Outdoor Activities - Miami and the Keys - page 446

The Keys are the best place for fishing in a state that is fantastic for fishing. In the is-
lands, Bahia Honda and Old Seven Mile Bridge offer shore-fishing par excellence. Other
good sites:
Oleta River State Park The shores of the park front the Intracoastal Waterway; plus,
there's a popular local fishing pier.
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park Off-shore fishers here pull in some truly huge hauls.
Matheson Hammock Park Drop a line here or just have a walk around the lovely atoll.
As 'Papa' Hemingway would tell you, the real fishing is offshore, where majestic sailfish
leap and thrash. That's part of the reason the man moved to Key West, after all. Bluefish,
marlin and mahimahi (known locally as dolphin fish, although it is not, in any way, the
marine mammal) are other popular deep-water fish. The best strategy is to walk the harbor,
talking with captains, till you find one who speaks to your experience and interests. Don't
be surprised if the cost of a charter-boat hire for a day runs into four digits, depending on
the size of the boat. Smaller craft should yield smaller prices.
For a comprehensive list of outdoor activities in South Florida, from cycling and snorkeling
to horseback riding and hunting, plus links to local outdoors organizations, check out
www.florida-outdoors.com .
Sailing
If you prefer the wind in your sails, Florida is your place. Miami is a sailing sweet spot,
with plenty of marinas for renting or berthing your own boat - Key Biscayne is a particu-
lar gem, and marinas in swish Coconut Grove and Brickell cater to the sailing crowd. In
Key West, sail on a schooner with real cannons, though tour operators are plentiful
throughout the Keys.
Florida mystery writer Randy Wayne White has created an angler's delight with the Ultim-
ate Tarpon Book (2010), a celebration of Florida's legendary big-game fish, with 'contribu-
tions' from Hemingway, Teddy Roosevelt, Zane Grey and more.