UPPER KEYS - KEY LARGO FISHING SPOTS

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 UPPER KEYS BACKCOUNTRY FISHING

When you stay at Ocean Pointe Resort you set your pace.There are many upper keys fishing spots. There is Buttonwood Sound, Florida Bay, Blackwater Sound, Largo Sound, Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Fish the fabulous waters of the Keys and Everglades National Park.Light tackle and fly fishing for Tarpon,Bonefish,Permit, Snook, Redfish and a variety of other species.Whether you want to fish inshore or offshore, flats or backcountry, there are guides that know where to find the fish.These beautiful flats bring an unparalleled excitement to the light tackle and fly fisherman. You will be within casting distance of the trophy fish of a lifetime. Fishing is year round with the average January temperature of 74 degrees in the Florida Keys with a very mild low/high difference of 10 degrees.

TARPON under the bridge   YOU TUBE

Shallow water GROUPER  YOU TUBE

         Flats fishing is seeing your quarry before they see you. The two primary senses the flats fish use are sight and hearing. The approach to the target must not be obvious or loud.Learn the bottom geography of an area and how to navigate it. Learn what a productive fishing spot is. Flats are shallow water areas found in bays or around shorelines. The flats are foundation for substantial amount of marine life. Part of the strong appeal of flats fishing is that schools or individual fish are spotted and stalked – requiring the angler to have skill to be successful. Flats are long, level, shallow areas adjacent to deeper water. Flats are found in bays, estuaries, and marshes, and ocean shorelines.It is the perfect habitat for shrimp, crabs and juvenile fish. These areas attract larger predatory fish. The bottom composition of a flat can varie, grass, sand, rock, mud, gravel, or a combination and vegetation.

       Flats with grass or other vegetation offer cover and food for many species of fish.These are the best types of flats habitat for fish. During low tide the flats can be totally dry.During high tide the water level can rise a few feet.The deeper water attrects gamefish move onto the flats to feed. When the tide drops, gamefish lie in wait to feed on crabs and baitfish as they flee to deeper water. There are many flats that remain permanently submerged of tides, though tides affect feeding activity. The most common gamefish in the flats are redfish, tarpon, seatrout, bonefish, permit and snook. Other species are striped bass, bluefish, barracuda, shark, cobia and mutton snapper. Tarpon inhabit the flats during a peak period of late April or early May through June. Depending on the tide, they do most of their feeding early in the morning. When a tarpon comes to the surface for oxygen, chances are  more will be feeding nearby. Snook often hide in the turtle grass surrounding potholes, which are circular depressions with sandy bottoms. Snook are also common among mangroves. Redfish flash their tail around “tailing” when looking for crab.Redfish and snook can also be seen in the flats and so is the famous bonefish.

• GOOD TIDAL SWEEP
• TITAL FLOW CONCENTRATION
• BASINS AND POTHOLES SERVE AS LOW-TIDE HOLDING STATIONS
• ROCKY POINTS AND BARS CAUSE MOVEMENT PATTERNS
• DROP OFFS, FEEDER CHANNELS, PRESENCE OF FOOD

FLATS FISHING OFF TAVERNIER KEY

A productive spot may be a rise of a rocky bottom at the edge of a large grass flat with a good tidal sweep. Certain flats and their respective bottoms have an attraction for certain species of fish. Learn an area by examining it on a low spring tide in the middle of the day. This is the best opportunity to visually eximine the bottom conditions and configurations. And learn to navigate the area.

• THE IMPORTANCE OF VISABILITY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF OVERHEAD LIGHT
• CLEAR SUNNY DAYS-BEST VISABILITY
• HIGH TIDES OPEN THE FLATS TO FISH
• BE AWARE OF THE SEASONAL VARIATION OF WATER TEMPERATURE
• DURING WARM MONTHS OF THE YEAR THERE IS MIGRATORY AND SPAWNING MOVEMENT FOR FISH

Fish seek temperate areas. Certain flats are more productive on different phases of the tide. Flats fish are not active on slack tide. Fish feed into the wind or tide whichever is stronger.

