Airport Lakes

AIRPORT LAKES MIAMI FLORIDA

About Miami Airport Lakes Fishing & Tours

The Miami airport lakes are next to the Miami International Airport; the Airport is often noisy and congested. But this area should be avoided by traveling west to the Miami airport lakes. From the boat ramp, it is 3.0 miles to the entrance of Miami Airport Lakes of the Coral Gables Canal, 4.8 miles to the lateral canal connecting to McDonald Lake (which is incredible), and 7.6 miles to the intersection of Snapper Creek (immediately east of the Turnpike Extension). The non-navigable flood control structure of the Airport Lakes Tamiami Canal near Krome Avenue is about 13 miles from the boat ramp. The combination of the Tamiami and Snapper Creek canal systems provides urban anglers more than 43 miles of exciting fishing opportunities.  Read More

• Region: South Florida, Miami
• Duration: 4, 6, 8, & 12 hrs
• Cancellation: 12 hrs in advance
• Weather-Related: Full refund
• Instant Online Confirmation
• Includes All State Taxes
• All Fishing Equipment
• Professional Captain
• Boat & Fuel
• Cooler & Ice
• Bottled water
• Photos
• Florida Freshwater Fishing License for those ages 16+
• Live bait if desired is also additional and is purchased the morning of the trip. (optional)
• Food or Specialty beverages

Amenities:

• Fishing Chairs
• GPS & Fishfinder
• Life Jackets
• Catch and Release Allowed
• Keep Fish Allowed within Laws

About this Tour:

• Boat Specs: 20+ ft
• Boat Capacity: 4 People
• All Fishing Equipment
• Boat & Fuel
• Photos

Fishing Techniques:

• Light Tackle
• Heavy Tackle
• Livebait
• Fly Fishing
• Artificial Lures

Fishing Equipment:

• Spinning Rods
• Baitcasting Rods
• Left & Right Handed
• Fly Rods (request only)
• Braid & Mono Line

What is Entailed:

• • Fishing in beautiful Miami, Florida, fully equipped with top-quality rods, reels, hooks, and artificial lures on a boat.
  • Exploring state-ranked Miami Airport lakes in search of trophy peacock bass, hard-fighting exotic species, etc.
  • Guided fishing tour by a USCG professional fishing captain knowledgeable of Miami, Florida, and its waters.
  • Take home a souvenir of your big catch, complete with perfect photos taken by your guide, which you can share on social media as desired.

Local Operator Information:

Complete Operator information, including local telephone numbers for your destination, are included on your Confirmation Email. Our Trip Managers select only the most experienced and reliable guides in each destination, removing the guesswork for you and ensuring your peace of mind.

Additional Information:

• Participants are encouraged to bring comfortable shoes, a light-colored shirt, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.

Airport Lakes Peacock Bass Fishing Guides

Meet the TEAM of local Florida Peacock Bass fishing guides, we know the best spots, baits, and techniques to give you the most fantastic fishing experience.

Top Miami Fishing Captains

To see a complete list of great Miami fishing guides, please click here!

ABOUT MIAMI AIRPORT LAKES

The Miami airport lakes are next to the Miami International Airport; the Airport is often noisy and congested. But this area should be avoided by traveling west to the Miami airport lakes. The boat ramp is 3.0 miles to the Coral Gables Canal entrance, 4.8 miles to the lateral canal connecting to McDonald Lake (which is incredible), and 7.6 miles to the intersection of Snapper Creek (immediately east of the Turnpike Extension).

The non-navigable flood control structure of the Airport Lakes Tamiami Canal near Krome Avenue is about 13 miles from the boat ramp. The combination of Tamiami and Snapper Creek canal systems provide urban anglers more than 43 miles of exciting fishing opportunities.

Miami Airport Lakes Peacock Bass Fishing

Airport lakes Tamiami canal offers some of the most exciting and varied canal fishing in southeast Florida. Several anglers have reported canal ‘trifecta,’ or ‘grand slam’ catches of butterfly peacock and largemouth bass topped-off with a snook or even a tarpon. The butterfly peacock is a world-renowned gamefish that was successfully introduced in the mid-1980s by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to eat undesirable exotic fishes and give more sportfishing anglers the metropolitan Miami-Ft Lauderdale area.
Fallen trees, canal intersections, sharp bends, and dead ends are generally productive areas for catching most fish species. Sportfishes also congregate in the shade of bridges, culverts, and other strange Titletures. Shoreline vegetation, rip-rap, and even some residential seawalls (particularly in lateral canals) also provide good fishing opportunities. If there is a strong current in the central channel, spend more time fishing lateral canals, small lakes, and other areas that offer refuge from the wind (e.g., cut-outs, bridge pilings, and the downstream side of spillways).

