| Bonefish Like tarpon and ladyfish, this species begins life in an eel-like larval stage during which it grows to a length of about 2.5 inches (6.3 cm); then metamorphoses, shrinking into a 1.5 inch (3.81 cm) miniature bonefish, before it begins to grow again. As one might expect from the name, the bonefish has an abundance of bones (some of which are quite tiny), making this fish less than popular as table fare. The bonefish occurs worldwide in shallow tropical and subtropical waters around flats and intertidal areas. Smaller ones can be seen in large schools on the flats. Larger ones tend to form smaller schools. Bonefish feed on crabs, shrimp, clams, sea worms, sea urchins and small fish that inhabit sandy flats and intertidal areas. They are often seen rooting in the sand for mollusks, their tails breaking the surface of the shallow water, an action commonly known as tailing. At other times they plough the bottom, stirring up silt and sediment, an action known as mudding. They're powerful, running very fast and hard when hooked. Fishing methods include plug, fly or spin casting from a skiff or while wading on tidal flats, using either natural baits or artificial lures. Most bonefish are caught in depths from 6 inches to 10 feet (15 cm to 3 m). |
| Tarpon The tarpon was one of the first saltwater species to be declared a game fish. Tarpon grow slowly and usually don't reach maturity until they are six or seven years old and about 4 feet (1.2 m) long. Females may shed up to 12 million eggs, which hatch at sea. The eggs turn into eel-like larvae that drift inshore, where they shrink to half their size and start to look like tarpon before beginning to grow again. Tarpon flesh is edible, though usually eaten only in developing countries, where the scales are used to make souvenirs for tourists. The most sought-after inshore, big-game fish, the tarpon puts up a stubborn and spectacular fight, often leaping up to 10 feet out of the water. It's difficult to hook because of its hard, bony mouth. Anglers still fish with live mullet, pinfish, crabs and shrimp, or cast or troll with spoons, plugs and other artificial lures. Best fishing is at night, when tarpon feed. The tarpon is found in warm-temperate, tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean, both inshore and offshore, and has introduced itself to the Pacific side of the Panama Canal. Because of its ability to gulp air directly into its air bladder by "rolling" at the surface, the tarpon is able to enter brackish and fresh waters that are stagnant and virtually without oxygen. Such areas are relatively free of predators, offering a safe refuge for the young. |
| Snook The common snook, Centropomus undecimalis, is one of Florida's most popular inshore game fish because of its spectacular fighting ability and merit as table fare. Anglers call the common snook many names, but the two most common are robalo and linesider. The word "snook" comes from the Dutch word "snoek," meaning pike. The majority of anglers pronounce the name as "snook" (like took), but in parts of south Florida, it is pronounced "snuke" (like fluke). |
| Snook |
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| Snook may be the perfect gamefish. It is a tremendous fighter, requires skill to land and is one of the best eating fish you'll ever taste. Primarily inshore fish, snook don't travel the vast distance that other species are noted for. Most snook, often referred to as linesiders, spawn from April to October in the offshore waters near passes and inlets. The juvenile fish that survive those first few weeks of life in the open water eventually move into the estuaries where the fish most their lives. The fish can tolerate fresh water for extended periods of time and it is not unheard of for anglers fishing in fresh water areas that eventually connect to the coastal waters to catch snook when fishing for largemouth bass. There are four species of snook but anglers don't need to worry about distinguishing one species from another. Three species, the fat snook, swordspine snook, and tarpon snook, never get larger than 18 inches so if caught, would have to be immediately released due to their size. Angler are after the common snook, a fish that can grow to the size of a small log and weigh over 30 pounds. |
| Redfish Known as a fish that will not quit, redfish can be absolute brutes. And as such, they have become one of the most sought after fish in the shallows of Florida. Since their protection in the mid 1980's redfish numbers have proliferated and are especially abundant and large on the east central Florida coastline. Redfish have a coppery bronze color with a tinge of red, color will vary depending on water clarity. Normally redfish have one spot on the base of their tails but often there are several or many spots. Redfish are one of America's most popular inshore saltwater fish species. Weighing up to almost one hundred pounds and colored bright red according to their environment, red fish are one of Florida's most dependable shallow water gamefish. Redfish have several different names or aliases depending on what part of the country you are from. They are called channel bass in the Carolinas, puppy drum, in the gulf areas and simply redfish or red drum all over the south east. |
| Permit Rates as one of the very best game fish a long runner on the flats and a strong, stubborn deep fighter offshore. Also one of the most challenging to fool, especially with artificial lures. Although offshore Permit are large enough to provide sport with light and medium saltwater tackle, the epitome of Permit fishing is to stalk them by sight on shallow flats, and cast directly to them. Light spinning, bait casting and fly tackle can be used in the shallows provided the angler has a good supply of line and a means (a guide with a push pole, preferably) of chasing the fish. Best natural bait is any sort of small live crab. Dead pieces of crab and lobster also work well. Live shrimp are often accepted, especially if skittered across the surface, and then allowed to sink. If using small skimmer (Bonefish-style) jigs, try to get the Permit to follow the lure then stop it dead and let it sink into the grass or mud. Best flies are those with weighted or epoxy heads that will sink in the manner of a lead head jig. Permit are found in the surf, inlets and passes of both coasts, but are more numerous in the southern half of the state. In warm weather, they roam South Atlantic reefs and many Gulf wrecks. "Classic" Permit stalking on the flats is largely confined to Dade County and the Florida Keys, as well as the Bahamas and Caribbean. Can run as high as 40 or 50 pounds, with 20-30pounds being fairly common. World and Florida records 56 pounds, 2 ounces. |
| Shark |
| Shark Florida's shark population is diverse and includes species that range in size from only a few feet to more than 40 feet in total length. Experts caution sea-goers to beware of sharks 6 feet or longer due to the damage they can cause in a single bite. Among the species that grow to this size and have been known to attack humans are bull sharks, tiger sharks and great white sharks. However, these are not the predominant shark species that a person is likely to come across in Florida waters. Blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) bears a distinctive black tip on most fins except its anal fin. Blacktips are principally pelagic but often come inshore in large schools, particularly in association with Spanish mackerel. Frequently it is the most common shark (especially young) in clear-water cuts and along beaches in Florida and the Bahamas. The blacktip is a valuable commercial species with marketable flesh, hide, fins, and liver. It is one of the most commonly collected sharks in the commercial fishery, but is also fished for sport on light tackle and often leaps out of the water when hooked. The blacktip is thought to be the culprit in most “hit and run” attacks on humans. It can grow to 8 feet in length. Scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) is predatory, feeding mainly on fish, squid, and stingrays. It has a distinctive flattened head extending to hammer-like lobes on each side. It can grow quite large -- it is common to 6 feet and can reach 20 feet. The Florida record is 991 pounds. It is often confused with the much less abundant but larger great hammerhead and can be distinguished from the great hammerhead by the curved backside of its head, which differs from the straight edge found on the great hammerhead. |
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