Things to do nearFlorida Bay

Florida Bay occupies roughly 850 square miles of protected water between the southern Florida mainland and the upper Florida Keys. Technically part of Everglades National Park, the bay has been shaped over millennia by the slow freshwater sheet flow draining south through the Everglades, mixing with saltwater to create a brackish mosaic of habitats unlike anywhere else on the continent.

The bay draws anglers from across the country for its renowned backcountry fishing. Bonefish, tarpon, and redfish patrol the grass flats, while snook haunt the mangrove edges. Guided fishing charters operating out of Islamorada and other Keys communities offer half-day and full-day trips tailored to the bay's seasonal patterns.

Beyond fishing, the bay is a sanctuary for wildlife watching. Roseate spoonbills, great white herons, ospreys, and bald eagles are regular sights, and bottlenose dolphins frequently escort boats across the flats. Paddlers who venture into the quieter channels near the mainland shore may find themselves completely alone among the mangroves, accompanied only by the calls of birds and the occasional splash of a mullet.

Florida Bay rewards those who take time to understand its rhythms, and a single visit is rarely enough to appreciate the full depth of this extraordinary coastal wilderness.