Fly Fishing Bahia Honda State Park

Here’s everything you need to know about Fly Fishing Bahia Honda State Park. Find all the information it in this article.

We give you lots of live bait and extra time for your best chance to catch a big tarpon. In the unlikely event you don’t hook a tarpon we don’t just send you away, we take you fishing again for free! Guaranteed tarpon trips start April 15 through June departing at 5 AM or 5 PM. In the deep water you just won’t believe what comes up and it’s a fascinating look into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean and the Florida Straits.

There are several good areas for fishing in the park. If you like to bottom fish for snapper or grouper, you can fish on either side of the Old Bahia Honda Bridge off the old sea walls. If you prefer fly-fishing for bonefish, permit or barracuda, you might try the shallow sand flats on the Atlantic side of the island. All fishing within the park must conform to the regulations concerning size, number, method of capture and season. Spear fishing, possession of spear fishing equipment and collection of tropical fish is prohibited within the park. The boundaries of the park extend out into the water 400 feet.

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I grab my tarpon rod rigged with a large gold paddletail on a jig head and cast beyond the lead fish, which accelerates forward, giving me a slight cardiac infarction but only feigning interest. Three more quick casts as I pedal furiously after the school, but all with the same result. Next time I’ll bring along a few live crabs or pinfish. Safe and stable sit-on-top Ocean Kayaks are available for rent at the concession. You may also bring your own kayak or canoe and launch it from either Loggerhead parking lot on the ocean side or the boat ramp on the Gulf side. Enjoy a quiet, relaxing paddle in the waters around the park.

Look for a short seawall that comes hard up against the highway. Here you can park on the side of the road and pick your way carefully down to the shoreline to access some beautiful hard coral/sand flats that extend out hundreds of feet into the ocean. Again, a few smaller cuda make things interesting, but I don’t see any jacks, bones, or tarpon. Finally I swing back around to the Bahia/Ohio Key channel and just along the drop off on the east side hook into another hefty, feisty Lane Snapper. Feeling my mojo is back, I increase my speed and shoot towards the bridge spanning the channel…thereby immediately spooking a giant four-foot barracuda hovering in the deeper water. Big stable boats, new equipment and experienced captains.

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Very rare plants like the West Indies satinwood, Jamaica morning glory, and wild dilly are found growing as native plants only here. The distinctive flora attracts some very distinctive insect life—beautiful butterflies abound, although in reduced numbers in the wake of Irma. And just offshore you’ll find gorgeous beds of sponges—loggerhead, vase, and many others. According to customer reviews, BGS South LLC, Sixto Fishing Charters, and Nauti Tails Fishing Charter are some of the most popular fishing charters in Bahia Honda, Florida. Full list of top fishing charters in Bahia Honda.

Operational only during the peak migration months of May and June, the lodge has just a few openings remaining in the upcoming 2022 season. It’s somewhat remarkable that the following slots are still available. June 9-12 is currently open for as many as 10 guests shared/room and boat. I don’t utilize the park but fishing all over that area is pretty good. Mangroves edges, campground lagoon area, south side flats for bonefish, Barracuda, Sharks, and the eastern edges of the bridges , and the little bay area where the sailboats anchor up. The reconstruction of Sandspur Beach is moving ahead.

Find Your Beach

When fishing at Bahia Honda park its recommended to cast your line off the old sea walls on either side of the Old Bahia Honda Bridge if you like to bottom fish for snapper or grouper. The shallow sand flats are better for fly-fishing for bonefish, permit or barracuda. All catch must meet state regulations for size, number and season. Spearfishing and collecting tropical fish at Bahia Honda is prohibited. At least for now, no wading or boats are allowed within 400 feet of the south/oceanside shoreline even if you want to hop out of your kayak or motor boat.

I start back east, weaving in and out of the bridge piers. I switch to a deeper diving green Rapala and pick up several lurking jacks. Then another school of big tarpon slide by in front of me.

