We had a week long reservation at John pennenkamp in mid october, that had to be cancelled, the park was heavily damaged in the hurricane and the park was closed. I believe the park re-opened a couple weeks ago, I know the mangrove trails are still closed, and the visiter center may still be closed. I don't recommend snorkeling in any enclosed areas yet (high bacteria levels still), but visability out in open water has returned, I think around 40-50 ft recently. The water temp will be between 75 and 80f, we typically take our 3mm wetsuits along, but we don't nessesarily put them on if we don't plan on going snorkeling or diving, ( they get very uncomfortable and stinky in a couple hrs if you don't go in the water. We keep ours behind our seats, and have practiced putting them on in the water, (mine is a 3mm shorty wetsuit), if anything goes wrong. If going offshore, don't get crazy and go way out there, (especially if the boat is just stock and not heavily hardened, with outboard backup). The waters there are pretty dangerous offshore , (not apparent). We don't do much over on the gulf side, ( florida bay) most of it is too shallow and muddy, and boring to us, but I'm sure guys like Kieth can steer you to really nice and fun areas, (most of what we do revolves around diving and snorkeling, not fishing, and we only day sail). I don't know much about Biscayne bay, hopefully others will chirp up here. We are west coasters, (near Tampa), and spend most of our time either there or way down in key west, (way far from miami). Though we have been drift diving just north of there, ( near Boca) a few times, but that's it. It's a royal pain to launch on the gulf side, then go over to the atlantic side, ( only two places to cross, and both are a royal pain without engines. Hope this helps FE Be especially cautious in offshore winds, high chances of getting blown out to sea, and not be able to get back in, ( a stock TI is not capable enough upwind to risk it, which is how we got in serious trouble many times).
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