MIAMI AIRPORT LAKES BOAT RAMP

The Antonio Maceo Park public boat ramp is the only location for Miami Airport lakes. Operated by the City of Miami Parks and Recreation Department, operation hours are from dawn to dusk. The two-lane ramp is paved and in excellent condition. The park has picnic tables, grills, a playground, and a paved parking area with acceptable restrooms.

Note: Manatees are quite common in the lake, so NO WAKE in the main lake. Be careful boating and watch for posted regulations.

To reach the boat ramp, take the Turnpike Extension or I-95 to Hwy 836 (Dolphin Expressway). Take Hwy 836 east from the Turnpike or west from I-95 to Red Road (NW 57th Avenue). Go south on Red Road about 0.5 miles to NW 7th Street, east (left) 0.6 miles to NW 51st Avenue, and Antonio Maceo Park is on the left side just before NW 51st Avenue.

Look for the backcast iron fencing, there two gates. The first one on the north is the exit, the second gate on the south is the entrance.

AIRPORT LAKES FISHING TECHNIQUES

Airport Lakes Tamiami canal offers some of the most exciting and varied canal fishing in southeast Florida. Several anglers have reported canal ‘trifecta,’ or ‘grand slam’ catches of butterfly peacock bass and largemouth bass topped off with a snook or even a tarpon.

The butterfly peacock is a world-renowned gamefish that was successfully introduced in the mid-1980s by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to eat undesirable exotic fishes and give more sportfishing anglers in the metropolitan Miami–Fort Lauderdale area. 

Fallen trees, canal intersections, sharp bends, and dead ends are generally productive areas for catching most fish species. Sportfishes also congregate in the shade of bridges, culverts, and other structures. Shoreline vegetation, rip-rap, and even some residential seawalls (particularly in lateral canals) also provide good fishing opportunities. If there is a strong current in the central channel, spend more time fishing lateral canals, small lakes, and other areas that offer refuge from the wind (e.g., cut-outs, bridge pilings, and the downstream side of spillways).

MORE INFORMATION ON AIRPORT LAKES FISHING

TIPS FOR PEACOCK BASS

Miami Fishing has many options. The Miami Airport lakes support excellent butterfly peacock and largemouth bass populations that average about 14 inches (1.5 pounds). Nearly 50% of the harvest-able butterfly peacock 40% of the largemouth bass are more extensive than this. The biggest butterfly peacock (10 pounds) ever confirmed in Florida came from this canal.

The bag limit for butterfly peacock is two fish per day, only one greater than 17 inches. But up to five largemouth bass can be kept, but only one of these can be greater than 14 inches. Fishing for butterfly peacock is usually best from March through May, but they are caught consistently throughout the year.

Butterfly peacock feeds only during daylight and typically close to shore, although schooling peacocks will sometimes feed aggressively in open water. Largemouth bass fishing tends to be best during the winter when the water cools, and early in the morning, evenings, and even at night during the summer.

MONEY TIPS

Butterfly peacock is more likely to be caught using live fish for bait than are largemouth bass, which makes them an excellent fish for younger anglers and those just learning to bass fish. Live fish such as small golden shiners purchased at local tackle shops are the best overall bait for butterfly peacock and largemouth bass. It is illegal to use goldfish or any other non-native fish for bait, except those legally caught and immediately used in the same canal. For those who enjoy fishing with artificial lures, just about any fast-moving minnow imitating plug or fly can entice a peacock.

Early in the morning, look for tarpon rolling at the surface, especially in the area just east of Red Road. Snook can be found throughout the canal system but tend to concentrate along vegetated shorelines and under bridges close to lake areas. Another species anglers might catch resembles a walleye; this fish is the brackish water largemouth sleeper, a long, cylindrical fish with many small sharp teeth.

MIAMI PEACOCK BASS FISHING GUIDES

There are two main reasons why you should fish the Miami Airport Lakes with a local expert: firstly, navigation is crazy hard, and secondly, our local expert provides you with the best opportunity to land a trophy peacock bass.

Our local experts and Miami fishing guides come with full requirements from the United States Coast Guard. Years of professional experience in this fishery will provide you with an outstanding outdoor experience. Enjoy learning new techniques and methods of catching trophy peacock bass.

When exploring the Airport Lakes, whether during the full pool or after they have dropped the water levels, be cautious of floating debris. When fishing this area, you can most certainly have the best day of fishing for peacock bass, but it also can be hard to navigate. Hop on board with one of our local experts, and they would love to show you around. They have years of experience when it comes to navigating this fishery during all conditions.

