There’s some very good fishing to be done on the Broward and Palm Beach County beaches. But if you want to do a little bit of wading in the flats and perhaps even use spinning gear, there’s no better place than the Keys.

It’s a good idea to dig up some relevant information before you start off on your maiden trip. You can find quite a bit of information online, in forum postings and the like.

If you are out on a trip to the Keys, remember to stop by at Anne’s Beach. Anne has a very nice beach here. If you have an hour or so, you can start out at the west side and make your way to the inlet at the other end. You will find very clear, fresh smelling water here. Many dolphins, too, and crabs and baitfish can be easily seen at the bottom of the water. There’s hardly any bonefish here, though; probably, due to the dolphin menace. Nevertheless, swimmers and Islamorada fishermen alike love this beach.

Before you leave, make sure to get some of that “Famous Fish Sandwich” at Craig’s Restaurant.

Further down the road, there’s the Long Key State Park. There’s an approach to the inlet to the west end of it, but it is reserved for registered campers only, so make sure you have your papers handy. Otherwise, it is almost impossible to reach the inlet (wading) because the bottom is very soft, and visibility, especially on windy days, can be poor.

If you do not have a registration, you can try the flat north of the State Park. You have ample space for parking here, and there’s a sea wall facing an open stretch of beach. Walk across the sea wall, and you will see a long stretching shore lined with mangrove. The bottom of the water here is hard enough to walk comfortably, and there is not much wind.

Further down, at Veteran’s Memorial across the Seven Miles Bridge, there is a good fishing spot. The bottom is mostly quite firm here, except where there is sea grass. But the water is clean and clear everywhere. You can find good bone fish here, and there is always a fine tide, wind and sea conditions to get you some enjoyable and good fishing.

The next spot to see is Sandspur Beach, which is accessed from the entrance to the Bahia Honda State Park. It is a nice, sandy beach with a firm bed; however, the water was choppy and full of debris. Locals will tell you that it is possible to catch some good bonefish here if you are lucky. You can catch them as they wade back from the shore, they will tell you; but most tourists have not done anything more than heard the tale. Few have actually caught good bonefish here, but the waiting is worth in itself. Given the nice view, the beautiful clear water, and the splendid dining and shopping, it becomes quite clear to anyone visiting here why waiting is the best part of fishing.