SEA GRASSES - In the Florida Bay.Grass beds occur where there is little current.Sediment and vegetation debris  accumulate in crevices and depressions spots of the sea floor. Sea grass seeds drift, settle and take root.

      There are seven species of sea grass.  Turtle grass, manatee grass, and shoal grass are commonly seen.  Sea grasses have a root system, and produce seed underwater.  The blades and roots are habatit to many animals.  The sea grass is a host to algae, sea worms and hydroids.  The grasses are food for fish, crustaceans, turtles, and many other animals.

Spotted Seatrout

You want to fish early for trout in summer. Use your favorite top water lure at first light. Trout will move to deeper water soon after sunrise. Move to grass flats that are 2-4 feet in depth and switch to popping corks with live shrimp or pinfish.

Redfishing

Keep three rods rigged for redfish close at hand when fishing the flats. One with a favorite top water lure, one with a gold spoon and one with a root beer grub tail jig. Start with your top water at first light and switch to spoons or jigs as the sun rises.

UPPER KEYS BACKCOUNTRY FISHING VACATION

Florida Keys Vacation Condo Hotel Resort at Ocean Pointe - Rent Owner Direct Vacation Rental at Ocean Pointe Suite Key Largo - Ocean Views of the Atlantic Ocean - Florida Keys Treasures - Upper Keys Diving - Snorkeling and Scuba Diving John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park - Sailfishing - Islamorada Deep Sea Fishing - Everglades - Back Country Fishing - Islamorada Flats Fishing -Kayaking John Pennecamp Coral Reef State Park - Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville - Vacation Rental Accommodations - Discount - Best Value - Stay and Play

Fishing Tips -  bigger trout have shifted from mainly a crustacean diet to eating smaller  fish ... To fish for trout on the deeper grass flats. Drifting with Cajun Thunder floats and live shrimp.  Trout, Jacks, Ladyfish, Redfish, Snook, and Tarpon all congregated in the same spots. Use a 1/8th ounce jig with a 2/0 hook. Perfect for lip hooking Pilchards and Pinfish. Bonefish hanging around on the flats through the middle of the day.The fish are jumping in the upper Keys. Keep the sun to your back.

 SUNRISE FROM THE BEACH AT OCEAN POINTE.

THE FLATS OF KEY LARGO

FISHING THE MANGROVE CREEKS OF KEY LARGO

Kayaks  go where bigger boats can't. The reefs, shallows and mangrove beds. Islands and streams with inaccessible shorelines. All the places the fish and birds are waiting.

