It is particularly vulnerable as it swims out to the Dry Tortugas, west of Key West, to its winter spawning grounds. Gamefish such as bonefish, tarpon, snook, red drum, and seatrout abound in these rich waters. Schools of grey snapper, which spend their days in nearby coral reefs, return each evening to forage for food. Over 100 species of marine fish have been identified in Florida Bay. Other species which call this area home include bonnethead, black tip, nurse, and hammerhead sharks.
Stingrays hide in the soft mud and feed on mollusks and crustaceans.
Atlantic bottlenose dolphin hunt for schools of silver or striped mullet. Some of the more unusual marine organisms include sponges, pipefishes, seahorses, sea cucumbers, horseshoe crabs, conchs, oysters, and the extremely rare american crocodile. The crocodile feeds on fish along the mangrove shorelines and, like the loggerhead turtle, lays its eggs on land in shell mounds. Commercial fishing is prohibited in the park. Sport fishing is closely monitored and regulated.