Proven Best in the Business

If there is one place in Florida that is open to the public that can grant the new state record peacock bass; it is the Miami Airport Lakes. This premier bass fishing destination is known for its incredible catches. This area produced a fish weighing in at 9.2 pounds with 20+ inches throughout the years. It is the official state record fish from back in 1986. When trophy peacock bass hunting, be sure to book multiple days on the water with one of our local experts, and they will give you the best chance at landing that fish of your dreams.

If you have never experienced Airport lakes peacock bass, we hope this piques your interest enough to take your first venture into the Miami Lakes for this fantastic sport fish. There are thousands of people searching for Florida peacock bass, and we would be delighted if you would allow us to take you fishing. Make your fishing trip come true with one of our professional peacock bass fishing guides.

Area Things to Do

Whether your fishing trip is a trip for the family, you’re on a couples get-a-way, single travelers, or friends. Miami is a great destination. No matter where you are staying on South Beach, by the Hard Rock Casino or Miami- Dade County convention center or the Miami International Airport, it’s all super convenient to Miami Airport lake at the Antonio Maceo Park.

The incredible diversity of our customers we take daily will ensure everyone’s unforgettable trip. While here, you must try the excellent Miami food tours that can be taken by fun Miami bus ride tours.

So it may be a business trip filled with unique experiences at the beach, Miami or Fort Lauderdale to catch a football game. Either way, we are close, convent to all locations, making it quickly available to you. For instance, if thrill-seeking is your style, you won’t be able to get enough of alligators while sightseeing, but there’s a lot more for you to discover, and things can be scheduled in the morning afternoon and adjusted to your times of need. So, please get out and explore it all in Miami.

There’s only one wrong way to experience Miami, that’s not going fishing!

Frequent Asked Question of Airport Lakes

Miami Airport Lakes – Peacock Bass
Antonio Maceo Park
City Park & Boat Ramp
5100 NW 7th Street
Miami, FL 33126

Miami has a wide variety of parks and recreational activities. The City of Miami Parks and Recreations Division manages over Antonio Maceo park facilities that offer a range of fun things to do for the entire family.

If you’re into nature, be sure to check out, Antonio Maceo Park on NW 7 Street. Looking for a great picnic site? The Pace Park Picnic Islands located south of Julia Tuttle Causeway is the place to be.

Want to expend some energy and engage in some watersports, by using the community city boat ramp. There is a $15 dockage fee each time.

• Bait must look natural as otherwise, the peacock bass fish will not eat it
• Anglers use lots of different types of bait fishing Miami Airport lakes Canals, fly fishing, topwater lures, jigs, and hard jerk baits are some the most popular.
• If you are not experienced, live bait or known as shiners are the most product for catching peacock bass.
• When putting a shiner on the hook you must thread it through the lips of the shiner for the right action.

Although the park does not want you fishing from the dock, Antonio Maceo park does let you fishing from the sea wall and shoreline. There is no cleaning of fish allowed at Antonio Maceo Park, but it is one of the most productive places in Miami to fishing without a boat. The nearby Haulover Inlet also offers good fishing and offers a bait and tackle shop, and a fish cleaning area.

Antonio Maceo Park Lake is an overwhelming place to navigate which is just a short drive from downtown Miami. It has been there since 1970 and presently it has been developed with a great two-lane concrete boat ramp and people can enjoy pedal-boating, canoeing, kayaking, powerboating, and fishing. People fish here mainly peacock bass, but can also catch catfish, Mayan cichlid, and even largemouth bass.

The Airport lakes offer a multi-species fishery. Peacock bass is a widespread species, and the Blue Lagoon has a significant population of largemouth bass as well. The bi-catch of Airport lakes is the chance to catch tarpon, snook, jack carnival, and others all in one location.

With such a wide variety of species all in one body of water in South Florida, you never know what you’re going to catch.  To stay up to date, be sure to get our current Airport lakes fishing reports. Click the link to learn more about what fish are biting in Miami.

In layers is best, but fishing is casual. A sundress for ladies with a bikini underneath is not uncommon. Khaki shorts for guys are as dressed up as anyone ever gets; long pants work if you’re not used to the sun. In the same vein, there are no “styles.” Get comfortable with whatever dress code is the norm. But always try to wear light colors as they are cooler.

Parking is available at most of the Antonio Maceo Park lots, including for cars and boat trailers. This location is NOW paying online parking, currently $15 dollars. If you can find local nearby parking, many places are city meter parking. Your captain can tell you the complete cost, if you use Uber or Lyft there is no cost to enter.