Fishing Miami

Fishing Miami means many different things. To the offshore sport fishing enthusiast it means sailfish, kingfish and wahoo. To the deep sea bottom fisherman it means snapper and grouper. And to those who want some really exotic fishing in Miami, it can mean golden tilefish or swordfish.

But what about fishermen who just want a nice day on the water without bouncing around? They also have options in fishing Miami. The wide expanse of Biscayne Bay offers myriad opportunities. Since there are large swaths of natural vegetation in the bay, it provides a nursery for juvenile gamefish and natural habitat for baitfish. These attract bigger gamefish of all shapes and sizes. Fishing Miami is lots of fun.

Snook generally seek shelter, not because they want to hide from anybody, but because they are looking for those who are hiding from them. There's plenty of natural shelter in the bay, near mangroves and in the sea grasses. But man-made hiding places also are plentiful, and around a dock or bridge is always a good place to look for snook while fishing Miami.

Seatrout generally prefer shallow, grassy areas, though they may seek cooler, deeper water in the heat of the day. They respond to live shrimp cast to them. And in fishing Miami, there may be redfish nearby the trout, as they share habitat and water temperature preferences.

In the winter, anglers fishing Miami will encounter migrating schools of bluefish and Spanish mackerel, which invade Biscayne Bay. These scrappers rarely exceed 5 pounds, so they can be caught with light tackle. Ladyfish, the poor man's tarpon, hang out with the blues and macks. And for those who want more of a challenge, there are tarpon. But put away the light rig and use heavy tackle for the silver kings. Fly fishermen fishing Miami may find tarpon in the grass flats, but more are now caught in Government Cut, especially in the wake of cruise ships.

Tarpon are lazy fish; in clear water they can be observed just sort of hanging out. A fly or other bait must be cast right near them to arouse any interest. Laziness is presumably why they seem to follow the cruise ships. Turbulence from the engines disorients bait fish and makes them an easy meal.

When a tarpon is hooked, it will leap clear of the water repeatedly. The rule among experts is "Bow to the king." When the tarpon jumps, the rod should be lowered in order to avoid putting too much tension on the line.

To some people fishing near Miami, it's just too much trouble to keep casting or to tend lines while trollong. They'd rather sit back and daydream, maybe toss down a couple of cold ones, but still have a chance to catch something. They will probably not be disappointed anchoring up or just drifting almost anywhere in the bay. A shrimp, dead or alive, soaked on the bottom, is almost sure to attract something. It might not be big enough to hang on the wall, but it should suffice for the dinner table. Fishing Miami is the best fishing anywhere.