Seven Mile Bridge
In marathon there is couple places to launch or rent a boat. To rent a boat
check out Captain Pips or Buds Boats. To Launch there is a public ramp located
on the bay side. A short distance from both boat rental places and the ramp
is the 7 mile bridge. The seven mile bridge offers good fishing for snapper,
grouper which are mostly too small, and Tarpon in the warmer months. Depending
on the season there will also be spanish mackerel , jack crevelles and blue
runners around the base of the bridge.
Usually people anchor up current from the pilings and chum back to the bridge,
use jigs and small slip sinker rigs. Be prepared to get snagged a lot.
The best areas to fish the bridge will be a little ways away from
Marathon near Moser Channel, the water is deeper by this channel and in the
summer months tarpon tend to congregate there.The seven mile bridge has both
a new and old bridge, both have lots of fish but when they built the old bridge
they dumped a ton of debris in the water, so often the old bridge is better
for snapper fishing.
Summer tarpon fishing at the seven mile bridge is famous but is
bit difficult for new people fishing the area. It requires a bit of tackle and
know how. Firstly the water current rips thru the bridge, its actually pretty
amazing. So you will need bigger baits, like mullet or a large blue crab. If
the current is humming pinfish will ski across the water not making a good bait.
You also will need a quick release anchor because the tarpon take off like a
rocket. A quick release is just an anchor line that has a anchor ball or boat
bumper tied to it. This essentially allows you to un hook from the anchor line
quickly and chase the tarpon.
In the winter months head north of the bridge to catch tons of
mackerel, bluefish and sharks. Head out to that elbow bank area in the north
east corner of the map. Anchor up, and just start chumming, usually shortly
there will be hoards of pinfish , bluefish , catfish, mackerel and sharks. Use
small hooks and cut bait to catch pinfish and catfish and then use the pinfish
on cork with a steel leader, for smaller sharks and bluefish, use the back end
of a catfish on long steel leader for the bigger sharks.
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