From the vast emerald waters of Tampa Bay to the lush mangroves of Honeymoon Island State Park, Florida has many scenic fishing spots. Each location has breathtaking scenery and a diverse ecosystem, containing fish you can catch all year round – from tarpon to redfish to snapper.
Also, the best fishing spots in Florida are easy to access via an electric bike. Whether you’re visiting a busy pier or a quiet backwaters section, it doesn’t matter. Powerful electric motors and long-range batteries make it easy to travel between fishing spots quickly.
In this article, you’ll learn about 10 great places to fish in Florida. We’ll provide a brief overview of each location, including what you can catch there and the best fishing spots.
- Tampa Bay Area
- Florida Keys
- Panama City Beach
- Jacksonville Baldwin
- Fort Myers/Cape Coral
- Sarasota
- Lake Okeechobee
- Daytona Beach Shores
- Miami Causeways and Canals
- Honeymoon Island State Park
- FAQ
- Final Thoughts
1. Tampa Bay Area
Extending over 400 square miles, Tampa Bay is the largest open-water estuary in Florida. The area is full of places to fish by land, including bridges, piers, and beaches. It has over 200 fish species, including Tarpon, Redfish, and Snook.
If you want to fish by the shore, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge is a popular destination. Here you can fish for Grouper, King Mackerel, and Snook. You can also try to catch Redfish and Trout in Bishop Harbor.
Tampa Bay is a great place to fish all year round. That means you’re bound to catch something no matter when you visit it.
2. Florida Keys
Located above the Florida Reef, Florida Keys is an interconnected network of tropical islands. It attracts thousands of fishing enthusiasts each year, who try to catch prized fish such as Bonefish and Tarpon.
Extending from Miami to the Gulf of Mexico, the over 800 keys offer a variety of habitats. These include shore fishing spots like the Bahia Honda Bridge, where you can catch Tarpon on the surface, and Islamorada, where you can partake in bottom, reef, and backcountry fishing.
Summer is the best time to fish at Florida Keys, when fish like Red Snappers and Gag Grouper are the easiest to catch. However, you can still catch many other types of game all year round.
3. Panama City Beach
Featuring up to 27 miles of white sandy beaches, Panama City Beach is one of the top-rated beaches in the United States on TripAdvisor. The resort town, which attracts thousands of tourists yearly, offers plenty of fishing on an electric bike opportunities around St. Andrew Bay.
Using a fat tire electric bike, you can safely navigate miles of sandy beaches. The Heybike ALPHA has a powerful 500W mid-drive motor, which produces up to 105N·m of torque. This helps you accelerate and maintain speed on sandy terrain. Plus, the 26 by 4” fat tires help you stay in contact with the ground, providing grip and stability.
FURTHER READING: Can You Ride Ebike on the Beach?
4. Jacksonville Baldwin
The Jacksonville-Baldwin rail trail is 14.5 miles long and passes several iconic fishing spots, making it ideal for electric bike riding. The shared paved path is mostly flat and smooth, so it’s accessible to riders of any age or skill level.
Pope Duval Park is one of many iconic fishing spots near Jacksonville and Baldwin. The top fish species at this lake are largemouth bass, blue gill, and black crappie. There’s also the Jacksonville Beach Fishing Pier, where you can catch redfish and kingfish.
The Heybike Ranger S is the perfect travel companion in this region. The compact, lightweight, foldable frame is easy to store – it might even fit in the back of a car. Plus, the 692Wh battery can take you from Jacksonville to Baldwin (and back) in a single charge.
5. Fort Myers/Cape Coral
Fort Myers and Cape Coral are a popular dual fishing destination in Southwest Florida. Many companies offer inshore and offshore chartered fishing experiences to these locations, letting you enjoy the best of both locales in a single trip.
Fort Myers has a range of freshwater and saltwater fish, including Snook, Spotted Seatrout, and Largemouth Bath. Cape Coral has a similar range of local fish, but also unique game like Grass Carp and Alligator Gar.
For a relaxing inshore fishing experience in Fort Myers, head to the docks on the Caloosahatchee River. Meanwhile, Cape Coral has many Ebike-friendly lakes and canals, including Lake Kennedy and Saratoga Lake.
6. Sarasota
Sarasota has over 30 miles of public beaches, with plenty of opportunities for flat and bottom fishing. You can catch snook all year round. In spring, they reside on the flats and the bay, before moving to the beaches in summer as the water heats up.
Bottom fishing in Sarasota gives you access to many grouper species, with gag groupers being the most common. They typically roam shallower waters during spring and winter.
7. Lake Okeechobee
Lake Okeechobee is the largest lake in Florida, covering 730 square miles. It offers a variety of fish species, but the location is most well-known for its abundance of largemouth bass. For this reason, bass fishing tournaments are a regular occurrence.
The best chance to fish for bass is during the cooler months, from November to June.
Harney Pond and Monkey Box are the two most popular fishing spots. Lots of bass spawn here, as the vegetation in both areas protect the bass from winds.
8. Daytona Beach Shores
Home to NASCAR’s Daytona 500, you might think the city of Daytona Beach is too rowdy for fishing.
But that’s not the case at all. Set on Florida’s east coast, Daytona Beach has many marinas, piers, and beaches. All these locations are prime fishing spots.
The most common fish species in Daytona Beach are redfish, pompano, trout, and tarpon. During late fall, the bull redfish can be as large as 20 to 50 pounds. Juvenile tarpon can be caught all year round in the Halifax River.
9. Miami Causeways and Canals
Miami has many causeways and canals that are prime fishing spots. One example is the Rickenbacker Causeway, which has a diverse fish population and is easily accessible on an electric bike. It also offers breathtaking views of Miami and the waters of Biscayne Bay.
Tamiami Canal is one of many popular fishing canals in Miami. It has a large, healthy population of butterfly peacock bass and largemouth bass. It is about 27 miles long, so you can reap the benefits of fishing with an electric bike.
Use the pedal assist mode to access remote fishing spots with ease. You can also attach storage baskets to the frame, letting you transport Ebike fishing gear in one trip.
10. Honeymoon Island State Park
Honeymoon Island State Park is one of the state’s most beloved parks. It has three popular fishing spots: North Beach, the causeway, and the mangroves. This gives you many productive fishing sites to try out.
Snook, trout, redfish, sharp, and pompano are the most common fish species. You can also choose from various ecosystems to catch the perfect game. The causeway is ideal for catching tarpon in late spring, while the mangroves let you fly fish for snook, redfish, and spotted seatrout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to commonly asked questions about fishing in Florida.
Do I need a fishing license in Florida?
You must have a fishing license to participate in fishing activities in Florida. There are separate licenses for saltwater and freshwater fishing, too. You also cannot use an out-of-state fishing license in Florida.
What is the best month to fish in Florida?
The best time to fish in Florida depends on where you go and why you want to catch. Spring is prime fishing season for bass and tarpon, while winter is the perfect time to catch trout and redfish. Even still, most parts of Florida offer great fishing opportunities all year.
Final Thoughts
There is no shortage of productive fishing sites in Florida. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced angler, you’ll find the perfect spot near you. And the fishing experience is even better on an electric bike.
At Heybike, we offer various electric bikes tailored to fishing. Their high payload capacities let you carry large amounts of fishing gear in one trip. Plus, their powerful motors and large tires help you navigate rough terrain and steep inclines easily.
Ready to enhance your fishing trips? Explore our electric bike range today.
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