Barnes Sound

Saltwater
Sound

Barnes Sound

Saltwater
Sound

Sq. miles: 26
Boat Ramps: 3
Access Points: 0
Species: 17

Barnes Sound is a large, protected saltwater embayment situated between the northern portion of Key Largo and the Florida mainland. It serves as a vital connection between Blackwater Sound, Manatee Bay, and Card Sound, offering anglers expansive flats, channels, and sheltered waters. The sound is characterized by a mix of shallow grass flats, deeper basins, and mangrove shorelines, with depths commonly reaching around 10 feet in the main basins. Its protected nature makes it a popular destination when winds are unfavorable for more exposed ocean-side fishing. The surrounding area includes parts of the Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge, contributing to its undeveloped, natural shoreline in many sections.

Florida licenses and regulations6 to check before you go

Species & education

Learn what type of fish are at Barnes Sound and what's needed to catch them.

Find which waters have the species you want to catch

Black Drum

Pogonias cromis

Bonefish

Albula vulpes

Crevalle Jack

Caranx hippos

Cubera Snapper

Lutjanus cyanopterus

Gag Grouper

Mycteroperca microlepis

Great Barracuda

Sphyraena barracuda

Ladyfish

Elops saurus

Mangrove Snapper

Lutjanus griseus

Permit

Trachinotus falcatus

Pigfish

Orthopristis chrysoptera

Pinfish

Lagodon rhomboides

Redfish

Sciaenops ocellatus

Sheepshead

Archosargus probatocephalus

Snook

Centropomus undecimalis

Spanish Mackerel

Scomberomorus maculatus

Spotted Seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus

Tarpon

Megalops atlanticus

Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities

Learn how to get on Barnes Sound. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.

Know where you can legally fish on Barnes Sound

See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.

Florida licenses and regulations

Florida Boating Regulations

When using any type of watercraft to access a body of water, it is important to follow all federal, state, and local rules and regulations. These rules and regulations include boat permitting and licensing, invasive species inspections and stamps, life jacket and PFD rules, motor size and horsepower restrictions, noise limitations, restrictions on personal watercraft, and many more. Visit the web link below for the most current rules and regulations for this body of water.

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Florida Coastal & Inland Waters

Florida state waters extend 3 nautical miles from shore on the Atlantic coast and 9 nautical miles on the Gulf coast, making Florida unique in that the boundary shifts by coast. FWC regulations apply throughout state waters, and a saltwater fishing license is required to fish anywhere in them. Beyond those limits, federal waters begin and federal rules take over.

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Florida Federal Waters & Offshore Rules

Once you pass the state water boundary, NOAA Fisheries and the regional fishery management councils, including the Gulf Council and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, set the rules. No separate federal recreational license is required to fish federal waters, but anglers must follow all applicable federal regulations alongside any state license already held. Species such as tuna, billfish, sharks, and swordfish are managed as Atlantic highly migratory species under NOAA Fisheries, which may carry additional federal permit requirements.

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Florida Saltwater Fishing License

Florida residents and non-residents ages 16 through 64 need a saltwater fishing license to take or attempt to take saltwater fish, crabs, clams, or other saltwater organisms. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issues the license, and it is required whether you fish in state or federal waters as long as you land fish in Florida. Exemptions include anglers under 16, Florida residents 65 and older, and passengers on for-hire vessels whose captain holds a vessel license.

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Florida Saltwater Size & Bag Limits

Size and bag limits apply per species and can change throughout the year, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission sets and maintains the current rules. Popular species with active regulations include snook, redfish, grouper, snapper, and flounder. Always check the FWC regulations page before you head out, since limits and seasons are updated regularly.

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Florida Shellfish Closures & Advisories

Harvesting oysters and clams recreationally requires a standard saltwater fishing license, and certain areas such as Apalachicola Bay require an additional permit. Shellfish harvesting areas are opened and closed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services based on water quality, red tide, rainfall, and public health guidelines, and those closures apply to everyone. Current open and closed status maps for all coastal regions are posted by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at their shellfish harvesting area classification page.

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Take Barnes Sound with you

The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.

Use the map without signal
Download the map around Barnes Sound to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for Barnes Sound to find where and when fish are biting for you.

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