Flamingo Marina Docks, Flamingo Fishing

Flamingo Marina Docks are the after-dark fishing spot at the far end of Everglades National Park. Daytime fishing is off limits here, so this is a spot for anglers who like the lights, the quiet and the chance of a tarpon.

• Night fishing around the marina basin, tied to the dock lights
• Tarpon, snook, jacks and ladyfish are the usual targets
• Brackish water that opens onto Florida Bay
• Remote: expect mosquitoes and crocodiles along with the fish

Flamingo is at the end of the Main Park Road, a long drive from the park's main entrance near Homestead. The National Park Service runs the park and a concessionaire runs the marina.

• Getting there: follow the Main Park Road to its end and park in the marina or visitor center lots
• Park entrance fee: expected for every visitor; check the National Park Service for the current fee
• Daytime: the Park Service says no fishing is allowed at the marina during daylight hours
• Night: fish only in the hours when the daytime ban does not apply, and read any posted signs on the docks
• The docks and walkways are flat and close to the lots

The basin is brackish, so rain and wind change what bites.

• Spring (Mar-May): tarpon start to show around the basin, snook active after dark
• Summer (Jun-Aug): tarpon, snook and jacks on warm nights, with mosquitoes at their worst
• Fall (Sep-Nov): snook, jacks and ladyfish under the lights as the water cools
• Winter (Dec-Feb): after cold fronts, snook, redfish and tarpon can move into the warmer basin; trout and snapper possible

Medium spinning gear with 15 to 20 lb braid and a 30 to 40 lb fluorocarbon leader suits snook and jacks around dock pilings.

• Live shrimp, pilchards or pinfish on a light jig head or free-lined near the light edge
• Small white swimbaits, jerkbaits and topwater plugs after dark
• Tarpon: a live or cut mullet on a heavy outfit, with the drag set carefully
• Bring a long-handled net or lip grip; do not count on one being provided
• A headlamp with a red setting keeps your eyes adjusted

Tides here are two highs and two lows a day.

• Moving water is best; fish the hour on each side of the tide change
• Dark nights and a light that makes a clear shadow line draw bait
• A cold front can push fish into the basin
• Strong wind roils the water and slows the bite
• Heavy rain freshens the water and can turn off the snook for a day or two

The marina is remote and the dock lights are only part of the story.

• Crocodiles and alligators live in the basin; keep your distance from the water's edge and do not clean fish on the docks
• Mosquitoes and no-see-ums are heavy at dusk; bring repellent
• Cell service is patchy and help is far away
• Watch for boat traffic and mooring lines
• Wet docks are slippery; take care on gaps and cleats

Flamingo is the park's main marina and boating base.

• A marina store and boat services are operated by the concessionaire; hours and bait stock change, so bring your own bait
• Restrooms are usually near the marina and visitor center, but check what is open at night
• A visitor center and campground are nearby
• Do not count on dock lights; bring a headlamp

• Look over the docks at dusk before you commit
• Bring bug spray, long sleeves and a headlamp
• Fish around the edge of the dock lights where the shadow line meets the light
• Watch the weather: fronts can turn the bite on
• Ask the marina staff what is working before you head out
• Never leave fish scraps or food on the docks; crocodiles learn quickly

Everglades National Park and its concessionaire manage the marina. The Park Service lists no fishing at the marina during daylight hours, and the same rule covers the boat ramps; it does not list night fishing from the docks as a designated activity, so read the posted signs and confirm with a ranger.

• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Tarpon and goliath grouper have release rules; check FWC
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything
• The park has its own possession limits and mercury advisories; read them before you eat your catch