Introduction
”The Fishing is Great Here,” 1944
Postcard in the collections of the Museum of Florida History
The Lure of Florida Fishing
Fishing is one of the largest participant sports in the world, and Florida offers many chances for locals and tourists to pursue this popular pastime. Florida features one of the longest coastlines in the country and boasts abundant lakes, rivers, and streams. Its waters teem with more than 600 species of fish.
Florida has attracted visitors since the late nineteenth century, when tales of the tarpon, a mighty game fish, enticed northern anglers to the state’s coasts. In the early twentieth century, sport fishing developed into a major tourist draw and spurred the establishment of fishing clubs and tournaments. Florida’s lure as a sport fishing destination for saltwater and freshwater anglers continues today.
