The fly fishing Miami offers anglers is world class. If you want to catch a trophy fish, surrounded by jaw-dropping beauty, then this is the place for you to come on your next vacation.
Miami is the only city to be surrounded by two wildlife parks. Featuring exceptional wildlife, beaches, sunshine, food, and culture, the reasons to visit Miami just go on and on.
Fishing in the “Magic City” is truly an awesome experience. You can tick off a lot of species from your angling bucket list in a variety of habitats. Variety is the spice of life after all, and Miami is hot, hot, hot!
What can you catch when fly fishing Miami waters?
When fly fishing in Miami, there are plenty of species to keep you busy – there’s something to catch year round. It’s best to book with a local guide who can let you know which species has an open season at any given time. Once armed with this knowledge, you’ll be reeling in trophy-sized fish in no time.
The prestigious trifecta you’ll want to target includes Tarpon, Bonefish, and Permit.
Tarpon
Book an evening trip for the best chance of reeling in the “Silver King” and let the city lights illuminate your way. Spend 4–6 hours on an action-packed evening trip. Why is an evening trip best, you ask? Well, Tarpon begin to feed in the evenings and can often be found in schools, so once the action starts, it’s non-stop.
Remember, Tarpon over 40 inches must be kept in the water. You may lift Tarpon under 40 inches out of the water to be photographed, but must put them back immediately afterward. Tarpon is strictly a catch-and-release species. Their prestigious nature comes from the hard fight they’ll give you every step of the way. They’ll run, jump, twist, and do everything they can to break your line…and they will break it in over 60% of hook-ups.
The Tarpon here are regularly over 50 pounds and can reach sizes of up to 200 pounds. With the windy conditions out in Miami, you’ll need to have honed your fly fishing skills to take on these giant Silver Kings.
Bonefish
Another of the “Big Three” is Bonefish, commonly called “the ghost of the flats.” The thrill of the fight with Bonefish comes from finding it. These guys are the ninjas of the water, fast and stealthy. Fly fishing for Bonefish is made more difficult by how hard it is to spot them in the water. Anglers will also need to work out a way to present the fly close to the fish without scaring it away, so previous fly fishing skills are needed. A trophy Bonefish weighs over 10 pounds – that’s a big one!
Permit
After Tarpon and Bonefish, try targeting powerful Permit. Like Bonefish, Permit won’t make it easy for you to find them. They can easily be scared away, so you’ll need a flats boat to approach with stealth. It’s not easy to reel in a Permit on the fly, but it can be done. The satisfaction of reeling in this elusive beauty will give you bragging rights out on the flats.
Trophy-sized Permit weigh around 35 pounds, but the average size is anywhere from 12–20 pounds. To be able to catch Permit of any size on the fly and bring it to the boat is a major accomplishment.
Snook
Once you’ve crossed off the leaping three, it’s time to target the sneaky Snook. These guys can reach huge sizes of up to 50 pounds and 4 feet in length. Snook here are clever and know how to break your line, just like the Tarpon. Getting one to the boat is going to be a challenge.
Snook are ambush creatures, so the placement of your fly is super important. Once they’re on your fly, get ready for a fight!
Butterfly Peacock Bass
We can’t forget the freshwater options for fly fishing in Miami. Representing the freshwater species, we present to you the Butterfly Peacock Bass. This beauty is well worth heading inland for and is the most popular freshwater sport fish.
Peacock Bass live in the canals found in Miami. These fish are both hard-fighting and aesthetically pleasing. Their bright green color makes them much easier to spot in the clear waters they reside in. You might think, “So much easier than the Bonefish to catch!” but you’d be wrong. The Peacock Bass offers anglers fishing on the fly a whole new set of hurdles to overcome.
Peacock Bass get more aggressive the warmer they are. Trips in the middle of the day are action-packed. Fly fishermen need to have multiple flies ready to go – when the Bass doesn’t show immediate interest, move on to the next fly. The secret to getting the Bass to bite is in the retrieval of the fly. Have it drop below the fish before quickly reeling in. Even a lethargic Bass will get irritated enough to bite.
Bass are one of the species that anglers new to fly fishing will enjoy, as you don’t need to be as accurate with the fly as you do when targeting the Big Three. You can practice the technique and still catch an awesome fish.
Where to go fly fishing in Miami
There are so many places to cast a fly in Miami. For saltwater fly fishing, you can head into the flats, go out into Biscayne Bay, head into the nearby Everglades, or take a ride over to reefs and multiple wrecks. The opportunities are endless! It’s a good idea to book a trip with a local who can take you to the best hot spots. You don’t want to waste a second of your vacation in Miami by wandering around looking for fish.
For freshwater fishing, the extensive canals are where you’ll find Bass. The deeper the water, the more productive it will be. Mix a drop-off with hard structures and you’ll be in for a top-notch day.
When to go fly fishing in Miami
The weather in Miami is incredible year round, even during winter – Miami has the warmest winter weather in the US. December to May is the peak season. Although it’s warmer and drier than the hot and humid summer, prices tend to go up during those six months. Be aware, hurricane season starts in June and lasts till November.
You can catch the Big Three throughout the year. However, Tarpon is especially great in May and June during their annual migration, with the months on either side usually producing good fishing, too. Permit is best from May to November, and Snook peaks in the summer. Your captain can let you know the current regulations and closed seasons for each species.
Bass can be caught throughout the year, but winter is when the action is non-stop, during the dry season in Miami.
What will I be fishing on?
You’ll spend the day on a small but mighty boat! These include skiffs, flats boats, and bay boats. These boats offer a stable ride and can maneuver into hard-to-reach areas. Your group size will be between 2–4 anglers and you’ll need to only pack the necessities as space is tight.
Do I need a fishing license?
Your fishing license is usually included in the price of your charter when saltwater fishing. For freshwater fishing, everyone in your group over 16 will need to buy a license before the day of the trip.
What should I bring?
Included in the price of your charter are the rods, reels, bait, and saltwater license. Don’t forget your license if fishing in freshwater!
If you’re fishing from shore for Bass in the canals, definitely make sure you’re wearing proper shoes. There are many snakes in the area. Stay aware of your surroundings, as crocodiles call these waters home. When fishing from boats, wear non-marking shoes.
It’s a good idea to bring polarized sunglasses along when fly fishing, to help you see the fish. Bring your polarized shades with a brown or amber tint to them. On the flats, it’s an added bonus if your sunglasses have side shields, too.
When fishing for Bass, you’ll need a 6–8 wt rod. For medium-sized Tarpon and Bonefish, an 8–9 wt rod is best. Go bigger for Permit and medium Tarpon and grab your 9–10 wt rod. For large Tarpon, you’ll need a 12 wt rod with spinning gear in the 20 lb class. If only bringing one rod along, a 9 wt will generally be enough to counter the winds and still let you bring in a good-sized fish.
The fly fishing Miami offers is as varied as it can get. Whatever your skill level, there’s a fish out here with your name on it. You can challenge yourself and pick up some new skills from your experienced captain. Head over to Miami and see what’s biting today!
Have you been fly fishing in Miami? What did you think? What other species would you recommend targeting? Let us know in the comments, we’d love to hear from you!
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