The Florida Keys
On The Fly Saltwater
January 2025
Article and photos by Jimmy Jacobs
Among fly casters, barracuda don’t particularly have a good reputation. Mostly that would result from the instances when other species are being targeted, only to have one of those toothy ‘cudas appear and take yoru fly. In the process, it is usually the case that the fish’s wicked dental array cuts your leader and you watch the fish swim away with the fly lodged in its jaw.
Due to such events, the fly-casting community ordinarily avoids these fish. For some of us, though, there is a situation where we more than welcome their presence. Targeting barracuda with topwater offerings, while wading on flats in the Florida Keys, can make for some fast and exciting action.
I first discovered this fishing more than two decades ago on Long Key in the Middle Keys. After a frustrating morning of stalking a pod of skittish bonefish at Long Key State Park, with not even managing to put a fly in front of them, any fish pulling on the end of my line was desirable. Up against a shoreline of mangroves, I watch several sprays of minnows blasting out of the water to avoid a pursuing predator. After tying on a 2-inch Orvis skipping bug, I tossed it into the same area. At first nothing happened and I figured the predator had moved on, so I began rapidly stripping the fly back. As it skidded across the surface, the water around it suddenly erupted as though someone had thrown in a brick.
After a thrashing fight, I found a 2-foot barracuda at my feet, with the fly securely in the corner of its mouth. The length of the skipping bug’s body was enough to keep the fish’s teeth from reaching my leader.
After that episode, I worked more of the shoreline, getting half a dozen more such spectacular strikes. During half of them, a barracuda would attack and cut my leader. But then I just waded over, picked up the floating fly and tied it back on. Each time the fly lodged in the corner of the ‘cuda’s mouth, I was able to land the fish.
Despite the wicked reputation of these predators, I also discovered that once I had a hand on their body, they virtually go limp. That allowed for dislodging the fly without losing any fingers.
Over the ensuing years, I have spent a number of days specifically looking for barracuda on the flats with fly gear. These fish won’t be the 4-foot or bigger giants encounters in deeper water. Rather about 30 to 36 inches is the upper range of what you encounter. On a 7- or 8-weight rig, however, even an 18-inch ‘cuda can be fun.
In this shallow water, barracuda may take off on runs that remind you of a bonefish, though they don’t go as far. On the other hand, they often also take to the air like a tarpon or ladyfish. Either way, they will get your attention. And, as noted, there is nothing subtle about the initial strike.
Another thing I figured out as well is adding a wire leader to the skipping bug cuts way down on the number of strikes you can expect. I don’t know if it changes the action or spooks the fish, but you simply don’t get as many bites that way.
Also, have several of the skipping bugs on hand. After three or four hookups, they get chewed up pretty thoroughly. My favorite color scheme is a blue and white body, but most any color can work.
Here’s a look at several accessible, public places along the Keys where wading for barracuda can work.
Anne’s Beach, Islamorada
Wading at Anne’s Beach.
Anne’s Beach is located at the western end of Lower Matecumbe Key, just before reaching the Channel No. 2 Bridge. The parking area is at Mile Mark 73.5. This public swimming beach is actually just a firm sand-bottom flat, with some seagrass beds. You’ll likely find it has a number of sunbathers and swimmers present. Most of the bathers stay right in front of the parking lot. To get away from them, wade to the west toward the No.2 channel.
Long Key State Park, Long Key
Aerial view of Long Key.
The park is positioned on its namesake island of Long Key at Mile Mark 67.5. The entire beach in the park is a wadable flat that can hold barracuda most of the year. However, the best area for finding them is at the east end of the beach along the mangroves that front the nature trail. Be aware that you also run into some softer bottom through here.
Curry Hammock State Park, Fat Deer Key
This state park is just east of Marathon. Although the park has a beach and camping area on the Atlantic side of the island, the best option for wading for barracuda is found on the opposite Florida Bay side. As you travel west on the Overseas Highway, go 1.1 miles past the main entrance for the park. At this point you reach a small parking area and access to the Florida Keys Overseas Bicycle Trail on the right side of the highway. From this parking area walk 0.2 mile back to the east on the paved bike trail that parallels the highway. There you encounter the entrance to a nature trail on the left.
The trail to the borrow pit.
The sand path leads to the shore of a deep borrow pit. Skirting the left side of that hole, you can wade out onto a hard marl bottom flat that often holds numbers of barracuda.
Park Key
This small, uninhabited island sits on the Overseas Highway between Upper and Lower Sugarloaf Keys. After you cross the bridge over Park Channel leaving Upper Sugarloaf, at 0.4 mile there is a utility pole on the left with a small guard rail at its foot. From that point, a trail leads a couple of yards to a very small sand beach.
Casting along the mangroves to the east of the borrow pit at Park Key.
This beach fronts on another borrow pit. As you wade out from the beach, the first couple of yards is a bit mushy, but them the bottom becomes firmer. The entire flat around the pit is good for barracuda, as is the mangrove shore to the east.
