4 Ideal Targets for Easy Fly Fishing in Florida

Ask the average angler in the Lower 48 what comes to mind when they hear “fly fishing” and chances are the answer refers to something about clear mountain streams and trout sipping dry flies. Yes, that is a staple in America’s fly world. Not many of those quizzed will mention Florida, but if they do, it’s likely something to do with bonefish or tarpon.

Truth is, Florida is blessed with a bunch of fisheries perfect for fly fishing and not at all difficult for the new fly fisherman to enjoy. Our bonefish and tarpon, frankly, are the proverbial mountaintop of the sport, demanding exceptional eyesight, 50-foot casts, and extreme levels of patience and endurance—not to mention access to a poling skiff and/or serious site intel.

We have much more accommodating options. Fly fishing for bass and panfish in ponds and creeks is an excellent and time-honored Florida tradition. Sight-fishing for snook and pompano in the surf is attainable for any fly caster. Neither pond nor beach require a boat, but if a boat is available, the spectrum of “starter” fly fishing opportunities broadens greatly. Mahi mahi, or dolphin, are an easy target in the ocean. After nightfall, lighted docks and bridges yield high success rates for snook, seatrout and ladyfish. Let’s explore these four options.

1. Pond Hopping

Florida has more than 7,500 lakes in Florida, and that’s not counting neighborhood ponds. And that’s where majority of the focus here is, pond-hopping! On foot, bike, vehicle, however you get there, Florida’s freshwater fishery, down to the smallest body of water, is nothing short of spectacular for the fly angler. Largemouth bass and panfish are going to be the targets. Chances are there’s at least four or five species of panfish in any Florida pond, including bluegill, redbreast sunfish, warmouth, black crappie, just to name a few.

That 5-weight trout outfit? That fits in just about perfect here. Shiners, shad and even small panfish are primary foods for bass, while bugs, minnows and small crustaceans like freshwater shrimp fill out the diet of a panfish. However, it’s all food and both bass and panfish will eat it. By way of example, I was fishing a local pond for panfish. I had a size 6 bucktail minnow I’d tied. Low and behold, I hooked into something that was no panfish. Instead, it was my biggest bass to date on both fly and conventional tackle, weighing in at 12 pounds and 4 ounces. The saying, “elephants eat peanuts” stands true!

Deceivers, Clouser minnows and topwater poppers are my go-to when fishing for Florida bass. If fishing large deerhair poppers, you may want to use a 6- or 7-weight setup. When it comes to panfish, I’ll downsize my Clousers to a number 4 or 6 hook. Bluegill poppers and foam floating bugs also stay stocked. Who doesn’t love a good topwater bite? Panfish are happy to cooperate in this department. When it comes to leader, an 8-foot piece of 10-pound monofilament will do the job just fine.

If you’re feeling adventurous, from Palm Beach to Dade County offers some incredible peacock bass fishing. The same largemouth flies will suffice, and peacocks have spread to just about every pond and canal in the region since being introduced in 1984. These fish are often more aggressive than bass, so quick strips work well, especially if sight fishing. Remember they are Amazon natives; cold water is not their friend. From April to October is the best time to target these fish. Mayan cichlids, covered in detail elsewhere in this issue, are another excellent fly fishing target in many freshwater lakes and canals.

One more thing. The theory that most locals live by is, “If there’s water, there’s a gator.” And they’re often not small. Be mindful of this every time you are walking the bank. Be aware of your surroundings and especially watch out when landing or releasing a fish at the water’s edge.

2. A Sight-Fishing Beach Bonanza

Keep those flip flops on, or take them off, we’re hitting the sand. From the state line at Fort Pickens in the Gulf, traversing the peninsula and back up to the line at Fort Clinch on the Atlantic side, Florida has 825 miles of sandy shoreline. That’s a whole lot of fly opportunity, if you ask me.

The 8-weight is the standard when it comes to inshore/ beach fishing throughout the state. Some fisheries may vary a bit, but let’s just start with that. Depending on the part of the state you are in will dictate the species you’re fishing for. For the most part, if you are south of Orlando, beach species will most likely be snook and tarpon. On the north end of the peninsula, you start to phase out of the snook, and redfish fill the gap. Sprinkle in migratory species such as pompano, Spanish mackerel and bluefish and you will keep busy year-round. When swell is small and water is clear, sight fishing is popular for almost all species. If it’s kicked up a bit and visibility is low, or at dawn or dusk, any signs of life are worst a blind cast or two.

Baitfish are the main forage on the beach. Various herring and menhaden are found near the sand. The common theme when looking at these species is silvery, iridescent sides, with a darker back, typically a green or blueish hue. The legendary Lefty’s Deceiver is a staple when it comes to matching these baitfish. But any natural or synthetic flies matching this profile work well. White is the most prominent color. All white is my go-to when hitting the beach.

Outside of baitfish, it’s a good idea to keep a few crustacean patterns in your box. Redfish often enjoy a shrimp in the surf. When pompano move in, sandfleas are a main food source. Flies like the Marbled Sandflea by Sandbar Flies (sandbarflies.com) mimic these perfectly. It’s not a bad idea to have a few crab imitations, too.

