Matheson Hammock Park Fishing

Matheson Hammock Park is a beautiful bayfront park with a marina, a fishing pier and a bait-and-tackle shop, on the edge of Biscayne Bay. It is an easy place to fish a tide with the family.

• The park's fishing pier is the place to fish; the marina slips and ramps are for boaters
• Mangrove snapper, snook, jacks, barracuda and tarpon
• A bait-and-tackle shop at the marina
• A beach, atoll pool and restaurant for the family

The park is at 9610 Old Cutler Road in Coral Gables and is run by Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces.

• Getting there: follow Old Cutler Road south through Coral Gables; the park entrance is on the bay side, and the road runs through the hammock to the marina
• Parking: a daily parking fee applies, higher on weekends and holidays; pay through the Pay-By-Phone or ParkMobile app or at the park office
• Hours: the park and the boat ramp are open sunrise to sunset; the office keeps 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• The walk: level paths from the parking to the marina and the fishing pier
• Pets are not allowed in the park

The marina channel and the bay flats give a mix of structure and flats fish.

• Spring (Mar-May): snook, jacks and ladyfish, mangrove snapper starting, tarpon arriving
• Summer (Jun-Aug): mangrove snapper, barracuda, snook at first light, tarpon
• Fall (Sep-Nov): snook and jacks chasing mullet, snapper still biting
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead near structure, seatrout on the flats, bonefish on warm, calm days

Light to medium spinning tackle is right here.

• Mangrove snapper: small live shrimp on a knocker rig near structure
• Snook: live shrimp or pilchards on a 2/0 circle hook and 30 lb leader, or soft plastics early in the day
• Barracuda: tube lures or spoons on a short wire leader
• Sheepshead: fiddler crabs or shrimp on a small, strong hook in winter
• Flats: a live shrimp cast ahead of cruising bonefish on calm mornings

Biscayne Bay has two small tides a day, a little under two feet on average at the nearest NOAA station at Dinner Key.

• The outgoing tide drains the flats and pulls bait past the marina and pier
• The incoming tide brings clearer bay water for snapper and barracuda
• Early morning is best, before the heat and the boat traffic
• A light east breeze is ideal; strong wind makes the bay murky
• Winter cold fronts slow the bite for a day or two

The park is level and well kept.

• The marina is busy; keep clear of the boat ramps and moving boats
• Keep lines away from the atoll pool, the beach and swimmers, and from kiteboarders on the bay
• Summer thunderstorms bring lightning; leave the pier when you hear thunder
• Heat, sun and mosquitoes; bring water and repellent
• The marina area is flat, but wheelchair users should check access to the pier on arrival

The park is one of the best equipped in Miami-Dade.

• A marina with a fuel dock and a bait-and-tackle shop
• A fishing pier and restrooms
• A beach and a tidal atoll pool with lifeguards on weekends and holidays
• A restaurant on the beach (open Wednesday through Sunday) and a snack bar
• Picnic areas, shelters and nature trails
• Free WiFi near the boat docks

• Buy live shrimp at the marina's bait-and-tackle shop
• Fish the pier at first light before the boat traffic picks up
• Watch for bonefish tailing on the flats on calm winter mornings
• Keep clear of the atoll pool and the beach swimming area
• The park is popular on weekends; come early
• Leave pets at home; they are not allowed in the park

Matheson Hammock Park is a Miami-Dade County park.

• County park rules allow fishing in park waters only where it has been set aside: fish from the fishing pier, not from the marina slips, fuel dock, boat ramps, beach or atoll pool
• The park is open sunrise to sunset; a parking fee applies and pets are not allowed
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Snook, tarpon and bonefish have their own seasons and release rules; check FWC before keeping anything
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything