| South Florida Game Fish Species |
| 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). |
| 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. |
| 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). |
| Bonefish |
| Tarpon |
| Snook |
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| Permit |
| Angling Adventures with Captain Rich Smith www.CaptainRichSmith.com Rich@CaptainRichSmith.com (786) 299-4813 South Florida Flats Fishing – Florida Fishing - Miami – Florida Keys Tarpon Fishing Guide - Key Biscayne – South Florida Fly Fishing - Coral Gables – Florida Keys Backcountry Fishing Guide - Biscayne Bay – Florida Keys Flats Fishing Guide - Key Largo – South Florida Light Tackle Fishing - Islamorada – Florida Keys Flats Fishing - Flamingo - Everglades National Park - Florida Keys - Bonefish – Permit – Tarpon – Snook – Redfish – Grouper - Goliath Grouper – Cobia – Trout - Triple Tail - Fly-Fishing - Spin Tackle – Flyfishing - Shallow Water Fishing - Technical Poling for Game fish – Florida Charter Fishing – Miami Fly Fishing - Islamorada Backcountry Fishing – Flats Fishing – Tarpon Fishing – Bone Fishing – Miami Fly Fishing – Miami Backcountry Fishing – Flamingo Backcountry Fishing – Charter Fishing – Biscayne Bay Fishing |
