| Ever been to the Florida Bay? If you want the best of | | | | skillfully around the banks, and in the shallower waters. |
| shallow water fishing, you can't afford to miss this | | | | With a boat and a guide, you can explore Florida Bay, |
| natural fisherman's paradise. Most of Florida Bay is | | | | and go after such prizes as the afore-mentioned |
| considered part of the Everglades National Park. As | | | | tarpon, trout, snapper and redfish. These fish can be |
| such, it combines fresh water from the Everglades | | | | bigger than expected. For example, tarpon can get up |
| with the salty brine from the Gulf of Mexico, working | | | | to 40 or 50 pounds. |
| together to provide some of the best fishing around! | | | | Florida Bay offers the experience of taking fishing |
| This estuary winds its winning way through hundreds | | | | boats through miles of interlocking 'basins,' most of |
| of small islands. The shallow water fish you are likely | | | | which are barely three feet deep. While the fun of |
| to come across includes snook, redfish, snapper and | | | | floating along and taking in sights such as hawks, |
| tarpon. Not to mention the abundant variety of wildlife, | | | | herons and egrets is undeniable, at some point all you |
| such as alligators, turtles and birds. But what about the | | | | want is to sink that shallow water anchor and get |
| boats necessary for such pleasure trips? | | | | down to business! |
| "Flats fishing," as it is also called, requires special | | | | If you brought a guide along who knows shallow water |
| shallow water boat called a skiff. These boats are | | | | fish, he can explain how such factors as tide, water |
| specially designed to be wide and stable, affording | | | | temperature and wind speed can affect your chances |
| sportsmen the opportunity to fish in water as shallow | | | | at landing a big one. |
| as three feet. When you can actually SEE the fish | | | | The appeal of shallow water fishing is best found in |
| you're after, it really adds to the experience. | | | | places like Florida Bay. With mangroves aplenty, there |
| Even the shallow water anchors are unique; you will | | | | is always something primal and unspoiled to enjoy, |
| see hydraulic 'power' poles which can hold the boat | | | | whether it be the challenge of landing a largemouth |
| steady in up to 8 feet of water, or simple manual poles | | | | bass, or spotting a wading ibis just a few feet away. |
| which can also be used as a push pole, to maneuver | | | | |