Year Round Miami Fly Fishing

By Gwen Lowe


Talk about Florida fishermen and most people will probably think of groups of tourists on the flying deck of a fast boat racing out to deep sea waters in search of giant tuna or sailfish. However, Miami fly fishing trips take people to inland salt flats, Biscayne Bay, the Everglades National Park, Flamingo, or the Keys. There are also canal systems throughout Florida that present good fishing opportunities.

Fly-fishermen have such a large selection of places to go and fish to catch that a lifetime might be too short. Just learning how to use both light and heavy tackle, cast into both quiet and turbulent water, and entice large, strong fish that live in the ocean as well as smaller fish like mackerel that populate the freshwater lakes and canals takes time and dedication. Fishing, after all, is more about the experience than the catch.

Saltwater tackle is made of different materials, since saltwater is very corrosive to metal. Fish in the ocean are often heavier, larger, and stronger than freshwater fishes, so hooks also need to be stronger. Line needs to be heavier, which is OK since the movement of the waves helps to keep it from being noticed by the fish. Wet flies are used rather than dry, since the lure will be set on the bottom rather than perched on top of the water.

Technique needs adjustment, as well. It takes more force to cast against on-shore winds and to place a fly on distant waves that may conceal fish. This more aggressive approach is matched by the greater fight that many ocean species can put up against the pull of a hook and line.

Guides take their clients to Biscayne Bay, Flamingo, the Keys, or to Everglades National Park. They know the best spots for seasonal sport. Although there are many permanent fish, there are also migratory species that give great sport when they're around. A boat trip includes a license, ice to preserve food fish that will be kept, tackle, and an experienced guide. Guests bring their own food, water, drinks, sunhats, sunscreen and protective clothing, and cameras. They also absolutely have to have a good pair of polarized sunglasses, since the glare off the water is murderous.

It's absolutely true that there's no time of year when the fish aren't biting in Florida waters. It's a year-round sport which is especially nice when winter months bring cooler temperatures and the sun is a friend rather than a threat. There are always different species of food and game fish, as well as places to go, for many different experiences.

It's fun to explore the online sites that concern the fish, the waters, the scenery, the skills to be used or learned, and the memories that can be made in southern Florida. Magazine articles posted online can open up new avenues for even experienced fly fishers to explore. Apparently stalking the elusive and shy permit, an ocean fish that comes to the flats to feast on crustaceans, is a life experience to be coveted, while actually catching one is a great achievement.

Southern Florida offers so many opportunities to fish that a lifetime of vacations might not be long enough. Go online to read excerpts from magazines, descriptions of charter trips and the captains who conduct them, and lots of information on why many find saltwater fly-fishing addictive.




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