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Shallow water fishing is popular in Florida Bay and nearshore coastal waters
Jack Teague The breadth and diversity of fisheries in south Florida, particularly in the Florida Keys, make it one of the premier destinations for anglers in the continental

United States. Although perhaps not as prolific as historically documented, no other locale offers fishing enthusiasts opportunities to encounter such a wide array of species and habitats. The presence of targeted species is correlated to seasonal patterns of movement and, in the short term, tidal phase and ambient water temperature, which affects food sources and comfort zones. lnshore fishing includes flats, backcounty, and reef fishing and is loosely defined as fishing within 8 - 10 kilometers (5 - 6 miles) from the edge of land, out to and including the bank reef tract.The shallowest areas near to shore are known as "fl ats" or "tidal fl ats," which are mixtures of seagrass and hardbottom communities. Flats fishermen seek out bonefish, permit, tarpon, barracuda, and sharks. Water clarity on shallow flats is exceptional and enables sight casting to these animals, perhaps the most technically challenging form of fishing. Flats fishing is predominantly catch and release. Backcountry fishing is defined as inshore fishing around uninhabited mangrove islands and tidal channels, like those found on the Gulf side of the Keys. Other backcountry options include the shallows of Florida Bay, Everglades National Park, and tidal channels and shorelines in the Ten Thousand lslands. Snook, tarpon, redfish, speckled trout, gray snapper, and sharks are common

Mutton snapper caught on a patch reef off of Key

West is fine table fare.

Tlpical "skinny water" flats fishing skiff used in south

Florida.

backcountry catches. Other inshore options include bay and wreck fishing, such as in Biscayne Bay and wrecks off Marco lsland and other locations in the shallow Gulf of Mexico. As water depth increases with distance from the shallows, coral communities begin to dominate the sea bottom. Within the boundary created by the tidal flats and offshore bank reef on the Atlantic side of the Keys are numerous isolated coral communities often referred to as "patch" reefs. The bank and patch reefs, as well as artificial reefs, provide excellent structure that provides habitat for several species of grouper and snapper that are prized by anglers as food fish. Predators, such as sharks and barracudas, are also common inhabitants of these areas. Seasonally, members of the mackerel family visit patch and bank reefs, and pelagic species, such as little tunny and sailfish, visit the bank reef. Healthy fisheries in south Florida are directly related to preservation of each habitat type that supports various phases of fish life cycles (e.9., seagrass, mangroves, marshes, hardbottom, coral reefs). Habitat loss and degradation has resulted in diminished catch per effort ratios compared to historical catches. The importance of preservation of habitat to the sustenance of inshore fishing cannot be overstated.

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CHaprun 8: HUMAN CoNrurctrorrrs

Responsible fishing practices and informed management are reguired to sustain south Floridat world-class offshore fishery
Jack Teague The position of south Florida as the tip of a geographicalphalanx jutting out into the confluence of Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic Ocean subtropical waters places it directly in the migratory routes of many pelagic species of fish. lt is the legendary territory of blue water, deep-sea fishing.The Florida Current flows constantly through the corridor known as the Florida Straits, creating currents and thermal edges that control the location of forage fish and floating structure, such as Sargasso weed and flotsam. The location of the shoreward edge of the Florida Current varies; generally, it is about 16 kilometers (10 miles) off Key West and 3 5 km (2 - 3 mi) off Fort Lauderdale. At 32 - 40 km (20 - 25 mi) out, the continental shelf drops away, creating bathymetric features that influence ocean currents as well. may be caught year-round. Fish targeted during fall/winter include sailfish, kingfish, wahoo, and tuna. During spring/summer, dolphin fish usually dominate the offshore catch, but marlin, tuna, sailfish, and wahoo are also regularly caught.

Floating Sargasso weed is essential nursery and foraging habitat for big game fish, such as dolphin fish and sailfish.

The floating seaweeds, Sargossum

Sailfish are a popular game fish in offshore waters.

Anglers ply these waters seeking popular big game fish, such as blue marlin, sailfish, dolphin fish (Mahi-Mahi), wahoo, tuna, and swordfish. The presence of their quarry is often indicated by activity on the ocean surface, such as the presence of diving seabirds, particularly frigates and terns, and sprays of bait fish leaping from the water in an attempt to escape death from below. The tenure of the big game species in south Florida is typically seasonal in nature, though occasional members of any of the species

natans and Sargassum fluitans (collectively called Sargasso weed), are commonly found offshore and can cover large areas of the ocean. Generally, weed lines are concentrated along the edges of currents and eddies. Sargasso weed harbors a diverse community of sea life, consisting of the floating live weed, the myriad tiny sea creatures living in its clusters, and successive orders of predators attracted to the forage. The Sargasso weed is the essential foundation of the food web and nursery for a healthy pelagic fishery. Sargasso weed has commercial and industrial uses and has been harvested for its economic value without concern for the creatures living within and beneath the mass. Sargassum is subject to the whim of current and wind; it passes through the waters of several political boundaries, so its protection and preservation beyond south Florida must be a national and multinational effort to preclude serious detrimental collateral impacts to pelagic fish species.
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