226 WHERE, WHEN, AND HOW TO CATCH FISH 



about the same distance from the south end of the creek. It is a cut, 

 or channel, from Black Water Bay into Florida Bay, sometimes called 

 the Great Bay of Florida, which extends to Cape Sable on the west 

 and to Key West on the southwest. It is a shallow bay, and the 

 water is usually roily and whitish from the disintegration of the coral 

 rock. More and more mangrove islands, or Keys, are constantly 

 forming in it. 



Boggy carries tolerably clear water from Black Water Bay, and 

 the Snapper and Grouper fishing is usually very good. 



The best places are on the south shore in the cut about half way 

 through, and along the north shore all the way through, and for 

 half a mile or more inside under the mangroves, out into Black Water 

 Bay. 



In December, 1900, I had very successful fishing there. Capt. 

 Gardner caught an eight-pound Sheepshead while fishing for Snappers 

 along the south side, which was a surprise to us. 



Now we will have quite a sail through milky water, until we near 



TAVENIER CREEK. 



TWELVE MILES (DIRECT) FROM BOGGY AND FIFTY-THREE FROM 



MIAMI (DIRECT). 



This creek is the pass from Great Florida Bay into the ocean, and 

 runs between Key Largo, north, and Long Island, south. The 

 entrance to it from the inside is shallow, and outside the same ; only 

 very small sailboats can pass through. But there is deep water in 

 the creek, and very fair fishing for all the Key fishes. For Snappers 

 and Groupers there is an especially good place about one-third 

 through on the south side, where there is quite a bend to the south. 

 Under the mangroves there I have caught, and seen caught, a great 

 many three to eight-pound Snappers and Groupers. 



About two-thirds through, in the middle of the channel, there is 

 good Grunt, Porgie, etc., with occasional good Snappers. The 

 approaches at each end are not good. 



Before leaving Tavenier Creek I must tell what I will call my 

 "Alibi Story." 



On Christmas morning, 1890, I arrived on my boat in an inside 

 bay, three miles or so north of Tavenier Creek, and about two and 



