South Florida Hunting/Fishing Mid October to December

[CMF]

We'll be in South Florida from mid Oct to beginning of Dec for work.
What are some must see/ do things in the area? Any hunting worth taking advantage of that time?
We are planning on checking out the keys, everglades and dry tortugas NP.
I'd like to try some peacock bass. The kids want to hunt Iguanas, pythons and shark teeth...
We'll have snorkel gear and some pole spears along too.

 

[Nine Banger]

My kids are into snakeheads and "plecos" right now.

We are going to set fish traps in Gainesville area this month. It'll be a sad day when this gets old.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Catch a tarpon with a fly rod. That's the best thing to do in Florida.

 

[skahunter831]

Lots of good fishing in the gulf that time of year. Speckled trout, redfish, snook. All fun fish and good eating. Find a long public fishing pier, too. Might hook a big king mackerel or something.

 

[CMF]

Catch a tarpon with a fly rod. That's the best thing to do in Florida.

Is the tarpon good down there this time of year? It's definitely on my bucket list.

 

[brando20]

I've never done it before but spearfishing looks like it would be a blast and what better place than Florida.

 

[CMF]

I've never done it before but spearfishing looks like it would be a blast and what better place than Florida.

Yea, its in the plan, not sure what we'll spearfish for, hopefully something worth shooting that we can get to from the bank or my daughter's paddle board.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Book an offshore charter and tell them you want to get on some hogfish and yellow tail snapper

 

[brando20]

Yea, its in the plan, not sure what we'll spearfish for, hopefully something worth shooting that we can get to from the bank or my daughter's paddle board.

Seems like the Keys would have some nice shallow water reefs to mill around on.

 

[yfarm]

Fishing the reefs in the keys starts to pick up in December as water temps fall, October water is still pretty warm. Try lobstering in October and November in the keys. Summer crowds are gone and winter people havent yet arrived. Would avoid Duval St in Key West in the evenings Oct 18-27, particularly Wed thru Sat with your kids, its Fantasy Fest time. Daytime its fine.

 

[CMF]

Any tips for getting to dry tortuga for camping(ferry is booked for camping) or for Biscayne?
Looks like private charter to dry tortuga is 3-5k

 

[Rich M]

Venice Beach for sharks teeth.

Ferry is the way for us po-folks to do Fort Jeff, just need to book 12-18 months out. Go and spend the day, it's worth the trip. I flew on seaplane back in 1992, would go back given an opportunity.

Keys fishing is really good. You never know what you'll encounter. Tarpon are basically a big minnow that jumps - the sheer size of a big one is what amazes people. Bonefish fight better pound for pound. Go to Robbies fish camp and feed the tarpon, you and the kids will like that.

There are a bunch of spearfishing rules and lots of fish-cops down that way. They patrol the numerous no boating/no fishing areas and can be a pain. I had aspirations of spear fishing under a bridge and nope - not allowed.

Sumbrero reef is a good trip, not sure about how you'd get there w/o a boat. You do owe yourself a guided trip or take a party boat out of one of the marinas for yellowtail and other snappers.

 

[CMF]

Go to Robbies fish camp and feed the tarpon, you and the kids will like that.

That must be the one I see videos of people feeding them and grabbing their arms?

Sumbrero reef is a good trip, not sure about how you'd get there w/o a boat. You do owe yourself a guided trip or take a party boat out of one of the marinas for yellowtail and other snappers.

I may look for a guided trip for bone, tarpon, snook, any recommendations welcome. I do mangrove and red snapper often from MS, but tarpon is definitely on my list.

 

[Loper]

Not sure where you will be South Florida, but I’d add clown knife fish to your list of fish to catch.

 

[CMF]

Not sure where you will be South Florida, but I’d add clown knife fish to your list of fish to catch.

Homestead for most of the duration. Then we'll bounce around when work finishes up.
Never heard of that fish til now

 

[Loper]

Homestead for most of the duration. Then we'll bounce around when work finishes up.
Never heard of that fish til now

They are only found in a few lakes on the east coast.

Clown Knifefish

Clown Knifefish

myfwc.com

 

[fngTony]

Any tips for getting to dry tortuga for camping(ferry is booked for camping) or for Biscayne?
Looks like private charter to dry tortuga is 3-5k

3-5k for a fishing charter or just transportation to and from? Not sure I’d pay that either way. We were fortunate to have a relative with a large boat when we went. The fort is fun to walk through, camping looked crappy (August was too hot for that) but it’s more about the fishing than the camping. If you can, get over to Loggerhead island too.

 

[Rich M]

That must be the one I see videos of people feeding them and grabbing their arms?

I may look for a guided trip for bone, tarpon, snook, any recommendations welcome. I do mangrove and red snapper often from MS, but tarpon is definitely on my list.

Yes, dont grab em like that. You’ll get arrested. They will take the fish right out of your hand.

I havent been guided down there in a long time. Check Bob Lemai. He can probably put you on some fish. Talk w him and see what he says.

There are a lot of exotics in the miami/s FL canal system: oscars, peacocks, chiclids and more. Google FL Sportsman 10 exotic fish you can catch in FL. There are some pay to play places that have barramundi.

You guys will have fun.

There is a dtate park in venice known for sharks teeth. W this hurricane, should be a fresh batch getting exposed. The kids (and you) will enjoy. Get a piece of 1/4 inch hardware cloth and some pool noodles to zip tie on edges. Scoop up sand from the shell zone of the “surf” snd sift it in the water. The teeth will mostly be black. Millions of years old.

 

[tony]

Any tips for getting to dry tortuga for camping(ferry is booked for camping) or for Biscayne?
Looks like private charter to dry tortuga is 3-5k

We used Yankee Freedom to get to Dry Tortugas. There are planes but they limit the gear you can take.
The sliver of the Everglades we were in, we tripping over gators. They were everywhere.

 

[CMF]

3-5k for a fishing charter or just transportation to and from? Not sure I’d pay that either way. We were fortunate to have a relative with a large boat when we went. The fort is fun to walk through, camping looked crappy (August was too hot for that) but it’s more about the fishing than the camping. If you can, get over to Loggerhead island too.

I was just researching for camping transportation, but either way too much for me.

venice known for sharks teeth. W this hurricane, should be a fresh batch getting exposed. The kids (and you) will enjoy. Get a piece of 1/4 inch hardware cloth and some pool noodles to zip tie on edges. Scoop up sand from the shell zone of the “surf” snd sift it in the water. The teeth will mostly be black. Millions of years old.

Yea, I didn't think about the storm stirring things up. Reminds me we'll need to make some of those sifters. The found a few this past spring in Savannah and were excited.

We used Yankee Freedom to get to Dry Tortugas. There are planes but they limit the gear you can take.
The sliver of the Everglades we were in, we tripping over gators. They were everywhere.

Yea, the Freedom is booked up for camping, but we'll probably still do a day trip. The plane wouldn't be so bad if it was just me and the wife, but too expensive for all five of us.