Black Point Park Jetty Fishing

Black Point Park Jetty runs about a mile and a half into southern Biscayne Bay from Black Point Park and Marina, giving walkers and cyclists a long line of shoreline beside a deep marina channel. It is one of the few places in south Miami-Dade where a shore angler can reach open bay water.

• A long, walkable jetty beside the marina channel, named by the county for fishing from shore
• Snook, snapper, jacks, barracuda and tarpon along the channel edge
• Seatrout and occasional redfish and bonefish on the bay flats
• A bait and tackle store, restrooms and a waterfront restaurant at the marina

Black Point Park and Marina is on the shore of Biscayne Bay near Cutler Bay, south Miami-Dade, and is run by Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces.

• Getting there: head east toward the bay from US 1 around Cutler Bay and follow the signs for Black Point Marina, at the end of SW 87th Avenue
• Parking: lots at the marina; launch and retrieval fees apply to boats, so check the posted rates
• The walk: the Black Creek Trail starts paved, becomes a dirt road and ends as a sandy path along the jetty top; the best water is well out along it, so a bike or a cart helps
• Surface: pavement, then packed dirt and sand; uneven near the end
• Hours: the park is open sunrise to sunset and the office 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; only the marina and boat ramp run around the clock, so the jetty is a daylight spot

The jetty splits the deep channel from the shallow bay, so it fishes both.

• Spring (Mar-May): snook moving onto the flats edges, tarpon arriving, jacks and ladyfish, seatrout on the grass
• Summer (Jun-Aug): mangrove snapper along the channel, barracuda, tarpon at dawn, bonnethead sharks on the flats
• Fall (Sep-Nov): snook and jacks chasing mullet, redfish on the bay side, snapper still biting
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead along the rocks, seatrout, jacks and ladyfish in the channel on warm afternoons

A 7-foot medium spinning rod with 20 lb braid covers most fish here.

• Channel side: live shrimp or pilchards on a 2/0-3/0 circle hook and 30 lb fluorocarbon leader for snook, snapper and jacks
• Mangrove snapper: small live shrimp on a knocker rig along the rocky edge
• Bay side: soft plastic shrimp or a jig under a popping cork over the grass for seatrout and redfish
• Barracuda: tube lures or shiny spoons on a short wire leader
• Tarpon: live mullet or large swimbaits at first light, on heavier gear
• A long-handled net helps from the jetty edge

Southern Biscayne Bay has two small tides a day, around two feet at the nearest NOAA station at Cutler, and moving water is what turns the fish on.

• Fish the first half of the outgoing tide, when water drains off the flats into the channel
• The incoming tide brings clearer water from the bay for snapper and barracuda
• Opening time and the last hour before the park closes are best in summer, when the midday water is very warm
• A light east or southeast breeze is ideal; strong wind makes the bay side murky
• Winter cold fronts slow the bite for a day or two, then snook and trout feed hard as it warms

The jetty is a trail, not a pier: there are no rails at the water's edge and little shade.

• Heat and sun are the biggest hazards; bring plenty of water, a hat and sunscreen
• Summer thunderstorms build quickly over the bay, and the jetty is the highest point around; walk back at the first thunder
• Mosquitoes and no-see-ums can be fierce early and late in the day
• Watch for boat traffic and wakes in the channel
• Crocodiles and the odd alligator turn up in the channel; keep your distance if you see one
• The paved start suits wheelchairs, but the dirt and sand farther out are rough going

The park is a busy county marina with good day-use facilities.

• A bait and tackle store at the marina, so you can buy bait on site
• Restrooms, and Black Point Ocean Grill, a dockside restaurant and bar
• A large picnic pavilion with grills, plus benches, picnic tables and grills along the trail
• Bike paths, jogging trails, and canoe and kayak rentals from the marina
• A county marina with boat launch ramps and a fuel dock
• No lights along the jetty

• Bring a bike: the fishiest water is far out along the jetty
• Fish the channel side where the rocks drop off; that edge holds snook and snapper
• Throw a cast net for pilchards and shrimp early in the day; live bait beats lures here
• Watch the flats on the bay side for tailing redfish and bonefish on calm mornings
• Arrive early on weekends when the boat ramp gets busy
• Pack out all your line and bait bags; wildlife on the jetty gets tangled in it

Black Point Park and Marina is a Miami-Dade County park, and county park rules apply.

• County rules allow fishing in park waters only where it has been set aside; the county names the jetty as the place for shore fishing, so keep to it and clear of the boat ramps and marina slips
• The park closes at sunset; the 24-hour boat ramp is for boaters only
• The waters off the park border Biscayne National Park, which has its own fishing rules; check them if you fish beyond the park
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Snook, tarpon and bonefish have their own seasons and release rules; check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything