Fishing Blog
One third of Everglades National Park is covered by water, creating excellent boating and fishing opportunities. Snapper, sea trout, redfish, bass, and bluegill are plentiful. Saltwater fishing includes Florida Bay, Ten Thousand Islands, and elsewhere in the park's coastal zone. Freshwater and saltwater fishing require separate Florida fishing licenses.
Stay protected from the elements. One of the best items to protect from the sun and bugs is the Hook & Tackle Bug/X Shirt. It repels mosquitos, ticks, ants, flies, chiggers and midges while offering you UPF 50+ sun protection.
Park waters provide thousands of acres of shallow water flats, channels, and mangrove keys in which to fish. Before leaving shore, think safety!
Remember that collecting plants and animals in Everglades National Park is prohibited. This includes such things as orchids, airplants, seahorses, starfish, conch, tropical fish, coral, sponges, sea shells, and driftwood (except for fuel).
The Top Five Favorite Fishing Destinations in Florida
1. The Florida Keys
The Keys are the home of world-class deep-sea fishing where the catch is prized big-game trophy fish such as marlin, sailfish, and tuna. Islamorada, in the Upper Keys, is known as the sport-fishing capital of the world.
The Florida Keys also provide great opportunities for back country fishing for the fighting tarpon, bonefish and other saltwater fish.
2. Lake Okeechobee
Visitors to the Treasure Coast on the eastern Atlantic seashore come for the fishing. One of the most popular freshwater fishing destinations is Lake Okeechobee, Florida's largest lake covering an area of over 730 miles and well stocked with excellent table fish.
3. Boca Grande
Located between Gasparilla and Cayo Costa islands offshore from Fort Myers in Florida's south west, lies Boca Grande Pass. This is one of the many Florida fishing grounds that harbor the mighty tarpon.
4. Destin
This small Panhandle town is located at the top of the Gulf Of Mexico in Florida's north west. Calling itself the "World's Luckiest Fishing Village", it's the home port for Florida's largest charter-boat fleet. Over 140 vessels cater to anglers attracted to these Gulf Of Mexico waters in pursuit of grouper, amberjack, snapper, mackerel, cobia, sailfish, wahoo, tuna, and blue marlin.
While in Destin take a short drive to the Hook & Tackle Flagship store at Pier Park Mall in Panama City Beach.
5. Stuart
Stuart is an angler's haven located in the center of the Treasure Coast on Florida's eastern seaboard. Miles of wide waterways dominate the surrounding environment. With a sailfish as the city emblem and a jumping sailfish dominating the town square fountain, it's not hard to figure out that this is the "Sailfish Capital of the World".
The town and surrounding area is home to 15 marinas that provide mooring for the fishing and charter boat fleets. Angling is year-round, although peak months are December through March and June through July.
Sailfish are billfish living in warmer sections of all the oceans of the world. They are predominantly blue to gray in color and have a characteristic erectile dorsal fin known as a sail, which often stretches the entire length of the back.
Another notable characteristic is the elongated bill, resembling that of the swordfish and other marlins They are therefore described as billfish in sport-fishing circles.
These sport fish are all recommended to catch and release!
The sail is normally kept folded down and to the side when swimming, but it may be raised when the sailfish feels threatened or excited, making the fish appear much larger than it actually is. This tactic has also been observed during feeding, when a group of sailfish use their sails to "herd" a school of fish or squid.
They can appear in a startling array of colours, from subdued browns and grays to vibrant purples and even silver. Their body colours are often highlighted by stripes of iridescent blue and silver dots. Sailfish can change their colors almost instantly—a change controlled by their nervous system. The sailfish can rapidly turn its body light blue with yellowish stripes when excited, confusing its prey and making capture easier, while signalling its intentions to fellow sailfish.
Hook & Tackle has been a pioneer in promoting the importance of sun protection against UV radiation to the fishing and marine markets . Over the years, the company has introduced patented ventilation system, known as the Air/X® and the popular Solar System UPF 50 + micro-cotton fabrication.
Now get ready for the introduction of the all new "Wicked Dry & Cool" collection of performance fishing shirts. Extremely light weight, soft to the touch, odor resistant, quick dry, antimicrobial and keeps you cool and comfortable all day long!
Our copyrighted exclusive designs will make you look great and stay protected!
In stores for the holidays! Join our mailing list to receive updates at hookandtackle.com
Hook & Tackle is proud to support the University of Miami Shark Research Program.Offering the crew high tech UPF 50+ Sun Protection performance shirts that allow breath-ability and comfort. Soon to be available to the public with portions of the proceeds to benefit the UM Shark Research program.
UM conducted over 200 field trips, laboratory sessions and workshops, exposing more than 1000 students to field research. The data collected produced 5 scientific publications and generated international media attention including CNN, Discovery Channel, and Animal Planet to name just a few.
Shark Research & Conservation Program (SRC)
Operating at the intersection of science, education and outreach, SRC enables UM to build upon its internationally recognized programs in marine and ecosystem science and foster innovative interdisciplinary approaches to emerging environmental issues. SRC is a joint initiative of the Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science and the Leonard and Jayne Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy at the University of Miami. Since then, the Program continues to grow with the generous support of its staff, students, volunteers, partners and sponsors.
To get involved or make a donation to the Shark Research Program, please click on the link below:
http://sharkresearch.rsmas.miami.edu/donate/online
