Long Key State Park Fishing

Long Key State Park gives shore anglers a quiet, natural stretch of Atlantic shoreline in front of shallow grass flats, where the park lists bonefish and redfish. It is a place to sight-fish and wade carefully rather than to soak bait from a structure.

• Flats fishing for bonefish, permit and tarpon, called a major attraction of the area on the park map
• Shallow, clear water where you can see fish before you cast
• Restrooms, water stations and covered picnic pavilions inside the park
• The Long Key Viaduct and Channel Two fishing bridges are a short drive away for a change of scene

The park's entrance, day-use area and shoreline are on the Atlantic side of US 1 at mile marker 67.5 on Long Key, about 15 miles southwest of Islamorada and 17 miles northeast of Marathon, and the park is run by Florida State Parks.

• Entry: $4.50 for one person, or $6.00 for two or more people plus 50 cents for each additional person
• Hours: 8 a.m. to sunset, every day of the year
• Parking: in several areas inside the park
• The fishing: walk from the day-use parking to the shoreline and cast or wade over the seagrass flats
• Closed for now: since July 12, 2026, all primitive camping and the Golden Orb Trail are closed for construction; the park's notice names nothing else, so ask at the ranger station which stretches of shore are open

The flats hold fish all year, but water temperature decides what comes up into the shallows.

• Spring (Mar-May): bonefish tailing on rising tides; the first tarpon of the year cruising the deeper edges; barracuda on the flats
• Summer (Jun-Aug): bonefish early and late in the day; permit on the deeper edges; bonnethead and small blacktip sharks in the shallows
• Fall (Sep-Nov): bonefish again as the water cools; snapper and jacks around rocks and mangrove edges
• Winter (Dec-Feb): barracuda and bonefish on warm, sunny afternoons between cold fronts; slow on cold, windy days

Light spinning tackle and a careful, quiet approach catch more here than heavy gear.

• Bonefish: a 7 to 8 ft spinning rod with 8 to 10 lb braid, a fluorocarbon leader and a live or fresh shrimp on a 1/0 hook, or a small tan jig cast well ahead of the fish
• Fly anglers: an 8-weight rod with small shrimp patterns
• Permit: a small live crab or a crab-style jig on 15 to 20 lb tackle
• Barracuda: a tube lure or fast-retrieved plug on a short wire leader
• Tarpon: heavier tackle and a live mullet or large jig, released at the water
• Carry pliers and a small landing net, and shuffle your feet as you wade

Tides on this Atlantic side of the Keys come twice a day, and on shallow flats the tide decides almost everything.

• Rising tide: the best stage, as bonefish and permit push up onto the flats to feed
• Light: bright sun makes fish easier to see, so wear polarized glasses and a hat
• Timing: the first and last hours of the park's day, from 8 a.m. and toward sunset, are cooler and less crowded
• Wind: a light breeze hides your approach; a strong wind clouds the water and makes sight-fishing hard
• Winter cold fronts chill the flats and push fish off them for a day or two

The water is shallow and gentle on most days, but the flats are open and the sun is fierce.

• Shuffle your feet as you wade to warn stingrays
• Watch for soft bottom and sudden drops at channel edges
• Leave the water when summer afternoon thunderstorms build; lightning is a real danger on open flats
• Carry plenty of water; there is little shade at the water's edge
• Accessibility: the park lists a beach wheelchair and accessible restrooms
• Pets are not allowed on the beaches or along the natural shoreline

The park has the basics for a day on the flats, though it lists no bait or tackle sales.

• Restrooms, with two refillable water bottle stations
• A waterside picnic area with covered pavilions and tables
• Kayaks can be rented from the ranger station, and ranger-led kayak tours alternate Fridays with Curry Hammock State Park
• No boat ramp in the park
• Bait and tackle: none listed, so bring everything you need
• Camping: the primitive campsites are closed for construction

• Walk the shoreline slowly before wading and look for tailing fish or nervous water
• Plan around a rising tide in the morning, when bonefish are shallowest
• Wear muted clothing and keep low; bonefish spook at shadows and splashes
• Pick up live shrimp in Islamorada or Marathon on the way; it out-fishes frozen bait on the flats
• Pair a morning on the flats with an evening on the Long Key Viaduct just down US 1
• Ask at the ranger station which parts of the shoreline are open while construction continues

The park is run by Florida State Parks (Florida Department of Environmental Protection) and is open from 8 a.m. to sunset. State park rules allow fishing only in designated areas, and all fishing in the park must follow state rules on size, number, method of capture and season.

• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless an exemption applies
• Tarpon and goliath grouper have release rules: check FWC
• Shore-based shark fishing needs a free FWC shore-based shark fishing permit
• Pets are not allowed on beaches or the natural shoreline
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything