Sombrero Beach Fishing

Sombrero Beach is Marathon's best-equipped public beach, with light-tackle shore fishing at the quiet ends of the day.

• Sandy Atlantic beach and a shady park run by the City of Marathon
• Snapper, jacks, barracuda; bonefish and permit on the flats nearby
• Restrooms, showers, pavilions and full accessibility
• Best early in the morning, before the swimmers arrive

The park is at the end of Sombrero Beach Road in Marathon, on the Atlantic side of Vaca Key.

• Getting there: turn south off US 1 onto Sombrero Beach Road and drive to the end
• Parking: park lots (the state's angling guide lists no entrance fee); the city says there are no RV or bus spaces
• Hours: the city lists the park as open daily from 7:00 a.m. to dusk
• Surface: paved paths and accessible walkways to the sand
• The state's 2010 angling survey lists a small wooden pier here among the Keys' fishing piers

Shallow, clear water keeps the fish moving; early and late in the day is when they come close.

• Spring (Mar–May): bonefish and permit on the flats, barracuda, jacks
• Summer (Jun–Aug): mangrove snapper, small sharks and rays, tarpon passing early in the morning
• Fall (Sep–Nov): jacks and snapper, snook near the channel edges
• Winter (Dec–Feb): barracuda, blue runners and Spanish mackerel on clear days after fronts

Travel light and fish at the quiet ends of the beach.

• Snapper and grunts: live shrimp on a size 1 to 1/0 hook with a small split shot, near any rock or grass edge
• Bonefish and permit: a live shrimp or small crab cast well ahead of cruising fish, on 10 lb line
• Barracuda and jacks: tube lures, spoons and small white jigs
• Keep a sand spike and a dehooking tool handy

Marathon's Atlantic shore gets two tides a day over shallow water.

• A rising tide pushes fish onto the flats and into range
• The 7 a.m. opening is the best time; by mid-morning swimmers and bright sun push fish off
• A calm day with a light breeze is ideal for spotting fish
• The park is open from 7 a.m. to dusk, so plan an early-morning session from opening or a late-afternoon one

The park is fully accessible and one of the safest places in the Keys to fish with children.

• Cast well away from swimmers and snorkelers
• Stingrays lie in the shallows: shuffle your feet when wading
• Leave the beach when thunderstorms build
• Hot sun: use the shade of the park between sessions
• The city redeveloped the park for full accessibility, with accessible paths to the beach

The city lists a full set of park facilities.

• Restrooms and showers
• Shaded picnic pavilions, playgrounds and volleyball courts
• Fresh water
• No bait shop; buy bait along US 1 in Marathon
• Shaded picnic areas under the park's trees and pavilions
• Plenty of parking for cars, but none for RVs or buses
• A live webcam on the city's website lets you check the beach before you drive over
• Bring a small cooler and a bag for your trash and line

• Arrive at opening time; you will have the beach and the fish nearly to yourself
• Walk toward the quieter ends of the beach, away from the main swimming area
• On calm mornings look for bonefish tails and nervous water on the flats
• Sea turtle nests are roped off from spring to fall; never fish near them and take all line home
• Sister Creek, which runs from the ocean into Boot Key Harbor nearby, is worth exploring from a kayak

The park belongs to the City of Marathon and is run by its Parks and Recreation department; follow the posted park rules and hours.

• Keep clear of swimming areas and of any area the city closes around turtle nests
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Shore-based shark fishing needs the free FWC shore-based shark fishing permit
• Goliath grouper and tarpon have their own release rules: check FWC before you fish for either
• Bonefish are catch-and-release in Florida
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything