Whale Meet Again In Florida
Folks who tour the Florida Keys will hit upon a tropical Caribbean paradise in their own back yard. Despite being only 90 miles from Cuba and a brief plane ride from any one of the Caribbean resort islands, the Florida Keys are part of the United States and connected by highway to the mainland. No boats or planes required.
The Keys are in fact a string of islands that open with Key Largo in the north and end with the written about Key West in the south, residence to Hemingway and Tennessee Williams. Between, there are truely hundreds of islands, a number of which remain uninhabited. Because of the Keys’ unique geographical location in the warm waters flanked by the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, and because of the numerous coral reefs and sand bars that make up the island string, the Keys are home to some of the best salt water fishing in the United States and have colorful beach vacation rentals to fry up your catch in.
Beginning in the north with Key Largo and the islands in its vicinity, Islamorada is a key vacation spot for sport fishermen. Islamorada is its own key, but it is in close enough proximity to Key Largo and the mainland that it sees a considerable amount of travel from those two locations. Staying in a vacation rental at Key Largo and fishing at Islamorada is a noteworthy possibility, while Key West, a two hour drive down U.S. Highway 1, is a bit out of reach.
Each fishing season brings tournaments and competitions to Key Largo and Islamorada. Bonefish are a regular catch near the island, while deep sea fishing for sailfish is a common pastime. If you plan on fishing, keep in mind that a fishing license is required in Florida waters, no matter what sort of fish you intend to catch or what season of the year. A permit is accessible from bait shops, marinas, and is often offered as part of the fee for a charter vessel.
Speaking of charters, there are seemingly limitless possibilities to hire charter fishing vessels in the Florida Keys. Many motels, hotels, and vacation rentals sustain their own charter vessel or fleet, and the number of private charters that can actually be seen from the interstate may prove amazing to a person from other regions of the United States.
At the other end of the island chain, the fishing in Key West is as varied as it is spectacular. The clear backcountry waters off Key West provide an opportunity for angling. An experienced guide into the backcountry is an absolute must for those interested in fly fishing or merely exploring the unspoiled wilderness of Florida Keys.
For some pure fishing excitement, stay in one of many gorgeous romantic travel spots and charter some deep sea fishing off Key West. Its the finest in the country. Putting yourself in the shoes of Ernest Hemingway, a charter vessel will transport you out into the Gulf Stream to look for marlin, sailfish, tuna, wahoo, and dolphin. All of these valued game fish can easily be found in the waters between the keys and Cuba.