Weight is an important factor when it comes to fly selection for the surf. It all depends on where in the water column you want your fly. On slick calm days when there is no swell, you may want a floating line and weightless fly, especially when sight fishing. These fish can be extra spooky. Now kick up a little swell and some lead wrap on the shank of your Deceiver or dumbbell eyes on your Clouser minnow will help you keep a more direct connection to your fly, avoiding a belly in your line.

Something that will help even more in the surf is an intermediate or sinking line. You want to avoid that belly as much as you can. This causes your fly to move when you don’t necessarily want it to, nor in the right direction. It drastically reduces a good strip set, too. You have to strip in all that slack line before getting tight and allow the hook to penetrate. This theory is similar to mending your line in a trout stream. A stripping basket is an excellent accessory when walking the beach. This avoids your line dragging on the sand and getting tangled. Plus, having your line at the ready means fewer false casts, less movement, less chance of spooking fish.

3. Dependable Dock Lights

All around Florida coastal waters, lights are an omnipresence on residential docks. Some are intentionally put there to attract fish, often seen in bright green or white, faced straight down into the water, and even submerged at times. Sometimes it’s just a courtesy light mounted on the dock that projects enough light into the water. Why do fish like this? It’s an easy place for fish to see bait at night, where they don’t have to depend on their other senses as much to find forage. Baitfish often like to congregate around lights, which makes for an easy meal for predatory fish. In southern Florida, snook and tarpon are common fly targets around lighted docks. In northern waters, you will find redfish and seatrout in the lights. Bluefish and ladyfish are common all over, when the water is cool.

Forage typically runs small around the lights. There are times when you can’t even see what the fish are popping. In these circumstances, small, flashy minnow presentations are your best bet. I prefer a size 4 hook, for two reasons. It allows my fly to land soft and matches the size of the baitfish, but it is also light enough that I can bend the hook open if the fish is running into the dock. This is notorious, especially with snook, and shredding a $100 fly line in the dock pilings stings a lot more than losing a fish… most of the time. Everything eats a shrimp, and you will often see them jumping through the light as they are chased by predators, so don’t shy away from a few small shrimp patterns.

Tide plays a big role in this fishery. You want moving water. A falling tide is often my favorite, as it flushes bait out from the estuary. Lining up the boat via trolling motor, taking a cross-current shot is your best bet to keep your fly in the strike zone longest. Ideally the light is on the upcurrent side of the dock, allowing you to cast your fly into the dark and allow it to drift into the light. You want to avoid throwing your fly straight into the light as your line can spook the fish.

Speaking of the dark. Don’t be afraid to put some casts into the dark around the light. Fish will often lurk these edges, and they usually run big. A 3-foot strip of 25-pound fluorocarbon bite tippet is preferred. This allows you to handle most abrasion from fish like snook or tarpon but still disappears in the water. Fast strips, you want to trigger that competitive nature and reaction bite from the fish as they all stage in the light.

4. Bluewater Dolphin

We’re staying on the boat for this next fishery. We’re leaving the dark and heading to the bluewater. The dolphin (mahi) fishery found throughout the state from the Gulf to the sweeping current of the Gulf Stream is a blast for those looking to chase potentially big fish with a fly rod.

A 10-weight is what you’ll want when catching dolphin. You may run into a fish north of 30 pounds, and you want every bit of rod you can get. A 10-weight will still allow you to enjoy the fight of smaller fish, too.

Fly opportunities at dolphin often complement conventional fishing, like a fish caught on the troll that pulls the school to the boat, allowing for a fly cast. Coming across weeds or floating debris found teeming with fish appeals to both tactics. Catch a dolphin while trolling conventional lures? Keep that fish in the water boatside and commonly other fish will linger, a perfect opportunity for fly casting. Chumming is another good bet. Dolphin are fast-moving pelagics with the attention span of a small child, and if they aren’t “entertained,” they are quick to leave. Live pilchards or sardines are your best chum. You will see how fast-moving these fish are when you throw a net full of chum baits in the water.

You can see them light up, literally, as their vibrant colors will change when they get excited. Watch what they do. You want your fly to mimic the profile and action of the baitfish. And it’s usually fast! A two-handed strip is a good way to keep that fly moving quick.

These fish often take anything thrown in front of them when in a frenzy, but it doesn’t hurt to try and match your fly the best you can. Like always the old trusty deceiver does the job. The “Eat Me” fly created by offshore fly fishing guide Scott Hamilton (flyfishingextremes.com) is a synthetic version similar to a deceiver, with durability in mind to handle lots of fish, but still maintain the proper action. It’s a stone-cold killer on dolphin.

Note: If you don’t have live chum bait, chunks of frozen baits will work; glass minnows are also a good option. Try out the quick strips and if there’s no interest, let your fly sink like the chunks are, then make quick bumps when a fish comes to check it out.

Mahi have small teeth that can nick up a leader. Thirty-pound fluorocarbon will handle just about every fish you catch. If you want to keep a couple of these tasty fish for the table, the limit is five-fish per person or 30 total for the boat, whichever is less. They must also measure 20 inches or more to the fork of the tail to keep. Little tunny, king mackerel, tripletail and amberjack are a few other potential fly fishing species you’re likely to encounter when chasing dolphin off the Florida coast.

---

• This article was featured in the May 2025 issue of Florida Sportsman magazine. Click to subscribe

---