Located in southeast Florida's Dade County, the city of Miami is famous for its beaches, which provide plenty of opportunities for exciting shore fishing. Popular fish caught along Miami's beaches include bluefish, Spanish mackerel, tarpon, snook, barracuda and mangrove snapper. Whether you're wading out in the surf or casting off a public pier, Miami provides exciting, year-round surf fishing for anglers of all ages and skill levels.
Introduced in 2009 and available for purchase on the Internet or over the phone, Shoreline Fishing Licenses are required for all resident surf fishers who are not in possession of a Saltwater Fishing Permit. Both permit and license are available online at the state of Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website, and as of 2010 the Shoreline Fishing License is free, with the exception of a respective internet or phone surcharge of $2.31 and $3.33. The Saltwater Fishing Permit, which covers vessel and shore fishing, is required for non-residents.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Basic Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations, gag and black, red, yellowfin, yellowmouth, tiger, rock hind, red hint, coney, graysby and scamp grouper are closed to all surf fishing from Jan. 1 through April 30. Vermillion snapper can only be caught from Nov. 1 through March 31, while snook fishing is limited to the months of June, July and August and from December 15 through January 31. Spotted seatrout may be caught in the months of November and December.
Snook and tarpon are the two commonly caught inshore fish in southeast Florida's waters, according to the website GoFishn.com. Tarpon can be found in Miami's Haulover and Government Cut Inlets, particularly from December through March. When surf fishing for tarpon, night fishing with live shrimp, crabs and mullet is effective, according to the website. Snook swim near inlets in the spring and summer, particularly near bridge and dock pilings, and can be caught with live bait, deep-diving plugs that are run parallel to bridges, or with jigs.
Accessible from the Julia Tuttle and MacArthur Causeways, Miami Beach is situated on an island just east of the downtown Miami area. Surf fishing, according to the website Inshore.com, is available at Haulover, South Point, Lummus, Indian Beach, Open Space, North Shore and Collins Parks, as well as the 35th Street, Miami Beach Central, 46th Street, 53rd Street, 64th Street, and 72nd Street beaches.
Located south of Miami in Biscayne Bay, Key Biscayne surf fishing is permitted at the beaches of Bill Bags Cape Florida State Recreation Park, Matheson Hammock County Park, Cranon Park, Homestead Bayfront Park and Biscayne National Park. Just north of Key Biscayne, Fisher Island Beach is another surf fishing hot spot that includes plenty of saltwater action.
