Sunset Bay Park, Grassy Key Fishing

Sunset Bay Park is an out-of-the-way City of Marathon park on the Gulf-side tip of Grassy Key. It is a place for a quiet hour of casting with a view of the sunset rather than a developed fishing station.

• Small waterfront park off Morton Street on the Gulf side
• A local guide site lists snapper, snook and tarpon
• Mangroves and upland hammock on three lots, per the city
• Not a confirmed fishing area, so read the posted signs

The park is at the west end of Grassy Key, reached by Morton Street, in the city of Marathon. The City of Marathon Parks and Recreation Department operates it.

• The city places the park at Morton Street and Kyle Avenue on the Gulf side of Grassy Key; its office address (36th Street Ocean) is not the park
• Parking, fees and opening hours were not confirmed, so check signs on arrival
• The shore is soft, with weed and muck at the water's edge, per a Keys news report
• A dock is mentioned by a tourism listing but not by the news report; do not count on one

The water is shallow and grassy, so think light tackle and inshore fish.

• Spring (Mar-May): tarpon pass through, with snook and snapper along the edges
• Summer (Jun-Aug): mangrove snapper and snook at dusk, with barracuda in the clearer water
• Fall (Sep-Nov): jacks and snook chase bait on the tide, with seatrout over the grass
• Winter (Dec-Feb): quieter, with snapper and the odd seatrout on mild days

Light spinning gear and live bait are the best choice from a muddy, shallow shore.

• Snapper: a small live shrimp or piece of cut bait on a 1/0 hook with a 15 lb fluorocarbon leader
• Snook: a live shrimp or pilchard, or a small swimbait, at first and last light
• Seatrout: a live shrimp under a popping cork over the grass
• Barracuda: a silver spoon or a plug on a wire leader
• Wading boots or old shoes help if you step into the soft bottom

Grassy Key sees two highs and two lows a day; check the NOAA tide station for Vaca Key.

• Moving water is best; fish the first two hours of the falling tide as bait is pulled out
• Dawn and dusk are the best light, and the park faces the sunset
• A strong westerly wind can pile up weed on the shoreline
• Slack water at midday is slow, so plan around the tide

This is a simple natural shoreline without paths or rails.

• Soft muck and weed make for slippery footing; keep an eye on your step
• Shuffle your feet in shallow water for stingrays
• Mosquitoes and no-see-ums are thick at dusk, so bring repellent
• Summer storms build quickly in the afternoon
• Access is by a short walk from the road; there is no confirmed ramp or boardwalk

The park is basic.

• The city describes natural mangrove and hammock land; it does not list restrooms, grills or a dock, so bring what you need
• No bait shop at the park that we could confirm; buy bait in Marathon first

• Fish in the evening and watch the sunset from your spot
• Keep your tackle light and simple; a muddy shore is hard on a big tackle bag
• Bring bug spray at dusk, especially after rain
• Look for tarpon rolling in spring, and have a live bait ready
• Check for the Morton Street entrance on a map before you drive out, as listed addresses differ

Sunset Bay Park is managed by the City of Marathon, which does not list fishing in the sources we read.

• Read the posted signs; if fishing is restricted at the water's edge, follow them
• Hours are not confirmed, so respect any posted park hours
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Tarpon and snook have their own rules; check FWC before keeping a snook
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything