Islamorada Flats and Backcountry Fishing

Islamorada has the best fishing of the Florida Keys--and the world. Islamorada offers some of the most exciting Tarpon, Snook , Bonefish and Red fishing you will ever experience.

Your Islamorada Fishing Charter aboard the "Gottago II" will be your vacation's highlight , if you like bring the wife and kids along also, you will streak across the scenic Florida Bay into the backcountry flats and channels of the Everglades National Park for a fun day of fishing, viewing pristine fishing grounds , the flats are also home to a myriad of birds, manatees and sometimes Alligators.

All anglers welcome from the smallest [6 and up] to oldest from novices to "experts". Capt. Cliff can provide on the water instruction from knowledge accumulated from his 40 years of fishing experience. All Tackle and licenses provided and also a cooler of ice for your things.

The Gottago II is a 24 foot Vip Bay Stealth, powered by a Mercury Optimax of 225 horsepower, it has an 8 and a 1/2 foot beam , this flats boat is very roomy and fishes up to 4 people comfortable. The Gottago II is one of the most stable fishing platforms on the Islamorada backcountry waters.

While the Gottago II can go into very shallow water, it also has the capability of fishing the inshore patch reefs for Yellowtail, Mangrove and mutton snappers and It can go into the Gulf of Mexico for Spanish Mackerel, Cobia, Tripletail and Sharks!--Big Sharks! There is also lot's of dry storage for your fishing and non-fishing gear. So don't forget to bring your Polarized sunglasses, deck shoes (no black soles please)
sunscreen (no spray bottles), long-sleeved shirt and pants, camera
and film, lunch and drinks (beer is fine).

Captain Cliff has been a licensed fishing Captain since 1970. He holds a US. Coast Guard's Master of near Coastal, Steam or Motor Vessels license and has run fishing vessels up to 125'.

Capt Cliff has fished extensively throughout the Northeast, Bahamas, Dry Tortugas, not to mention the fabulous Florida Keys. The past 23 years however, Capt. Cliff has concentrated his expertise on fishing the famous backcountry flats of Islamorada in the beautiful Florida Keys.

At Islamorada Flats and Backcountry you can take your hand at snagging an assortment of challanging fish.

In Florida, tarpon are found in water depths ranging from less than 3 feet to more than 80 feet Tarpon thrive in a variety of habitats. Though primarily an inshore fist, tarpon move offshore to marine waters to spawn, and the larvae gradually make their way to marshes and the mangroves in estuaries. Adults frequent a range of habitats, from near-shore coastal waters to stagnant pools, and can often be seen patrolling the coral reefs of the Florida Keys.

Bonefishing is excellent off the Islamorada flats. More world record bonefish are caught off Islamorada than anywhere else in the
world. To hunt this elusive fish, your tackle will consist of either a
10 lb. test Diawa spinning reel and rod or a 10 weight fly rod and reel.

Snook are found from Central Florida to the Florida Keys, inshore in coastal and brackish waters. They are prevalent along mangrove shorelines, seawalls and bridges, and also on reefs and piling nearshore. Most snook that are caught weigh between 5 and 8 pounds.

Permit can be found offshore on wrecks and debris, and inshore on grass and sand flats, and in channels. They usually travel in schools of 10 or more fish. Average permits caught weigh up to 25 pounds, but catching a 40 pound permit is not uncommon.

GottaGo II Charters
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