Great places to fish and boat in Florida
Looking for great places to boat and fish in Florida? With freshwater and saltwater locations in nearly every part of the state, Florida is the perfect destination for a boating or fishing excursion. Even Floridians will benefit from seeing places far from their comfortable boating and fishing grounds.
Anywhere along the Gulf of Mexico, boaters and anglers will find incredible places to explore. Fishing in the Florida Panhandle is like no other – many sport fishermen enjoy trolling the Gulf for big catches like Blue Marlin, Shark, Wahoo and King Mackerel, among many other species.
In and south of the Tampa area, boaters will be amazed at all the different islands and cays there are to visit. Popular boating spots are: Long Boat Key, Marco Island, Sanibel, and Anna Maria Island. These places are not only wonderful places to sail, but also offer tourist attractions, shops and restaurants.
Although Central Florida is a popular theme park vacation spot, there are dozens of local state parks with lakes and rivers that are perfect for boating and fishing. The St. Johns River and Lake George have incredible natural scenery, as well as spring-fed boating and fishing spots. Silver Glen is a popular local rafting spot, with crystal clear waters for snorkeling and swimming.
Florida’s east coast is a great place to sail because it offers access to both the Atlantic Ocean and the Intercoastal Waterway (ICW). Boaters coming to Florida from the Northeast have even been known to make the trip to Florida by boat along the ICW. Some of the most popular tourist spots on Florida’s east coast also have great boating and fishing. Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Daytona, and Ft. Lauderdale are well known for their land-based activities, but each of these destinations is also home to excellent fishing and sailing excursions.
Southeast Florida is definitely best known for its island lifestyle. Two great places to visit by boat are Biscayne Bay and Peanut Island. Biscayne Bay is about 20 miles south of the Miami area and is home to Biscayne National Park. The beautiful coral reefs offer incredible diving and snorkeling fun. Peanut Island is a man-made island that was once used as a shipping terminal for peanut oil. It is now a popular yachting destination in Palm Beach County.
The Florida Keys have a reputation that certainly precedes them. However, if you’ve never been to the Keys, you should know that there really aren’t that many beaches. Most people find that the best way to spend time in the Keys is to rent a speedboat or jet ski from one of the many boat rental companies and explore the beautiful aquamarine waters that surround them. Fishing charter options are numerous in the Keys, with full day and half day as well as private or group charter options available.
No matter where you go in Florida, you’ll always find great boating and fishing right at your doorstep.