Upper Matecumbe oceanside flats

How to fish it

Bonefish and permit push up on the incoming tide. Shrimp or crab flies, and a quiet approach.

Best tide: Incoming tide.

Tide station: Upper Matecumbe Key, Hawk Channel. See today's tides and currents on the conditions page, or open this spot on the map.

What you can catch here

• Bonefish

  Catch & release
  1. JJanuary: slow
  2. FFebruary: good
  3. MMarch: peak
  4. AApril: peak
  5. MMay: peak
  6. JJune: peak
  7. JJuly: peak
  8. AAugust: peak
  9. SSeptember: peak
  10. OOctober: peak
  11. NNovember: good
  12. DDecember: slow

  Bait

  Live or fresh peeled shrimp, or small crabs, cast well ahead of tailing or mudding fish

  Tackle

  7–7.5 ft light spinning rod, 2500 reel, 8–10 lb braid; or an 8 wt fly rod with a floating line

  Rig

  Spin: 3–4 ft of 12–15 lb fluorocarbon, 1/0 hook, a split shot only if needed. Fly: 9–10 ft leader to a 10–12 lb tippet

• 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.
  1. JJanuary: good
  2. FFebruary: good
  3. MMarch: peak
  4. AApril: peak
  5. MMay: peak
  6. JJune: peak
  7. JJuly: good
  8. AAugust: good
  9. SSeptember: good
  10. OOctober: good
  11. NNovember: good
  12. DDecember: good

  Bait

  Live blue or pass crabs about the size of a silver dollar, hooked through the corner of the shell

  Tackle

  7–7.5 ft medium spinning rod, 3000–4000 reel, 15–20 lb braid; or a 9–10 wt fly rod

  Rig

  Spin: 4 ft of 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, 1/0–3/0 circle hook. Fly: 10–12 ft leader to a 16–20 lb tippet

• Barracuda

  15–36" fork length slot, with 1 fish over 36" per person or boat per day (whichever is less); 2 per person, 6 per boat; open year-round; applies in state and adjacent federal waters off Monroe County.
  1. JJanuary: peak
  2. FFebruary: peak
  3. MMarch: peak
  4. AApril: good
  5. MMay: good
  6. JJune: good
  7. JJuly: good
  8. AAugust: good
  9. SSeptember: good
  10. OOctober: good
  11. NNovember: good
  12. DDecember: peak

  Bait

  Live pilchards, pinfish or ballyhoo, or a whole needlefish

  Tackle

  7 ft medium spinning rod, 4000–5000 reel, 20–30 lb braid

  Rig

  12–18 in of #4–#6 single-strand wire (their teeth cut mono); 2/0–4/0 hook

Access

Fished by

Charter a boat; Bring your own boat; Shore, bridge, kayak & wade

Skill

Intermediate

Position

A general area about 1.6 km across, drawn as a circle on the map rather than a pin.

Parts can be waded or reached by kayak from the ocean side.

Not for navigation. Positions are approximate. Use official charts, watch your depth and respect private property and posted signs.