Fishing in Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park covers roughly 1. 5 million acres at the southern tip of Florida, and about a third of it is saltwater. The rest is freshwater wetland — sawgrass prairie, sloughs, and mangrove-fringed backcountry.

That split means the fishing inside the park spans two entirely different worlds, and the rules, licenses, and target species change depending on which side of the salinity gradient you're on.

A Florida freshwater license covers the lakes, sloughs, and borrow pits along the Main Park Road. Pine Glades Lake, about 9 miles from the entrance, is the easiest freshwater access — a dirt road pull-off with room to park.

Sisal Pond at 15 miles and Ficus Pond at 17 miles are similar borrow pits. Further in, Nine Mile Pond at 27 miles and West Lake at 31 miles are brackish, sitting between the two worlds. The Flamingo Camping Area at 40 miles puts you at saltwater.

Note that several areas are closed entirely: the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center lakes, the Royal Palm area, Chekika Lake, the first 3 miles of the Main Park Road including Taylor Slough, and the Shark Valley Tram Road are all off-limits to fishing.

Eco Pond, Mrazek Pond, and Coot Bay Pond are closed on the saltwater side, and the Flamingo Marina is closed to fishing during daylight hours.

The saltwater backcountry — mangrove creeks, open Florida Bay flats, and the river mouths running from East Cape to the Shark River — is where most anglers focus. Snook, redfish, and tarpon are the primary targets.

Fall and winter bring baitfish pushes that concentrate snook and redfish along the coast. Summer tarpon fishing runs strong through September, and early morning sight fishing on skinny flats is at its best in the warmer months.

The river mouths in that East Cape to Shark River stretch also hold grouper and speckled trout. Getting deep into the backcountry takes time — the mainland mangrove country is a 20-plus mile run from the Florida Bay side.

Florida Bay itself, with its open flats and channels, is reachable on a half-day, but the classic mangrove fishing requires a full day. A Florida saltwater license is required for saltwater species.

Beyond the state license, a park pass is required to enter, and as of August 2019, an Everglades Boater Education Certificate is required to operate a vessel within the park — it's a free course, but rangers and FWC officers will ask for proof.

Live or dead fish, amphibians, and non-preserved roe are prohibited as bait in freshwater. Taking lobster or queen conch anywhere in the park is prohibited.

Check current regulations with the park before you go — the closed areas and species rules here are specific enough that a quick review before launching is worth the few minutes it takes.

The park is big enough that even on busy weekends, the backcountry thins out fast. Bring a NOAA chart — the Ten Thousand Islands side especially will disorient anyone running it for the first time.