Florida is one of the top fishing destinations in the United States. People flock from all around the country to chase the wide variety of both saltwater and freshwater fish species that our state has to offer, particularly in the summertime. Also, check out the fishing spots here
However, upon arrival, a person doesn’t have to look long before they start spotting big offshore fishing boats, flats boats, and bass boats. It’s easy to feel as though there’s no other option for fishing in Florida if you don’t have a boat.
However, with the right know-how, a fisherman can easily take advantage of the many boatless angling opportunities here in the Sunshine State this summer.
Boatless Angling
- 1. Wade Fishing
- 2. Beach Fishing
- 3. Pier Fishing
- 4. Canal/Bank Fishing
1. Wade Fishing
What’s one of the nice things about wade fishing in Florida? You can wear your swimsuit to wade fish almost eight months out of the year. The state has countless opportunities and places for anglers to take a step into the water and immediately begin chasing big fish.
Most state parks have easy inshore wade fishing access for places like mangrove creeks and seagrass beds, but obviously not all areas can be wade-fished—a combination of oyster bars and chest deep mud usually snuffs that.
But even so, there are a wide range of places to choose from (particularly along the Gulf Coast) if you’re looking to get a little wet while you fish. Just remember shoes! Many of the grass beds are home to sea urchins, and that’s the last thing anyone wants buried in their foot.
2. Beach Fishing
What’s more relaxing than the beach?
How about fishing while relaxing at the beach. Beach fishing (or surf fishing) is an extremely easy and fun way to get your fishing fix without ever having to step on a boat.
With the exception of the Big Bend and Ten Thousand Islands areas, beach fishing is a perfectly reasonable way to catch a wide variety of fish.
Talk to local bait shops and ask what is running during that time of the year and in that place, and you should be able to get a rough idea of what to expect. Just remember a cooler full of ice and a lawn chair, unless you prefer sitting in the sand.
3. Pier Fishing
If you don’t mind fishing alongside other anglers, pier fishing can be an extremely effective method here in Florida. A quick Google search or looking at a satellite image of the coastline will point out the piers—they’re scattered all along our coasts.
Do note, however, that just like some state park entrances, getting onto most piers comes with a small entrance fee.
Pier fishermen in the Gulf or Atlantic can expect to catch anything from redfish and pompano all the way up to sailfish and tarpon depending on the place and time of the year.
Don’t cross off inshore pier fishing, either! Most bridges in the state have been updated in the past few decades and many of their old ancestors have been converted into piers.
4. Canal/Bank Fishing
It’s easy to focus primarily on saltwater fishing when one comes down to Florida. We do, after all, have plenty of it to go around. Freshwater fishing shouldn’t be overlooked, though. In fact, Florida produces some of the biggest largemouth bass in the country.
Freshwater fishing without a boat isn’t ideal, but it can definitely be done. Unfortunately in the Northern and Central regions of Florida, freshwater fishing from the shore won’t be too enjoyable. Most lakes or rivers have limited access or small piers.
Wade fishing in freshwater isn’t the greatest idea, either, unless you don’t mind getting friendly with our resident alligators. Southern Florida, however, actually does have quite a bit of freshwater fishing access in the form of bank fishing.
South Florida is riddled with canal systems that cross the state in almost every direction. Many of these can be accessed right off of the side of the road.
Inland canals are home to largemouth, bream, catfish and even exotic species like cichlids and peacock bass.
Canals closer to the coast often get landlocked tarpon and snook as well. It certainly isn’t uncommon to reel in a bass only to catch a snook on the next cast.
Just be aware that not all canal levees have public access, but they’re generally well-marked with signage explaining just that.
Also note that, however sad it might be, the crime rate in many areas of South Florida is extremely high.
When fishing in some of these urban canals, be conscious of your surroundings and be sure to lock your vehicle and hide/remove any valuables from your car while you’re out fishing.
So if you make your way down to hot and sunny Florida this summer and want to fish, don’t get discouraged if you don’t have a boat.
There are opportunities everywhere around the state to fish without a vessel. Be it fishing in waist deep water for trout or casting for cobia from a pier, anyone can get down to the Sunshine State and still have a great time on foot.
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