Bonefishing Trip  What a wonderful week of fishing we had in the Upper Keys of Florida, the place is bonefish heaven. I learned a lot about this sort of fishing and it is truly experance. It is more of a combination of fishing and hunting with you stalking the fish and waiting for the perfect time to "cast". We stayed in a private condo owned by a avid fisherman. The condo was better described as a resort on the ocean with heated pool, lite tennis courts,spa,beach and cafe. There are many restaurants in the area.We were able to snorkel right from the beach and take a day trip to the reef. We explored the island and found some incredible flats that held bone fish. I learned that the best method to find good flats was to have one person standing in the tandem while the other paddled around. It is amazing, how easy and efficient the hunt is. Fish this technique caught many fish. For the most part just wading the fats worked better. The wind conditions vary every day, but I learned to get out early and get the early calm to make it easier to see the fish. We took deep into the mangroves and small creeks to find bones, sometimes hooking them and having to work quickly to keep the lines from breaking off on the trees. Recommended gear is a good pair of wading boots because you will be getting off the kayak and wading a lot and the bottom can be soft in some areas. The fish took small 1" clousers flies and the best spin tackle lure was a 1/8" jig with a curly grub in pink or gold. Having a light rod that can toss such a light jig is important as most of the action happened in a foot of water or less and you need to use very light jigs to not get hung up. Bonefish - ghost of the flats, the silvery bonefish is the holy grail of flats fishing Some of the best bonefishing in the world is found on the flats of Florida Keys. The best concentrations of bones in the Florida keys are found in the upper keys. In the upper keys fishing for bonefish is year round. Best tackle to use is 10lb. sin or less or a 10wt. fly rod.Bonefish are the craftiest fish of the Florida flats. Bonefish are primarily shallow water fish just 1-4 feet is best. Sight fishing is a good way to catch one but you can also fish for them in a little deeper water by chumming for them.  Poling is one way of finding bonefish. But if you know their patterns and the tides you can stake up wait for them. Then cast ahead of them . The average size is 5 to 7 pounds. They can make 100 yard run. Hold your rod high when fighting one. They eat shrimp and crabs, small jigs and flies. Loud noises in and around the boat will keep the fish away. Description: silvery color with bluish or greenish back; slender, round body; snout long, conical, aiming downward and overhanging lower jaw; dark streaks between scales on upper half of body and faint crossbands extending down to lateral line; extremities of dorsal and caudal fins shaded with black. Similar Fish: ladyfish, Elops saurus Where found: primarily INSHORE fish inhabiting shallows of the Florida Keys; found in shallows often less than 1 foot deep, usually over lush grass flats, occasionally over white sand. Size: 3 to 5 pounds. *Florida Record: 15 lbs., 6 ozs. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Flamingo at Everglades National Park is a one-of-a-kind backcountry fishing experience . It is located where the fresh water of the Everglades meets the salt water of Florida Bay. Fishing at Flamingo is an wilderness adventure. While you fish for tarpon, snook, redfish, trout, jack crevalle, snapper, grouper, tripletail, and more, you may see alligators and saltwater crocodiles. You will be sharing the same environment with hundreds of species of birds,and other species of animals. Everglades is home to some of the best saltwater fishing and fly fishing in the world. Tarpon, Snook, Redfish...There are hundreds of species to keep the avid angler  interested. Fishing trips offer you the ability to see the Florida Everglades from a unique perspective and at the same time fish for some of Florida's premiere gamefish. The Everglades  has guided trips to meet everyone's needs and expectations. Maybe you are just interested in doing some fishing or explore the wide range of animals, birds and sea life. Escape civilization and see the natural beauty of the Everglades? Go for an unsurpassed relaxing tour. The Everglades are an extremely diverse eco system. There are mangrove creeks, past glistening flats in search of native trees, birds, American Alligators and maybe even a crocodile.  BACKCOUNTRY FISHING  YOU TUBE How To Keep Bait Shrimp Alive Without Water Find a small ice cooler about 1 foot wide by 2 feet long.  A styrofoam one will do just fine. Fill the ice cooler half full of crushed ice. Wet about one section (30 pages) of newspaper with the saltwater from the live shrimp tank. Place this paper securely one top of the ice.  Make sure no ice is showing. Place the live shrimp you purchase on the newspaper with no water. Place the lid on the ice cooler and let the shrimp chill down. When you need a shrimp for bait, simply take one from the cooler. No water, no mess. The shrimp are in a suspended state because of the cool down process.  When you place them on your hook and into he water, they immediately come back.

Using live shrimp, it's preferable to hook from behind the head BUT BE CAREFUL NOT TO HOOK THROUGH THE BLACK SPOT! Doing so kills the shrimp immediately, and causes loss of all swimming motion.

Fish that will eat a live shrimp to name : trout, snook, redfish, flounder, tarpon, ladyfish, jacks, sheepshead, large & small mouth bass. Almost any fish you can think of will eat shrimp.

Fishing Forecast - When will the fish be biting?

 Get hourly fishing reports before you leave home.

 

Marine Fisheries -- Division of Marines Fisheries Management