Bahia Honda State Park Fishing

Bahia Honda State Park is the prettiest place to fish in the Lower Keys: white-sand beaches, turquoise flats and the deep Bahia Honda Channel, spanned by the broken silhouette of the old Flagler railroad bridge. The old bridge is closed to fishing, but the seawalls at its base and the park's shallow flats are open to licensed anglers.

• Seawall bottom fishing for snapper and grouper right beside a deep channel
• Wade-and-sight-cast flats fishing for bonefish, permit and barracuda
• Spring and early-summer tarpon in the channel
• A full-service state park, ideal for a family day with a rod

The park fills Bahia Honda Key at about mile marker 37 on US-1, between Big Pine Key and the Seven Mile Bridge.

• Entry: a state park entrance fee is charged per vehicle, with lower rates for single occupants, pedestrians and cyclists; the park is open from 8 a.m. until sundown every day
• Parking: inside the park, including the Calusa area near the old bridge and along Sandspur Beach
• The fishing seawalls sit either side of the base of the old Bahia Honda Bridge in the Calusa area, at the southwest end of the island
• A short trail climbs the old road approach to a lookout on top of the old bridge — for views, not fishing
• The flats are reached on foot from the beaches; wear wading shoes

The deep channel and the shallow flats hold very different fish.

• Spring (Mar–May): tarpon pour through the channel; barracuda and bonefish on the warming flats; snapper start feeding
• Summer (Jun–Aug): mangrove and yellowtail snapper off the seawalls; permit tail on the flats on calm mornings; nurse sharks and stingrays
• Fall (Sep–Nov): snapper stay good; jacks chase bait along the channel edge; bonefish active on cooler days
• Winter (Dec–Feb): cold fronts clear the water; barracuda and jacks on the flats; snapper slower but still there on warm afternoons

Bring two outfits: one for the seawall, one for the flats.

• Seawall: a fish-finder rig with 1 to 3 oz of lead, 20 to 30 lb fluorocarbon and a 1/0 to 3/0 circle hook with live shrimp, pinfish or cut bait for snapper and the odd grouper
• Yellowtail: a small chum bag and a free-lined silverside at slack water
• Flats: a 7 to 8 ft light spinning rod with 10 lb braid, a fluorocarbon leader and a live shrimp or small crab for bonefish and permit, cast well ahead of cruising fish; fly anglers use 8-weight gear
• Barracuda: a long cast with a tube lure or bright plug
• Tarpon from shore are a long shot; heavy tackle and a live bait drifted into the channel on a strong tide

Bahia Honda Channel is one of the deepest in the Keys and funnels water between the Gulf side and the Atlantic, which has two tides a day, so the current along the seawalls is strong.

• Seawall: the middle of either tide fishes best, and the late afternoon before the park closes at sundown
• Flats: a rising tide pushes bonefish and permit up onto the flats; fish the first half of the flood on calm, bright mornings
• Sunshine and a light breeze are needed to spot fish on the flats; overcast days make sight fishing hard
• Summer afternoon storms and strong east winds muddy the edges and shut down the flats

The park is easy to get around, but the water has hazards.

• The seawalls are uneven, with slippery edges; watch your footing and never climb onto the old bridge structure
• The channel current is fierce; swimming off the seawalls is dangerous
• On the flats, shuffle your feet to warn off stingrays and wear wading shoes for coral rubble and sea urchins
• No shade on the flats; carry water and leave the open flats when thunder rumbles
• Paved roads and parking make the Calusa area reasonably accessible, but the seawall edge itself is not wheelchair-friendly

As a full-service state park, Bahia Honda is better equipped than any Keys fishing bridge.

• Restrooms and picnic areas, including barbecue grills, around the park
• Camping and cabins; reservations open up to 11 months ahead
• Beaches for swimming and snorkeling between sessions
• A concession sells sandwiches and souvenirs and rents kayaks and other equipment; do not count on bait there
• Bait and tackle: bring your own or buy on Big Pine Key

• Arrive at opening on calm mornings for the best flats light and the fewest swimmers
• On the seawall, fish the down-current side and let the bait wash back along the wall
• Carry a small cast net for pilchards or pinfish; live bait out-fishes frozen for snapper here
• Bonefish spook easily; stand still, cast ahead and let them find the bait
• Keep well clear of snorkelers and swimmers, especially around Calusa Beach
• The park closes at sundown, and so do the Overseas Heritage Trail fishing bridges nearby, so plan a daytime session

The park is managed by Florida State Parks and is open from 8 a.m. to sundown with an entrance fee. Park rules require all fishing to follow state rules; spearfishing, possessing spearfishing gear and collecting tropical fish are prohibited in the park, and the old bridge is a lookout, not a fishing platform.

• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Tarpon and bonefish have release rules, and goliath grouper are protected — check FWC
• The waters are inside the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary; check sanctuary rules
• Shore-based shark fishing needs a free FWC permit — and check with the park first, as crowded swimming beaches are no place for it
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything