Did you know you can go fishing in the Everglades? You can! Since one-third of the Everglades is water covered, it makes sense that there are plenty of places where fishing would be ideal! In the Park, anglers have the opportunity to catch a variety of fish, including: snapper, redfish, bass, sea trout, and bluegill. Being a national park and in the state of Florida, people must be aware and abide by local fishing information.
People are asked to exercise caution while fishing in the Everglades, and to always check on weather and tide conditions and predictions, as well as prepare for lots of mosquitos. In short, visitors must be aware of all Florida state laws, rules, and regulations regarding fishing such as bag limits for individual species. When It comes to licensing information and regulations, people should visit marinefisheries.org to know what’s OK and what’s not OK before you head out.
In the Everglades, people have the opportunity to participate in saltwater fishing in Florida Bay, Ten Thousand Islands and in other areas along the park’s coast. Both saltwater and freshwater fishing require separate Florida fishing licenses.
Shoreline fishing is available in the park, but it is limited. Places to do this include: Pine Glades Lake, Sisal Pond, Ficus Pond, Sweet Bay Pond, Nine Mile Pond, West Lake, and the Flamingo Camping Area.
When it comes to freshwater fishing, a license is required for those over 16. People are not allowed to use live or dead fish, amphibians, roe for bait. Digging for bait is also prohibited. With saltwater fishing, the same license requirements apply. Saltwater bait includes: shrimp, minnows, pilchards, pinfish, mullet, and a few others.
General Everglades Fishing Info:
- Seines, nets, and lobster snares are prohibited.
- Spears and firearms are prohibited.
- Collecting plants and animals is prohibited.
- Anglers are allowed to have 4 fillets per person for immediate consumption at designated campsites or on board vessels with cooking facilities; otherwise, all other fish must remain intact while in park waters.
- Commercial fishing is prohibited.
- Anglers are limited to 20 fish per person at a time, but cannot possess no more than 10 of any one species. If the species is non-native, there is no limit.
For a full list of Everglades fishing information that is up-to-date and more thorough, visit marinefisheries.org or myfwc.com. If you’re looking for a tour or if fishing isn’t your thing, think about riding in an airboat to experience the Everglades in a whole new way. To book a trip, call Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tours at 800-3698-0065 or click here.
