Fly Fishing at Everglades National Park

The Everglades National Park is home to around 300 different species of both saltwater and freshwater fishes. It has a numerous supply of redfish, black drum, tripletail, pompano, and many others. Around a million people visit this area every year and regardless of your preference, the Everglades National Park can host fishing for beginners up to those who have made fishing as their hobby.

The area is divided into two sections – the outside and the inside. The outside, often called the gulf side, is composed of a lot of mangroves, flats, and shorelines. The Everglades is known to have the most mangroves in the western hemisphere. Aside from that, because of the many mangroves, inclement weather is subdued since they cover up those who are fishing in the area. They also help in reducing shadows so that snooks are easier to find.

On the other hand, the inside gives a more jungle-like atmosphere as compared to the outside. The Everglades National Park is actually more popular for its inside landscape. This is also where freshwater catches are more dominant.

But regardless of where you fish and what time of the year you go there, rest assured that you will not leave the place empty-handed. There are a number of islands that protect you from any kind of weather and there are hundreds of fish species that you will come across. The most popular are the redfish, snook, and tarpon.

Redfish

Redfish are abundant at Everglades. You can find them either outside or inside and they are somewhat challenging to catch. If you are looking for a bit of a thrill at Everglades, fly fishing redfish would be a great idea. There is no season when they aren’t many and they can be found at the shoreline to the backcountry pond.

The average weight of a redfish is about 3-6 lbs, but you can find 10-lb redfish at Everglades. It is highly recommended that you use a 6WT-8WT rod with floating lines when catching them.

Snook

Fishing for a snook is the most challenging of all fishes at Everglades. They can be found in the mangroves of the backcountry, but during and after spring, you can find them even in the outer islands. This is when they go around the outer parts of the mangroves.

The average snook weight ranges from 3-12 lbs with the bigger-sized ones weighing up to 20 lbs. You should use 8WT-9WT rods with floating lines.

Tarpon

While you can fish for tarpon at any time of the year, the kind of tarpon varies per season and there is relatively more tarpon from March to July. It is the peak season for this kind of fish. For juvenile tarpon, their peak season is from mid to late summer while for the swimming tarpon it is from April to June.

Tarpons are quite heavy ranging from 30-120 lbs. Larger female ones can weigh up to 175 lbs. If you are fly fishing for adult tarpons, use a 10WT-12WT rod, but if you are looking for juvenile tarpons, use an 8WT-9WT rod. The use of floating lines depends on your fishing conditions.