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For Tarpon, chase the schools and throw swimbaits or drift along with live bait. #2 Not really a good fishing spot but the man made 30+ deep basin is a great place to snorkel and paddle around. From the parking to the water is about fifty yards so wheels are a good idea .

The lodge will provide all of the tackle if needed. If you want to bring your own, as a general rule, pack an 11 or 12 weight outfit for the tarpon, an 8 or 9 weight outfit for bonefish, and a 10 weight outfit for the permit. For something a little different, the area near the old bridge towards the southern end of the park is worth a look – snapper, jacks, cudas, mackerel and grouper are all a possibility. There is also a campground farther north and some sites around the lagoon, north of the marina, across from the cabins. Reservations can be made 11 months in advance and you pretty much have to make them then.

Fishing & Snorkeling At Bahia Honda

Big Cuda Crunches Old Reliable MR17 Turquoise MirrolureThen I work west towards the sadly derelict Girl and Boy Scout Camps that were trashed by Irma. But the fish are there, including some baby tarpon that follow my lure but refuse to fall for the fake meal. Gentle Manatee Cavort In Lagoon Near MarinaFinally the siren’s call of a mango margarita waiting back at camp lures me to the marina. Things have been rearranged substantially on Bahia Honda, but the island is coming back and the fishing is as good as ever!

Florida Keys Kayak Fishing

Bonefish can be found from Big Pine Key all the way to the Marquesas. Bahia Honda boasts beautiful campsites like this one. “Treasure” hunters can test their geo-seeking skills searching for one of the four park geocaches. A fifth geocache at the park is part of Florida’s Operation Recreation GeoTour, with geocoins awarded to adult and children trackers. Rare Great White Heron Stakes His ClaimSo I continue around the bend and hit a barracuda bonanza! On practically every cast I hook up with a toothy cuda, nothing big but a blast of action as the day starts to come to an end.

How To Choose The Best Times To Fish

There are shallow sand flats during low tide on the ocean side of the island where the birds feed and rest. A variety of shorebirds including Willets, Sanderlings, Ruddy Turnstones, Short-billed Dowitchers and Plovers may be seen along the shore feeding and resting. Several species of wading birds may be seen in the park as well. These include Great White Herons, Great Blue Herons, Tri-colored Herons, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets and White Ibis.

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Good wading and had shots at tarpon and caught some nice cudas. #8 Drift baits along the edges and along the bridge pilons for snapper. Finding the best local fishing charters for you… Fish and Wildlife Service are working with researchers from the University of Florida to restore populations of the endangered Miami blue butterfly at two state parks in the Florida Keys. There’s also a Sand and Sea Nature Center with nature and history videos, environmental activities, and displays including corals and crabs, sea urchins, sponges and turtles.

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The next morning we woke up and visited Caloosa Beach to find many holiday makers relaxing by the shore, having picnics and frolicking in the crystal clear water. Bahia Honda is somewhere where beach lovers come. It was our favourite part of the Keys due to beaches, the nature access and the adventure activities. We have successfully found the best beaches in the Florida Keys at Bahia Honda State Park.

Thoughts On fishing And Kayaking Bahia Honda State Park Post Irma

Reservations are required 11 months in advance during the winter months, weekends and holidays. Tarpon fishing in the Florida Keys is at a peak from March to June. We have exclusive docking rights just 5 minutes away from the largest tarpon migration in the Florida Keys. Thousands of big tarpon migrate here every spring. Our fishing charters offer you the best chance to catch some of the biggest tarpon in the Keys.

Park Map

Not a permit or bone, but putting up a good tussle. When I finally boat the critter, I am surprised to see it’s a big Lane snapper. Go figure, but the way things are going, I am happy with anything that swims.

Florida Sportsman

Sadly, you are not allowed to consume alcohol on the beach – I can really see a cold one going down a treat on a hot day. Caloosa Beach was fairly different to Loggerhead Beach. I would describe it as the ‘swimming beach’ of the two.