Florida Bay

{
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  "name": "Florida Bay",
  "slug": "florida-bay",
  "type": "bay",
  "status": "minimum",
  "tier": "t2",
  "centroid": {
    "crs": {
      "type": "name",
      "properties": {
        "name": "EPSG:4326"
      }
    },
    "type": "Point",
    "coordinates": [
      -80.7497882,
      25.0004073
    ]
  },
  "parentId": "cff2b131-999a-44c3-96c6-a8fd43650807",
  "country": "United States",
  "countryCode": "US",
  "stateProvince": "FL",
  "county": null,
  "timezone": "America/New_York",
  "descriptionShort": "Shallow saltwater bay between the Keys and mainland Florida, known for permit, tarpon, and bonefish in gin-clear water. Sight-casting and stalking define the fishing here.",
  "descriptionLong": "Florida Bay sits between the Florida Keys and the mainland, a vast shallow estuary where the Everglades meet the Gulf of Mexico. The water here rarely exceeds six feet, and on the flats it's often knee-deep or less—gin-clear on good days, which means sight-casting is the dominant technique. This is permit country, and the Bay holds some of the most consistent permit fishing in North America. Tarpon cruise the deeper channels and mangrove edges, particularly in spring and early summer, while bonefish work the sand flats year-round. The fishing is visual and deliberate: poling the boat across the flats, spotting tails or nervous water, and making a precise cast to a fish you can see. Permit are the trophy here—they're spooky, selective, and demand accuracy and patience. Tarpon fishing often happens at dawn or dusk, when the light is low and the fish move into shallower water. Bonefish provide consistent action and are less finicky than permit, though still no gimme. The season runs strongest from November through May, when cooler water brings fish into the shallower flats and the weather is most stable. Summer and fall fishing is possible but tougher—heat and storms push fish into deeper water and make sight-casting harder. Access is centered around Key West and the lower Keys, with most guides launching from marinas in that area. The Bay is large and can be windy, so conditions matter; a calm morning can turn into a blow by afternoon. Guides here are accustomed to working around shallow water, reading the flats, and knowing where permit and tarpon congregate by season. This is not a place for beginners, but for sight-casting enthusiasts with some saltwater experience, Florida Bay offers world-class permit and tarpon fishing in a uniquely shallow, visual setting.",
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  "verticals": [
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    "charter_offshore",
    "conventional_spin"
  ],
  "waterCharacteristics": [
    "tidal"
  ],
  "searchAliases": [
    "Everglades Bay",
    "Florida Keys Bay",
    "Southern Florida Bay"
  ],
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      "confidence": "high",
      "searchQuery": "Florida Bay FL United States fishing"
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  "nhdFtype": null,
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  "elevationMin": null,
  "elevationMax": null,
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  "noaaTideStationIds": [
    "8723970"
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  "seoKeyword": "florida bay fishing",
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  "source": "seed",
  "pipelineId": 354400,
  "createdAt": "2026-05-16T00:39:12.544Z",
  "updatedAt": "2026-06-15T20:22:33.868Z",
  "destinationSpecies": [],
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      "slug": "north-america",
      "name": "North America",
      "type": "region_global"
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      "name": "United States",
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      "slug": "florida",
      "name": "Florida",
      "type": "state"
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}