And those who explore it leave with a deep and undeniable sense of connection to nature, and a primal desire to protect it.
The Everglades is an ecological and biological treasure—a unique, intricate series of habitats found nowhere else in the world—as well as a Mecca for saltwater anglers eager to test their skills against wary and powerful game fish, such as redfish, snook, and tarpon.
For those who spend time exploring the labyrinth of mangroves and the seagrass flats of Florida Bay, the experience goes far beyond the stunning scenery, exotic wildlife, and great fishing.
Full immersion in the subtropical surroundings and the profound solitude they offer leave visitors transformed.
Meet Capt. Benny Blanco
South Florida guide Capt. Benny Blanco felt this connection the very first time he ventured into Everglades National Park to fish with his stepfather and uncle in the mid 1980s.
For the athletic kid raised in urban Miami, the 38-mile drive from the park entrance to the boat ramp in Flamingo was magical, as they passed through stretches of sawgrass, rocky pine trees, and stands of bald cypress.
And things only got better once they were on the water, traveling down a long canal into an open bay, which was the gateway to hundreds more narrow passages, bays, and lagoons in what felt like an infinite world for him to explore.
“Something very deep inside just pulled me in,” he remembers, “and it continues to pull me to this day.”
It’s easy to see why so many people feel the way Benny does. In a single day of fishing in the Everglades, you may find yourself motoring through narrow, serpentine channels that open to majestic bays, pulling a boat hand-over-hand through a tight mangrove tunnel to fish a hidden lagoon that may not have seen an angler in years, or poling across a glassy seagrass bed that stretches as far as the eye can see.
Not only does this variety of habitats make for transcendent angling experiences, but it also allows you to meaningfully engage with the ever-changing landscape, flora, and fauna. The mangrove forests are home to spectacular bird species, such as raucous roseate spoonbills, soaring pelicans, and hunting ospreys, while in the water you may encounter alligators, crocodiles, otters, or manatees.
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