How to fish it
Anchor up-current and drift baits back to the bridge on the outgoing tide, April through June.
Best tide: Outgoing tide, April through June.
Tide station: Channel Two, west side, Hawk Channel. See today's tides and currents on the conditions page, or open this spot on the map.
What you can catch here
Tarpon
Catch & release- Bait
- Live blue crabs (silver-dollar size), mullet or pinfish drifted along the shadow line; a dead mullet on the bottom
- Tackle
- 7 ft heavy spinning rod with an 8000–10000 reel and 50–65 lb braid, or a 30–50 lb conventional
- Rig
- 4–6 ft of 60–80 lb fluorocarbon; 6/0–8/0 in-line circle hook; a small float keeps a crab near the surface
Permit
22" fork length minimum; 1 per person per day and no more than 2 per boat; closed Apr 1 – Jul 31; hook and line only in state waters (spearing allowed in federal waters). No multiple hooks with natural bait; no snatching. Islamorada is inside the Special Permit Zone.- Bait
- Live crabs drifted with the current or under a float
- Tackle
- 7 ft medium-heavy spinning rod, 5000–6000 reel, 30 lb braid
- Rig
- 4–6 ft of 30–40 lb fluorocarbon; 2/0–4/0 circle hook
Mangrove (gray) snapper
10" total length minimum and 5 per person within the 10-snapper aggregate in state waters (12" and 10 per person in federal waters); open year-round. Reef fish gear rules apply.- Bait
- Live shrimp, pilchards or small pinfish; cut ballyhoo or squid, with chum to bring them up
- Tackle
- 7 ft medium-light spinning rod, 3000–4000 reel, 15–20 lb braid
- Rig
- 3–4 ft of 20–30 lb fluorocarbon (they are leader-shy); 1/0–2/0 non-stainless circle hook on a knocker or split-shot rig
Snook
28–33" total length slot; 1 per person per day; hook and line only; snook permit required. Closed Dec 1 – end of February and May 1 – Sept 30 (Monroe County follows FWC's Southwest snook region). Charter captain and crew may not keep snook.- Bait
- Live pilchards, pinfish, mullet or shrimp drifted with the current along the shadow line
- Tackle
- 7 ft medium-heavy spinning rod, 4000–5000 reel, 30–40 lb braid
- Rig
- 2–3 ft of 40–60 lb fluorocarbon (bridges are rough on line); 2/0–5/0 circle hook
Access
- Fished by
- Charter a boat; Bring your own boat; Shore, bridge, kayak & wade
- Skill
- Beginner
- Position
- About 24.8417, -80.7533 (NOAA tide station 8723869).
Not for navigation. Positions are approximate. Use official charts, watch your depth and respect private property and posted signs.