🎣 5 curated fishing spots
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Miami sits on the edge of Biscayne Bay, one of the most productive urban flats fisheries anywhere, with bonefish, tarpon, and permit patrolling grass flats a short boat ride from downtown skyscrapers. The city's bridges and seawalls add a second, no-boat layer of fishing: causeways like the Julia Tuttle light up with snook and tarpon after dark, while free public piers reach out from Miami Beach and Key Biscayne into open water.
Anyone fishing from shore or a pier in Florida saltwater needs a free shoreline fishing licence (residents aged 16–64), while non-residents need a paid saltwater licence no matter where they fish from — anglers fishing from a licensed pier are exempt. Species like snook, tarpon, and bonefish are largely catch-and-release or carry strict seasons and size limits; check current Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission rules before keeping anything.
Fishing Spots
The 5 best fishing spots in Miami
All spots are curated and mapped — click any card for the full story, or open the map to explore.
Miami #1
Bear Cut, Key Biscayne
A deep tidal channel running between Virginia Key and Key Biscayne, a short causeway ride from downtown Miami,…
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Miami #2
Julia Tuttle Causeway
The bridge linking Miami to Miami Beach across Biscayne Bay is a legendary night-fishing spot — the pilings' s…
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Miami #3
Elliott Key, Biscayne National Park
The largest island in Biscayne Bay, reached only by boat, with miles of quiet mangrove shoreline and grass fla…
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Miami #4
South Pointe Park Pier, Miami Beach
A free public pier at the southern tip of Miami Beach, right where the government cut meets the open Atlantic,…
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Miami #5
Newport Fishing Pier
A 776-foot ocean pier in Sunny Isles Beach, rebuilt in 2013 after storm damage; a licensed, paid fishing pier …
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Practical Info
Planning your visit
Best timeSpring through summer for tarpon on the flats and bridges; snook and bonefish fish well year-round, with the clearer winter water often best for sight-fishing.
Getting thereMiami International Airport (MIA) connects to most of the world. Bridge and pier spots are reachable by car or rideshare from downtown; the bay flats and Biscayne National Park need a boat or a guided charter.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Miami
Do you need a licence to fish in Miami?
Yes. Florida residents fishing from shore or a pier need a free shoreline saltwater licence (ages 16–64 only — under-16s, over-65s, and anglers fishing from a licensed pier are exempt). Non-residents need a paid saltwater licence regardless of where they fish from, available online or from a tackle shop.
What fish can you catch in Miami?
Tarpon and snook are the headline catch on the bridges and bay flats, redfish and bonefish patrol the backcountry around Elliott Key, and mangrove snapper and jacks are the everyday catch off the public piers.
Where are the best fishing spots in Miami?
Bear Cut off Key Biscayne for tarpon, the Julia Tuttle Causeway for a night session on snook and tarpon, and Elliott Key in Biscayne National Park for redfish on the flats. See the full list of spots below or open the map to explore.
Can you fish in Miami without a boat?
Yes — the causeway bridges and South Pointe Park Pier are all fished straight from land, no boat needed. Reaching Elliott Key and the outer bay flats does require a boat or a guided charter.
When is the best time to fish in Miami?
Spring through summer is peak season for tarpon on the flats and bridges. Snook and bonefish fish well year-round, and the calmer, clearer water of winter is often best for sight-fishing the flats.
Explore Miami on the map
See all 5 fishing spots pinned on an interactive map — and add your own discoveries.
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