How to fish it
A good choice on windy days. Cheeca Rocks and Hen and Chickens are no-take zones.
Tide station: Upper Matecumbe Key, Hawk Channel. See today's tides and currents on the conditions page, or open this spot on the map.
What you can catch here
Yellowtail snapper
12" total length minimum; up to 10 per person within the 10-snapper aggregate; open year-round. Reef fish gear rules apply.- Bait
- Silversides, cut ballyhoo or live pilchards drifted back in a steady chum slick
- Tackle
- 7 ft light spinning rod, 2500–3000 reel, 10–15 lb line
- Rig
- 8–15 ft of 12–20 lb fluorocarbon; #1–1/0 non-stainless circle hook; little or no weight so the bait sinks with the chum
Mangrove (gray) snapper
10" total length minimum and 5 per person within the 10-snapper aggregate in state waters (12" and 10 per person in federal waters); open year-round. Reef fish gear rules apply.- Bait
- Live shrimp, pilchards or small pinfish; cut ballyhoo or squid, with chum to bring them up
- Tackle
- 7 ft medium-light spinning rod, 3000–4000 reel, 15–20 lb braid
- Rig
- 3–4 ft of 20–30 lb fluorocarbon (they are leader-shy); 1/0–2/0 non-stainless circle hook on a knocker or split-shot rig
Hogfish
16" fork length minimum; 1 per person per day; open May 1 – Oct 31 (closed Nov 1 – Apr 30); the same in federal waters. Reef fish gear rules apply.- Bait
- Live shrimp or small crabs, right on the bottom
- Tackle
- 7 ft light-to-medium spinning rod, 3000 reel, 15–20 lb braid
- Rig
- 3 ft of 20–30 lb fluorocarbon; #1–1/0 non-stainless circle hook on a knocker rig with just enough weight to hold bottom
Cobia
36" fork length minimum; 1 per person per day and no more than 2 per boat, whichever is less; open year-round. The same limits apply in federal waters.- Bait
- Live pinfish, grunts, blue crabs or small eels; dead baits in a chum slick
- Tackle
- 7 ft medium-heavy spinning rod, 6000–8000 reel, 30–50 lb braid
- Rig
- 3–4 ft of 50–60 lb fluorocarbon; 6/0–8/0 circle hook
Barracuda
15–36" fork length slot, with 1 fish over 36" per person or boat per day (whichever is less); 2 per person, 6 per boat; open year-round; applies in state and adjacent federal waters off Monroe County.- Bait
- Live pilchards, pinfish or ballyhoo, or a whole needlefish
- Tackle
- 7 ft medium spinning rod, 4000–5000 reel, 20–30 lb braid
- Rig
- 12–18 in of #4–#6 single-strand wire (their teeth cut mono); 2/0–4/0 hook
Access
- Fished by
- Charter a boat; Bring your own boat
- Skill
- Beginner
- Position
- A general area about 5 km across, drawn as a circle on the map rather than a pin.
Not for navigation. Positions are approximate. Use official charts, watch your depth and respect private property and posted signs.