Best Florida Saltwater Fishing Destinations

Best Florida Saltwater Fishing Destinations

Florida has 1,350 miles of coastline and 2,276 miles of tidal shoreline. This gives anglers many opportunities to catch saltwater fish inshore throughout the year.

Destinations for Atlantic Coast Saltwater Fishing

Jacksonville:

Redfish lovers will love the St. Johns River. Reds as large as 50 pounds can be caught in the St. Johns River near Mayport.

St. Augustine:

Redfish are attracted to the Salt River, which is one of the most popular spots inshore. Redfish, trout, and snook are attracted to the Intracoastal’s flats and creeks.

Banana River:

The Banana River Lagoon, which runs around Merritt Island or Cocoa Beach, has plenty of flats of seagrass that are ideal for sea trout. Mangrove swamps in the lagoon are great places to snook.

Stuart:

Hughes says that the Stuart area is famous for its big snook. It is one of the most important snook fisheries on the East Coast. Hughes considers late summer the best time to catch trophy snook, as the fish are still spawning. There are plenty of opportunities for a big snook to be caught in the Stuart region, both spring and fall.

Saltwater Fishing Destinations on the Gulf Coast

Everglades and Keys

Tarpon fishing is a major attraction in the Florida Keys, particularly around Marathon and Islamorada. The Ten Thousand Islands region of the Everglades is home to large numbers of sea trout. Hughes recommends the Chokoloskee as a great place to catch redfish, snook, and trout.

Boca Grande:

Boca Grande, world-famous for its tarpon fishing is known to be home to the largest tarpon colony in the world from April through August.

Tampa Bay:

Hughes says that the flats of Tampa Bay’s southern portion are a great spot for snook fishing.

Chassahowitzka:

Hughes head for the waters surrounding the Chassahowitzka River when he is hunting trophy sea trout. He says, “We caught a lot big 5- to 10-pound trout that is not common along the Gulf Coast.”

Big Bend:

Hughes asserts that the Big Bend region from Cedar Key to Homosassa is known for its high number of redfish. These fish prefer the limestone bottom and shelves of the coastal waters. Fly fishing world records have been set by tarpon caught in Crystal River. Hughes stated that the river’s outflow makes it an ideal location for tarpon fishing. “Our rivers are fed by a lot of big snook so there is a great snook fishing area.”

Panhandle:

Hughes says that the mouth of St. Marks River is famous for its large trout. Hughes says that the entire coastline from Louisiana to Louisiana is known for its large trout, redfish, and cobia. According to the veteran guide, anglers can catch 100 redfish per day in September while anchoring at Apalachicola Bay.

The article was written by a professional charter captain at Salty Knots Fishing Charters with 15+ years of experience in the Gulf of Mexico. Salty Knots Fishing Charters is a local fishing charter service based out of St. Pete Beach, Florida. “We know what it takes to catch a giant trophy fish!” Salty Knots Is the best when it comes to Deep Sea Fishing St Pete Beach Florida.

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