9 Great Fishing Spots to Explore in Florida

While a lot of people come to Florida for the beaches and for the amusement parks, a lot of other people come to it hoping to take home a fishing trophy. If you are looking for the best places to visit in Florida, in hopes that you catch the ‘big one’, below are nine places that you should visit while here. So grab your pole and tackle box, pick up some live bait, and head to the ocean.

These 9 Spots In Florida Are Perfect To Go Fishing

10. Sanibel Island / Fort Myers

Sanibel Islands local Gulf waters are famous for it’s miles of sandy beaches, mangrove shorelines and expansive grass flats. They provide some of the best flats fishing in the world. They are stocked full of big game and trophy fish like: snook, red fish, sea trout and tarpon all year long. Other fish include Snapper, Jack Crevalle, Black Drum, Grouper, shark and Pompano. Hiring a professional fishing captain elevates your potential for success.

9. Clewiston

Found in Florida’s center, Clewiston is the place to catch largemouth bass in Lake Okeechobee. Captain King will be glad to show you what you can catch, and you might just come home with a fish story to tell.

8. Destin

Destin’s among the most popular places to go when you want to go bay fishing or deep-sea fishing. You might catch Gulf Red Snapper and you can even have one of the local restaurants prepare it for you. What a great way to experience Florida.

7. Everglades

With a huge area that is covered, you can’t go wrong with going to the Everglades for some great fishing. Here you’re going to find a lot of great game fish and many beautiful sights to see!

6. Islamorada

Islamorada’s one of the best places to go when you’re looking for a place to fish that has many options. You can catch almost any kind of fish here. Spin or fly anglers are going to have lots of opportunities to catch prime gamefish. From trawling in the deep sea or inshore tarpon, Islamorada’s the place to go for some great fishing.

5. Key Biscayne

When you’re looking for deep-sea fishing, come to Key Biscayne, where’ you’ll find some of the very best fishing around. Just minutes from beautiful Miami, you also will find flats options for permit and bonefish. If you want to catch some great fish while you’re in Miami, Key Biscayne’s the place to go.

4. Key Largo

We couldn’t make a list of places to fish in Florida without mentioning Key Largo. Here you’ll find snook, tarpon, bonefish, permit and others. These exciting gamefish can be caught on fly, plug or spin. It’s another one of those places where you can catch all kinds of fish. it also has expansive flats which provide anglers the opportunity to cast for snook and permit. You may also be able to fish for shark!

3. Key West

This key is the one that most people think about when they think of the Florida Keys, and it’s one of the best places that you can go fishing. There is a house that was kept by Ernest Hemingway here for years so he could fish the prolific waters there. It’s a very diverse spot and it has options in the evening both for adults and kids.

2. Naples

No matter what kind of fishing you want to do, Naples is the place to go. There’s deep-sea fishing where you can catch mahi mahi and sailfish or stay near the shore for the snapper and redfish. Great place for kids.

1. Panama City

Found in the northwestern part of Florida, Panama City promises there are a lot of places that you go fishing here. Created to be a spin fisherman’s delight, this is where you’re going to find amberjack, grouper, red fish and snapper, and many more! The possibilities are just about endless.

Facts about Fishing Licenses

Anyone can fish with a pole on the Florida shore with a salt-water fishing license.

  • Residents: Residents who only saltwater fish from the land or a structure attached to land, may get the resident recreational saltwater shoreline fishing license at no cost (except for convenience fees that apply on telephone and Internet orders).
  • Nonresidents: Nonresidents must purchase a 3-day, 7-day or annual nonresident saltwater fishing license when saltwater fishing from the shore or a pier, bridge or jetty attached to the shore unless fishing on a pier with a pier license.

Final Thoughts

These nine places offer some of the best fishing that Florida has to offer. Whether you’re young or old, Florida has plenty of places to go to for great fishing opportunities. Come and see what they have to offer. You may go home with a great tale and some great pictures to show off to your friends and family.

Planning a Trip to Florida?

After seeing Florida’s alligators, return to the beauty and comfort of a home from Naples Florida Vacation Homes. We have a wide selection of homes located all over the Naples area. Whether you’re hoping to squeeze in a few rounds of golf during your visit or you’d like to relax by a private pool, you’ll find the perfect home to fit your needs.
Check out our rentals and book today! We look forward to having you.