Tea Table Relief Bridge Fishing

Tea Table Relief Bridge is a well-known Islamorada tarpon bridge that a shore angler can fish, modestly, from public ground at its ends.

• A short US 1 span with a hard-running tidal current
• Tarpon at night in spring and early summer, snapper, jacks and barracuda all year
• No catwalk or old fishing span: shore access only, at the bridge ends
• A private marina at the Upper Matecumbe end; fish only from public ground

The bridge carries the Overseas Highway at mile marker 79.8 between Upper Matecumbe Key and Tea Table Key in Islamorada. A private marina sits at the Upper Matecumbe end, and gated, private Tea Table Key lies beside the highway at the other.

• Getting there: drive US 1 to mile marker 79.8, just south of the Islamorada shops
• Parking: very limited; do not park in the marina lot unless you are its customer, and never block the highway shoulder
• Entry: no fee; no hours are posted for the highway right-of-way, but the Overseas Heritage Trail path through here is listed by Florida State Parks as open 8 a.m. to sunset
• Surface: rock and rubble at the bridge footings; uneven and slippery

The channel carries fish between the ocean and the bay on every tide.

• Spring (Mar–May): the tarpon season peaks, with fish stacked under the bridge after dark; jacks
• Summer (Jun–Aug): tarpon into early summer, mangrove snapper at night, nurse sharks
• Fall (Sep–Nov): snapper, jacks and blue runners, a few snook
• Winter (Dec–Feb): barracuda in the current, Spanish mackerel and bluefish after fronts, sheepshead

Short, strong rods are easier than long ones among the rocks.

• Tarpon: a live mullet, pinfish or crab on a 6/0 to 8/0 circle hook and 60 lb leader, drifted in the current; expect most fish to break off in the pilings
• Snapper: live shrimp on a 1/0 hook with a split shot, fished close to the footings
• Jacks: fast-retrieved white bucktails and plugs; they hit hard on the tide change
• Barracuda: tube lures and silver spoons
• Bring a long-handled net; there is no deck to lift fish onto

The Keys have two tides a day, and this narrow cut runs very fast at mid-tide.

• The outgoing tide toward the ocean at dusk and after dark is prime for tarpon
• Fish the edges of the current rather than the middle, where rigs sweep away
• Slack tide gives snapper a short feeding window near the footings
• Warm, calm nights from April to June are the heart of the tarpon run

This is a rough, informal spot beside a busy highway.

• Do not fish from the highway span itself: there is no fishing catwalk and traffic is fast
• The rocks at the footings are uneven, sharp and slippery
• The current is dangerous: never wade or swim here
• Boats run the channel constantly; keep lines under control
• Not accessible for wheelchairs or anyone unsteady on rocks

There are no public facilities at the bridge.

• No public restrooms, water or bait at the footings
• The marina nearby is a private business; use it only as a customer
• Bait, tackle, food and fuel are in the Islamorada shops along US 1 close by
• No shade, seating or shelter; a small folding stool and, for an evening session, a headlamp help
• Bring water, a bag for trash and old line, and bug spray for the mangroves at dusk
• Restaurants along US 1 in Islamorada are a short drive away

• Come with one or two friends at most and keep noise and lights down
• Tarpon feed along the edges of the current; watch for rolls before you cast
• A circle hook lets tarpon hook themselves; do not strike hard
• Anchored boats fish the same tide; cast parallel to the shore, not across the channel
• If the footings are busy, try the shoreline around the Tea Table Channel crossing just to the south
• Only pull off where it is legal and well clear of traffic; the shoulder here is narrow

The highway bridge belongs to the Florida Department of Transportation, and the marina at the Upper Matecumbe end and Tea Table Key are private property. Fish only from public ground and obey any posted signs.

• Do not fish from the highway span or its shoulder
• 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
• The waters are inside the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary; follow its rules
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything