Fly Fish Flamingo For Redfish, Snook And Tarpon
Fly fishing charters in the Flamingo area of the Everglades serving Miami, Homestead, and Florida City, FL for anglers of all abilities.
Flamingo sits at the tip of Florida and serves as the southern entrance to the Everglades. It is here where the tannic waters of the backcountry meet the open flats of Florida Bay. Mangroves, bays, rivers, and creeks all connect with the Gulf, creating a fishery that holds snook, redfish, tarpon, and more throughout the year.
The Everglades National Park covers over 1.5 million acres of protected mangrove estuary, much of it ideal for fly fishing. Just west of Homestead and Florida City with close proximity to Miami and the Upper Florida Keys, Flamingo is a great jumping off point for anglers of all abilities to experience one of the most fabled fly fisheries on the planet.
For those who don’t fly fish, we also offer Flamingo conventional light tackle fishing charters.
Fly Fishing Flamingo
Fly fishing the Everglades out of Flamingo is a real hunt in one of the wildest places on earth. Most days are spent poling quietly along mangrove shorelines, across shallow flats, and into areas where snook, redfish, and tarpon spend their time. This is a visual fishery when conditions allow. Water clarity can vary from crystal clear to chocolate milk and seeing the fish in all conditions is part of the game.
The protection that the mangrove shorelines provide makes this a year-round fishery. Even when the wind is up or the weather isn’t ideal, there is always water that can be fly fished. In all honesty, some of our best days are when it is windy and low water forces fish to come out of their mangrove haunts and into areas that fly anglers can access.
More often than not, we are fishing areas blocked by the wind which creates relatively benign conditions for casting. Shots at fish can can range from twenty feet to over one hundred feet, and each shot can be unique. Mangrove branches, roots, blow down trees all provide the structure these fish make a living in, but also present themselves as obstacles in shotmaking. Getting a fly in the right place at the right time can be challenging, but more often than not there are enough opportunities at forgiving fish that anglers of all experience levels can be rewarded without everything being perfect.
Target Species In Flamingo
Redfish
Redfish are common throughout areas that are more salty than fresh. They are typically targeted along shorelines and on open flats. Redfish tend to be on the move when feeding, actively looking for baitfish, shrimp, and crabs in water that is sometimes too shallow to float a boat.
Snook
Snook are a primary target in the Everglades and are found throughout its entirety. They hold tight to mangrove shorelines, structure, and flats using current to help them ambush their next meal. Snook are wary yet respond aggressively to a well placed fly.
Tarpon
Tarpon are the king of the Everglades fly fishery. Fish range from smaller resident tarpon to larger migratory fish. They are found in deeper water than we target snook and redfish and can be encountered rolling, swimming, and laying up throughout the Flamingo area.
Seasonal Fly Fishing In The Everglades
Fly fishing in Flamingo is productive year-round, with seasonal changes influencing where fish are located and how they are targeted.
Winter (December – February)
Cooler temperatures concentrate fish in protected areas. Snook and redfish are commonly found along shorelines and structure, and fishing can be steady when conditions are stable. Tarpon show up when the water temperature hits 75 degrees.
Spring (March – May)
As water temperatures rise, activity increases across the system. Snook and redfish remain consistent. Tarpon season kicks off as soon as water temperatures stay at 75 degrees or higher and usually peak migration happens in May.
Summer (June – August)
Summer is hot in the Everglades. Fish are still active, especially around deeper water and moving current. Snook and redfish continue to feed, particularly during early mornings and lower light periods. The tarpon migration winds down, but resident tarpon can still be targeted.
Fall (September – November)
Fall offers consistent fishing as temperatures begin to ease. Snook and redfish remain active, and tarpon are still present until conditions shift as days get shorter and cold fronts begin to move through the area and cool things down.
Flamingo Fly Fishing Charters
Capt. Ryan McFarland offers half day, three-quarter day, and full day fly fishing charters in the Everglades out of Flamingo for snook, redfish, and tarpon. Multiple boats available for groups of more than 2 people. Contact us for current rates and availability. All trips include use of fly fishing gear, fuel, and a cooler with ice.
Payments And Deposits
Cash, Paypal, or Venmo.
$200 per day per boat deposit for all trips
Venmo or Paypal deposits to:
Ryan McFarland
(305) 968-9500
Things To Bring
Hat
Sunblock
Polarized sunglasses
Weather appropriate clothing
Non-marking soled footwear
Food and drinks