail fin. Amberjacks have a distinctive dark band on the sides of the head which angles from the front of the back fin, through the eye to the mouth. Although they average about 20 pounds, they can weight well over 100 pounds.

Greater Amberjacks are found on the Atlantic Ocean side as well as Florida's Gulf Coast. Amberjack are one of the hardest fighting saltwater fish. Experienced anglers employ stronger than normal tackle as these fish have a reputation for destroying cheap equipment.

Blackfin Tuna

Blackfin tuna (Thunnus atlanticus) are the smallest of the tuna species, generally growing to a maximum length of about 38 inches, weighing up to about 45 lbs. Blackfin tuna are found in the western Atlantic from Cape Cod to Brazil and are common off the coast of Florida.

Blackfin are colorful tuna; the back is dark metallic blue, the sides are silvery-gray and the belly is white. Often they have a bronze-colored line down each side.

The most reliable way to distinguish blackfin from other tuna is the color of the small finlets located behind the dorsal and anal fins. In the other four species, they are yellow or yellow, edged with black. In the blackfin, they are distinctly dusky or yellowish.

Mahi Mahi

Mahi Mahi, also known as dorado or dolphin fish are fast growing, pelagic fish. They are among the most beautiful of all fish. Younger dolphin fish school together, orienting to sargasso weed or floating debri. Larger fish are loners or travel in small groups, usually roaming although they sometimes still lurk around floating structure. Male dolphin fish develop a blunt forehead and grow larger than the females.

Swordfish

Swordfish are caught mostly at night, in the deeper areas of offshore canyons. On overnight trips, anglers typically set one or more lines at various depths. Nighttime swordfish rigs usually consist of a large circle or Southern tuna hook on a cable leader. Swordfish baits include whole squid, mackerel or other small fish. A glow stick is added to the leader a few feet above the bait. Inline weights may also be added on the line to control the depth of the bait.

Spot

Spot are named and identified by the distinctive dark spot above the pectoral fin It is also known as lafayette, goody, or Norfolk spot. Spot are common from Cape Cod to Florida and through the Gulf of Mexico. The species is considered both a valuable commercial and recreational species throughout its range.

Spot rarely exceed 10 inches in length. The fish are highly sought after as a food fish by both commercial and recreational fishermen. These panfish are abundant in near-shore oceanic areas, coastal bays, and estuaries.

Pinfish

Pinfish, also known as sailor's choice, or pin perch is one of the most common inshore fish. It ranges from Massachusetts through the Gulf of Mexico. Pinfish known to coastal anglers as a "bait stealer," but are sought after as a bait for other larger fish. Pinfish are abundant from Virginia south. They occur over a wide variety of bottom types but prefer vegetated bottoms. Pinfish can tolerate wide variations in temperature and salinity conditions. Pinfish reach lengths of about 15 inches, although most pinfish are 4-8 inches in length and are usually considered as baitfish.

Pigfish

Pigfish are colorful members of the grunt family. They are marked with a bluish upper and a silver lower body. Each scale has a blue center and bronze edge, which forms a series of yellow-brown stripes on the sides and sometimes exhibits orange bands on the snout and head. The full range of pigfish extends
from Massachusetts through the Gulf of Mexico, although they are rare north of Virginia. Pigfish are caught by recreational anglers and considered to be a good quality food fish.

Pigfish have limited commercial importance, and most commercial landings come as pigfish are mixed with other grunt species. Pigfish are also used as live bait especially in Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. Pigfish reach lengths of about 18 inches, with a maximum weight of about 2 pounds. Pigfish are short lived and rarely exceed 3 years of age.

NOAA has established eight separate marine protected areas encompassing a total of 529 square nautical miles in south Atlantic federal waters to shield deep-water fish species and their habitats from fishing.

All fishing for snappers, groupers, tilefishes, grunts, porgies, and sea basses is prohibited throughout the protected areas, which are located off the coast from North Carolina south to Florida.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council proposed the action to NOAA's Fisheries Service as part of a larger management plan to protect these South Atlantic fish populations.

"Marine protected areas are designed to provide long-term protection for our nation's natural resources," said Jim Balsiger, acting NOAA assistant administrator for NOAA's
Fisheries Service. "These areas of the South Atlantic were chosen because they feature known spawning grounds and nursery habitats for deep-water fish - especially for snappers
and groupers."

The new protected areas range in size from 21 to 150 square nautical miles. There is one area off North Carolina, three off South Carolina, one off Georgia, and three protected areas off Florida.

Commercial shark bottom longline gear is also prohibited in these areas because the deep-water fish species are likely to be caught incidentally with this gear. All other types
of legal fishing, such as trolling for tunas and marlins, are allowed because those gear types are not likely to incidentally catch the species warranting protection.

Game Fish of the Saltwater Flats and Shallows

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The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has been designated the lead state agency for responding to potential impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill along Florida's shoreline. The DEP website will serve as the primary location for updates and information on response actions and impacts to the state of Florida.

On Tuesday, April 20, 2010 an offshore oil drilling platform, Deepwater Horizon, exploded in the Gulf of Mexico near Louisiana. The rig, owned by Transocean Ltd, was under contract to BP. In early May, 2010, USCG reports stated the structure was submerged at the bottom of the Gulf, discharging up to 5,000 barrels (210,000 gallons) per day.

BP, the United States Coast Guard and the Minerals Management Service are the lead response agencies on the oil spill.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) website is: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/

For BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill information, visit: www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com.