Big Pine Key and Florida's Lower Keys

Lower Keys Fishing: The Natural Florida Keys

The islands of the Lower Keys are part of the Appalachian Ridge and made of limestone strata not fossilized coral reefs like the Upper and Middle Keys. This north and south alignment creates long channels between the islands with lots of well-protected shallow bays, flats and mangrove islands. Tarpon, bonefish, permit, barracuda and sharks abound on the flats and are rimed by mangrove islands.