The great diversity and number of game fish species that inhabits in the waters of the Straits of Florida had made the Florida Keys one of the places where more salt water fishing records had been established in the world. Game fish is the term used when referring to the fish chased by the sport and recreational anglers. And game fish we got!
What type of fish do we find in the waters of South Florida and the Keys? Being bordered by the nourishing and warm waters of the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic, it's natural that fish would be big and abundant here.
Starting with the big open sea fish species that also lives near the surface, the scientifically named pelagic fish; it's deep oceanic fish that might also swim inshore. These are the big trophy's and the pride of the sport fishermen to bring back after the usual long battle between angler and the aquatic gigantic species.
This is the family of the Billfish which are the Swordfish, the Atlantic Blue Marlin, the Longbill Spearfish, the Sailfish, and the White Marlin, these are considered pelagic fish that normally lives in deeper waters but that also swims inshore.
Other popular game fish species that are found on these off-shore subtropical waters, at the edge of the Gulf stream and the Atlantic Florida's coast are the dinner table acclaimed Mahi-Mahi (also known as Dolphin fish) the Atlantic Bluefin, the Yellowfin Tuna, the Blackfin Tuna, the King Mackerel (also known as King Fish) the Bonito and Wahoo.
The bait fish are smaller in size and these are the basic food of the big pelagic fish mentioned above and other predators, they can be found forming large schools in the open sea and also inshore.
The Ballyhoo, Pinfish, Scaled Sardine, Silver Trout, Spanish Sardine, Atlantic Croaker, Mojarra, Spotfish, Striped Mullet, Yellow Jack, Pigfish, Mackerel, are all smaller fish commonly used by experienced anglers as live bait to catch the bigger fish. Anglers also use shrimp, squid, crabs, worms or lures for the fish to bite.
The reef fish that lives in the complex and diverse ecosystem of the coral reefs, and in large quantities, mainly due to the biodiversity of this environment that forms an almost endless cycle of lives and forms. These are the nutritious Red Snapper, Yellow Tail Snapper, Black Fin Snapper, Grey Snapper, Dog Snapper, Mahogany Snapper, Mutton Snapper, Silk Snapper, Lane Snapper, Cubera Snapper and Queen Snappers (almost the complete Snapper family) in addition to the Sea Bases, the Barracudas, Sharks and Groupers and many other fish species are well found at the Great Florida Coral Reef Barrier.
The coastal fish that live in the inlets and inshore waters, wrecks, flats, shallows, mangroves, and under the bridges of the Florida Keys are the Seatrout, Snook, Cobia, Jackcravelle, Flounder, Ladyfish, Tarpon, Permit, Redfish, the Florida Pompano, Sheepshead, Mangrove Snapper, Mutton Snapper, Cubera Snapper, Lane Snapper, Bonefish and the Spanish Mackerel.
Many angles practice the catch and release the fish game to increase the fish population, also that not all the fish caught are good to eat; for example the Tarpon, Sharks, and Barracudas are strong fish that give a good fishing battle to the angler but that does not make a good table treat, so why not to release them? Besides all forms of fishing, whether it's commercial or just sport recreational fishing are regulated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the fish that does not meet the standards size or bag limits should be release after caught.
This abundance of game fish is the reason why the Florida Keys are one of the world's top fishing destinations, no doubts about it! A fact totally backed by the International Game Fish Association, who regarded the Keys as the place where more saltwater fishing records had been established in the world!
For more information about the Florida Keys.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Raf_C_Edwards