Fishing Near Bridges in Miami

Night fishing from Miami bridges offers great opportunities for anglers. Fish love to swim along the shadow lines of Miami bridges, seeking food. Some bridge sections have drive-through traffic, and may offer ample fishing opportunities, if there is a section for people to fish off the bridge. Most bridges are located directly over the bay and ocean, and anglers simply fish underneath the bridges of Miami in small boats, or from the shoreline.

Biscayne Bay Bridge

Most bridges in Miami are heavenly laden with traffic, but you can often fish underneath the bridges in a small vessel, where fish tend to congregate around the bridge posts, where they feed. Fish are attracted to the bridge lights, and also to vegetation around the bridges. You may catch under the Biscayne Bay Bridge very large, game-sized tarpon fish, which are available year-round.

Significance

You can fish for tarpon all along the bays of Biscayne and Miami where there are bridges. If there is no access to a bridge due to heavy traffic, or restrictions for fishing, most anglers will fish from the shoreline close to a bridge, where the fish swim in groups. Tarpon are a fighting fish, which makes them a great sporting fish for you to hunt, once they are hooked. Bait used to attract tarpon ranges from mullet, pinfish, sardines, crabs, and shrimp.

Bascule Bridges in Miami

There are many bascule bridges in Miami, over Biscayne Bay, where fishing is allowed on the lower ends of both sides of the bridge. Bascule bridges are also known as draw bridges; allowing boats to go through with large sails. There is sometimes bicycle or walking paths on the sides of these types of bridges in Miami, and you can fish and crab from them. Night crabbing is especially popular from bascule bridges where there is access, and lighted sections for anglers.

Fish Species Caught around Miami Bridges

Various fish species caught from Miami bridges, aside from tarpon, include year-round barracuda, jack crevalle, Spanish mackerel, and yellowtail snapper. In the winter time blue fish, cobia, king mackerel, and pompano are caught. Springtime brings king mackerel, pompano, sheepshead, and snook around various bascule area bridges, where the water tends to be deeper. In the summertime, cero, king mackerel, mangrove snapper, permit, and snook are caught at most bridge areas. During the fall there is bluefish, pompano and sheepshead being hunted.

Licenses

As of 2010, Florida residents pay $17 for both salt and fresh water licenses, and non residents pay $47. You can obtain a license from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website online, or at most local sporting goods stores. Some bridge areas are located near parks, or will have bait stands and accommodations, as well as restrooms. If the bridge is in a remote area, or there are no facilities available, bait and refreshments should be brought with you, along with the proper fishing gear.