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Florida Keys
No USGS gauge linked to this river.
The Florida Keys flats system is the birthplace of American saltwater fly fishing, a vast network of shallow-water habitats stretching from Key Largo to Key West that has drawn anglers to its transparent, turquoise waters for over half a century. These warm, turtle-grass-covered flats are home to the three species that define saltwater fly fishing's grand slam: bonefish, permit, and tarpon. The Keys remain the only destination in the continental United States where all three species can be pursued on the same day, and for many anglers, the pursuit of a grand slam on the fly represents the ultimate achievement in the sport.
The permit fishing in the Keys is widely considered the most difficult sight-fishing challenge in all of fly fishing. These broad-shouldered, powerful fish cruise the flats in small groups, tailing as they root for crabs and shrimp in the sand, and their legendary wariness means that the vast majority of casts end in refusal or spooked fish. Landing a permit on a fly is one of the rarest and most celebrated accomplishments in angling. The tarpon fishing is equally world-class, with fish averaging 80 to 120 pounds migrating through the channels and basins of the lower Keys each spring, their massive silver bodies rolling and gulping air as they move through the crystal-clear water. The backcountry of Florida Bay and the mangrove-lined channels of the Gulf side add juvenile tarpon, snook, and redfish to the mix, creating a year-round saltwater fly fishing destination of extraordinary diversity. The Keys' established guide culture, developed over decades of pioneering saltwater fly fishing, ensures that visiting anglers benefit from generations of accumulated knowledge about these demanding, rewarding fisheries.
Check Florida FWC for current regulations. Permit and bonefish are catch-and-release only in Monroe County. Tarpon require a tag for harvest (release is standard practice). Various seasonal closures apply to different species.
The self-proclaimed Sport Fishing Capital of the World. Access to the Atlantic-side flats for bonefish and permit, and Florida Bay for tarpon and backcountry species.
Central Keys access to productive flats on both the Atlantic and Gulf sides. Good bonefish and permit flats within easy reach. Numerous guide services.
Lower Keys access to the premier tarpon migration grounds. Spring tarpon fishing in the channels and basins surrounding Key West is world-class.
