Egmont Key State Park Fishing

Egmont Key State Park puts you on an undeveloped island between the Gulf and the mouth of Tampa Bay, with the tide pouring past through the shipping channels on either side. It takes a boat ride to get there, and that keeps the beaches quiet.

• A state park and national wildlife refuge, reached only by boat
• Fishing allowed in designated areas: the park map shows the Gulf and bay beaches on the north half
• Snook, tarpon and trout in the warm months; pompano and Spanish mackerel in spring and fall
• The 1858 lighthouse and the Fort Dade ruins to see from the old brick paths; the structures themselves are closed

Egmont Key lies at the mouth of Tampa Bay, southwest of Fort De Soto Park, in Hillsborough County; it is accessible only by boat.

• Ferry: Hubbard's Marina runs a ferry from the Fort De Soto boat ramp, daily in spring and summer and on most days in fall and winter; check its schedule and plan to arrive early
• Fort De Soto charges a parking fee on the way to the ferry
• Private boats may land on the island; mind the strong currents and shallow bars
• Hours: 8 a.m. to sunset, every day of the year; no park entry fee
• The fishing areas shown on the park map are a walk along the island's brick paths and sand from the north end

Egmont sits where the Gulf meets Tampa Bay, so it sees both surf and bay fish.

• Spring (Mar-May): pompano and whiting in the surf, Spanish mackerel and bluefish chasing bait, the first tarpon late in the season
• Summer (Jun-Aug): snook cruising the beach, tarpon rolling off the island, mangrove snapper and spotted seatrout
• Fall (Sep-Nov): redfish, pompano and Spanish mackerel as the water cools, snook before winter
• Winter (Dec-Feb): whiting and sheepshead; slower fishing on cold, windy days

Pack light but carry tackle for big fish; everything you use has to come over on the boat with you.

• A 7 to 8-foot medium spinning rod with 15-20 lb braid and a 30 lb fluorocarbon leader for snook and trout
• Walk the surf early in the day with a white jig or a paddle-tail for snook along the trough
• Pompano jigs, or shrimp or frozen sand fleas brought from the mainland, on a double-drop rig for pompano and whiting
• Small silver spoons for Spanish mackerel and bluefish when birds are working
• Live shrimp under a popping cork on the bay side for trout
• If you hook a tarpon, keep it in the water and follow FWC's handling rules

NOAA's Egmont Key station shows two high and two low tides on most days, one pair bigger than the other, and sometimes just one of each; the daily range reaches about 3.5 feet.

• Strong tidal currents run through the channels either side of the island; fish the moving water
• The last of the falling tide and the start of the rise are prime on the beaches
• Calm, clear days are best for sight-fishing snook and pompano in the surf
• West winds make the Gulf beach rough; the bay side is more sheltered then
• Check the marine forecast before a ferry or boat trip

Egmont is remote, and you are on your own until the boat returns.

• There is no drinking water and no store on the island; bring plenty of water, food and sun protection
• Strong currents run off the island; do not wade out far, and there are no lifeguards
• Summer thunderstorms build fast and there is little shelter; watch the sky and the ferry time
• Shuffle your feet in the shallows for stingrays, and handle sharks and catfish with care
• All structures, including the fort ruins, are closed to the public under a park notice of Aug. 2026; stay out of them and off the old walls
• Paths are sand and old brick roads; the island is not suited to wheelchairs
• Do not miss the last ferry back

There are almost no facilities; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service describes the island as open to the public but without visitor facilities.

• No restrooms on the island, as both the park and the refuge say; the ferry operator's boat has one while it is docked
• Picnic tables and a shaded area at the north end, per the park; with all structures closed, bring your own shade
• No drinking water, food, bait or tackle on the island
• About 6 miles of old brick-road paths, open daily; the fort ruins along them are closed

• Take the earliest ferry you can; the park opens at 8 a.m. and the morning is usually the best fishing
• Carry a small cooler, water and a wagon or backpack; everything must go back on the boat with you
• Fish only in the areas the park designates for fishing, and stay out of the closed bird refuge at the south end
• Bring polarized glasses to spot snook and pompano in the clear surf
• Watch for birds diving on bait just off the designated beaches; that is where Spanish mackerel and jacks will be

Egmont Key is managed as a Florida state park and a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service national wildlife refuge.

• Fishing is allowed in designated areas only; follow the posted signs
• Open 8 a.m. to sunset; no park entry fee
• The south end and several other marked beaches are closed year-round as bird sanctuaries; stay out of any staked nesting area
• Pets, alcohol, glass containers, fires and camping are not allowed, and all structures are closed
• Taking plants or live animals from the island is prohibited, so bring all your bait
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Shore-based shark fishing needs the free FWC permit; tarpon, snook and goliath grouper have their own rules, so check FWC
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything