Long Key State Park shoreline

How to fish it

Wade the flats on a rising tide for bonefish; bring your own kayak (rentals were suspended in 2024) to reach the outer edges. Fishing must follow FWC rules and the park's posted swimming-area limits.

Best tide: Incoming tide over the flats.

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

• 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

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

  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

• 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

Shore, bridge, kayak & wade

Skill

Beginner

Parking

Park lots (admission fee)

Launch

Bring-your-own kayak and canoe launching inside the park

Position

About 24.8169, -80.8200 (Wikipedia "Long Key State Park").

• Open 8 a.m. to sunset; park admission fee.
• No fishing in the designated swimming area.
• Florida saltwater licence, or the free resident shoreline licence.

Camping and the hiking trail were closed for construction from July 2026.

Long Key State Park

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