About Little Buttonwood Sound, FL

Little Buttonwood Sound is a bay that is located in the Monroe County of Florida. It is near the upper Florida Keys towns and communities of Key Largo, Newport and Rock Harbor and is situated just south of Boggy Key and Blackwater Sound. Below the bay is the larger Buttonwood Sound which is spotted at the top of Key Largo and to the right of Swash Keys. The bay can also be found east of Tarpon Basin and Grouper Creek and west of Porjoe Key. The Everglades National Park is also placed just south of the bay.

Little Buttonwood Sound is circular in shape and is surrounded by marsh and mangrove trees, its bottom riddled with coral reefs. The bay is hydrologically disconnected from Florida Bay, and responds mainly to the localized precipitation and evaporation regime and the tidal interflow across Key Largo. The bay is also rich in vegetation, especially with its namesake, buttonwood. Its salinity is also dependent on seasonal changes, with the winter bringing significantly lower salinity levels compared to the summertime.

All About Fishing in Little Buttonwood Sound, FL

As it surrounds the town of Key Largo, Little Buttonwood Sound and the nearby similar bodies of water possess a combination of warm and nutrient-rich waters of the Caribbean Basin as well as the Everglades and Florida Bay’s shallow-water nurseries. This results in a rich saltwater ecosystem that can house different species of fish. The most common species caught in the bay is the red mangrove snapper. Creeks that go into the bay may bring anglers the chance to catch snook, sheepshead, barracuda and tarpon. Shrimp or pinfish are anglers’ bait of choice in this area.

Anglers can either opt for inshore fishing or go fishing offshore with the use of a boat or a kayak, though depending on the tide, it may be ill-advised to wade in the bay’s waters. The nearby town of Key Largo offers many boat rental services. One can fish for the listed species by either using fly, spin or baitcast fishing. The best areas to fish in the bay are where one can find small creeks and canals. It’s also suggested to fish alongside the back of the strand of mangrove area as well as around mangrove islands. Anglers are advised to check with the local fishing regulations as well as look up daily weather and water quality forecasts and conditions before going on a fishing trip.

Fishing Seasonality

Recreational fishing for red snapper is only open in the state of Florida between June 4 to July 28. Anglers are also required to sign up to the State Reef Fish Angler survey if they plan to fish for the species from a private recreational vessel. In Atlantic federal waters, red snapper can only be caught on certain days of July. Snook can be fished for only in the months of March and April as well as from September through November in Monroe County. Sheepshead are best caught during the winter months through to April while tarpon is best sought after from the warmer months of March to July. The peak fishing season for barracuda is in between April and September when they spawn. It’s advised to check daily catch and bag limits for certain species of fish to ensure proper fishing regulations are adhered to. 

Fishing Seasonality

Recreational fishing for red snapper is only open in the state of Florida between June 4 to July 28. Anglers are also required to sign up to the State Reef Fish Angler survey if they plan to fish for the species from a private recreational vessel. In Atlantic federal waters, red snapper can only be caught on certain days of July. Snook can be fished for only in the months of March and April as well as from September through November in Monroe County. Sheepshead are best caught during the winter months through to April while tarpon is best sought after from the warmer months of March to July. The peak fishing season for barracuda is in between April and September when they spawn. It’s advised to check daily catch and bag limits for certain species of fish to ensure proper fishing regulations are adhered to. 

All About Fishing in Little Buttonwood Sound, FL

As it surrounds the town of Key Largo, Little Buttonwood Sound and the nearby similar bodies of water possess a combination of warm and nutrient-rich waters of the Caribbean Basin as well as the Everglades and Florida Bay’s shallow-water nurseries. This results in a rich saltwater ecosystem that can house different species of fish. The most common species caught in the bay is the red mangrove snapper. Creeks that go into the bay may bring anglers the chance to catch snook, sheepshead, barracuda and tarpon. Shrimp or pinfish are anglers’ bait of choice in this area.

Anglers can either opt for inshore fishing or go fishing offshore with the use of a boat or a kayak, though depending on the tide, it may be ill-advised to wade in the bay’s waters. The nearby town of Key Largo offers many boat rental services. One can fish for the listed species by either using fly, spin or baitcast fishing. The best areas to fish in the bay are where one can find small creeks and canals. It’s also suggested to fish alongside the back of the strand of mangrove area as well as around mangrove islands. Anglers are advised to check with the local fishing regulations as well as look up daily weather and water quality forecasts and conditions before going on a fishing trip.