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When it comes to fun, fishermen know that one of the best places to get a line wet is in Florida, which has some great saltwater fishing. Southern Florida is populated with a number of great sport fishing species that lure many anglers who are seeking the thrill of landing a big trophy fish for a great wall mount, an outdoor photography collection or even just some great memories. The intent of this article is to make you more familiar with some of the saltwater fish in the Southern Florida area.

The Florida Marlin

One of the most beloved of the big game fish is the Florida Marlin, which consists of two species, the Blue Marlin and the White Marlin. Catching one of these prize fish requires a good understanding of how the feed. Unlike other fish that chase after and gobble up a baitfish, the Marlin will stun a small fish to keep it from fighting and getting away, and then it will eat them. Lures are a popular bait for Marlin because they can cover a lot of water in a short period of time. Best times of the year to catch these beauties is the spring through the summer.

The Florida Tuna

There are several types of Tuna species in the Southern Florida saltwaters, including the Yellowfin Tuna, the Blackfin Tuna, and the Bluefin Tuna. The most fun method of catching these is with saltwater spinning rods or saltwater bait casting rods and reels. Various types of lures, rigged baits, and feather rigs have proven to be productive in catching the various types of Tuna throughout the area.

The Florida Sailfish

Much like the Marlin, the Florida Sailfish another highly sought after big game fish available in the coastal waters of Southern Florida. What fisherman doesn’t dream of having that wonderful wall mount of a big Sailfish over the mantle in his den? Sailfish get very big; up to 7 feet long and nearly 200 pounds. These monsters are top-feeders and live bait is the best way to catch them. Winter and fall is the best time of the year to find them.

The Dolphin

The Florida Dolphin is not the Dolphin you’re probably thinking of; like Flipper. These are also called Dorado and Mahi Mahi depending on the region. These colorful, fast fish can get very large and like to feed on everything from flying fish to squid. Basically, any kind of bait will work when trying to lure in Dolphins in the southern Florida coastal waters. The best time to catch them is from May until July.

The Wahoo

No, this is not a search engine. The Florida Wahoo is quite an interesting species of fish that is related to the King Mackerel. It is dark blue and silvery looking, and have been caught as large as 8 feet long and approaching 200 pounds. When a Wahoo decides to catch your hook, they do it with much precision and they rarely put up a fight after they are hooked. They tend to be loners, or run in very small groups and feed primarily on small fish and squid.

If you’re looking for exciting sport fishing and big game fish, the Southern Florida coast is not to be overlooked. It’s one thing to catch saltwater trout and redfish, it’s an entirely different adventure to hook up with a trophy fish, like a Marlin or a Sailfish. You don’t have to be a pro to enjoy this type of saltwater fishing, you just need a good fishing guide. They provide the boat, the equipment, the bait and they know where to take you. For the saltwater fishing experience of a lifetime, book yourself a charter and you may have the thrill of your life.

If you are not real knowledgeable about saltwater fishing, you may not realize how important it is to understand how tides come into play. It would stand to reason that, since larger fish eat smaller fish which are moved around by the tides, they will follow the smaller ones around to ensure they don’t lose their meal ticket. It’s important to make note of a number of details when saltwater fishing, including water level, how it is moving and which direction.

Normally, in the vicinity of a saltwater coast, you will find rivers and other bodies of water twisting off the saltwater expanses. You’ll be able to also detect several types of marshes and additional watery regions that offer a superior food source for the numerous fish that you are setting about to catch. These particular areas supply the fish with the necessary nutrition and so they hang around them a lot. It’s smart to fish these areas because this is where it all begins.

If the tide is strong in the spots observed previously, the fish and other kinds of saltwater creatures will enter them. They ofttimes look for these kinds of expanses because there is a lot of vegetation and baitfish and that make for abundant feeding. In addition, bigger fish will come into this area due to the ease of the catch as well. All saltwater fisherman should capitalize on the areas that the tides affect. If the tide leaves these areas abruptly, leaving shallow water, you might be able to catch many bigger fish that have been allowed minuscule room for maneuverability in addition to bait fish that may help you catch the bigger fish when the tide is low.

An additional significant item when fishing in saltwater is to keep an eye on the current, or the movement of the water. If you see that the brine is moving in an perceptible direction and it appears to be strong, you should fish so that the water carries your line and hook. Fish will be carried by the current and some of the times it’s not always easy for them to slow down when they discover a savory delicacy. All the same, if the food is drifting right before them, you’re given to land quite a number of saltwater fish.

Those who are willing to endure potentially dangerous saltwater, heavy winds and many other things that a lot of people would find unappealing are out their because they enjoy it. Knowing the characteristics of saltwater fish you’re after, whether red fish, trout, marlin or sailfish, and how the tides work can make your trip much more productive and enjoyable.

You’ll also want to make sure you have the proper saltwater tackle; fishing rods, reels and baits. It seems that once you master the sport, it’s hard to go back to freshwater angling.