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Anglers Have Fought To Protect This Fish. So How Did It Wind Up On A Miami Beach Menu?

WLRN Public Media | By Jenny Staletovich
Published May 15, 2018 at 4:20 PM EDT
Angler Bob Brady holds a permit caught and released in Biscayne Bay, part of a protected zone that stretches to the Keys and Southwest Florida where it is illegal to commercially harvest the fish.
Courtesy Bob Branham
Angler Bob Brady holds a permit caught and released in Biscayne Bay, part of a protected zone that stretches to the Keys and Southwest Florida where it is illegal to commercially harvest the fish.

One of Miami Beach's cool new restaurants, a laid-back fish shack named for Biscayne Bay's iconic stilt houses, aims to serve fish so fresh that its celebrity chefs claim much of the catch comes from the docks across the street.

Just one problem: A trophy fish that sport fishermen have long fought to protect wound up on the menu.

Last week, Miami New Times reposted  a picture taken in November of Stiltsville Fish Bar chefs Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth gripping two large fish. In the picture, Booth holds a shimmering  permit, a game fish found on South Florida's endless shallow flats, beloved by anglers for its powerful runs and fierce fight, and almost never featured on menus.

Read more from our news partner, The Miami Herald.

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Jenny Staletovich
Jenny Staletovich has been a journalist working in Florida for nearly 20 years.
See stories by Jenny Staletovich
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