Florida Bay, an integral part of Everglades
National Park, is one of the most diverse fisheries on the planet,
providing amazing saltwater fly fishing opportunities .Where else can
you see tarpon, bonefish, permit, redfish and snook, on the same flat?
The park's backcountry, known as "Out Back," is made up of brackish
water estuaries and lakes. It hosts several mangrove varieties whose
root systems provide homes to saltwater game fish including snook,
redfish and tarpon as well as freshwater largemouth bass. One can blind
cast or sight fish along the edges of the mangroves or various mudflats
found scattered throughout the Bay. The area locally known as "Out
Front" located south of Flamingo, is less brackish, and thus clearer. It
is home to sight fishing at its best. Thousands of wading birds comb
the flats during low tide as osprey dive for mullet in the channels.
It's not uncommon to see crocodile, manatee or big sharks. Tarpon -
often weighing over 100 lbs, can be found "laid up," tailing, or
cruising the shallow water flats. Redfish, snook and seatrout offer
great sight-fishing opportunities. A "slam" (tarpon/bonefish/permit or
redfish/snook/tarpon) or a "grand slam" (four species) is a distinct
possibility here.