Cedar Key, FL Fishing: A Pristine Side of Florida with Unspoiled Nature and Historical Significance

Cedar Key is a city on Way Key, the largest among a small group of keys or coral islands situated southwest of Gainesville, Florida, right on the Gulf Coast. It is a city known for its unspoiled beauty, quaint small-town atmosphere, and friendly vibe. Named after the eastern red cedar plant that used to proliferate the area, Cedar Key has long been important to Florida and its history. Archeological evidence has shown that the keys were inhabited as far back as 500 or 1000 BC. Because of this, much of the town is under the Cedar Keys Historic and Archeological District, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places in America.

What makes Cedar Key an attractive tourist destination is its old Florida feel. Travelers fall in love with Cedar Key because it makes them feel like they’ve traveled back in time to the Sunshine State that many artists and writers have come to wax poetic about. It’s a quiet island with no tourist traps or high-rise complexes. Instead, what you will find here are actual residential areas, humble cottages, nature trails, and protected sanctuaries, and locals who take pride in their hometown and will welcome you with open arms.

With its amazing location right on the Gulf Coast, you can expect fishing to be a part of the town’s DNA. It may be known as “The Other Keys” but it stands on its own merits as a productive fishing town, with many local and passionate anglers who love to share with anyone their knowledge of and pride in the area.

Cedar Key Fishing

Cedar Key is such a small and intimate city that you can easily explore it on foot. In fact, walking around actually happens to be the best way to find the best fishing spots in the city, as it is filled with many productive holes. But if you want something a little more adventurous, you can still get access to plenty of offshore fishing opportunities here as well as the city, after all, is right on the Gulf Coast.

Start your fishing journey in Cedar Key by navigating its inshore fishing destinations. One such productive area is Deadmans Key. Situated west of the city right in between Seahorse Reef and North Key, these grassy flatlands have plenty of rocky points that attract fish such as black drum, Spanish mackerel, speckled trout, and redfish. During low tide, it’s a fantastic place to kayak fish. Come high tide during the warmer months and you’ll find lots of redfish to tackle. The best way to maximize fishing on Deadmans Key is to fish around the bars. If you drift past Deadmans Key, you will find the Channel. It’s yet another productive fishing area nearby, especially during falling tide. Just be careful not to get stuck out on the channel.

Other flats you might consider fishing are Snake Key, Seahorse Key, and North Key. On the northeast and south sides of Snake Key, there are plenty of sea trout, black drum, mackerel, and even shark and cobia on the grass flats. In the warmer months, you can also target ladyfish and bluefish in this area. On the front side of North Key, there are submerged flats and grass flats that attract trout and shark. 

If you still can’t get enough of inshore fishing, try your luck at the fishing piers in town. One such productive pier is the Number 4 Bridge Fishing Pier which lets you access the Number Four Channel. Another is the Cedar Key Fishing Pier which is right at the heart of the city, where you can catch plenty of black drum, sheepshead, channel and sailfin catfish, and spotted trout.

East of the Number 4 Bridge, you will find Corrigan’s Reef, which is a huge pile of oyster bars with one end poking up into salt marshes and the other jutting out into the Gulf of Mexico. In the deep cuts of the reef, you will find redfish, flounder, and sheepshead. During the warmer months, watch out for the birds — they will point you to schools of bluefish, crevalle jack, and Spanish mackerel.

For some of the best offshore fishing not just in Cedar Key but in all of Florida, head on over to Seahorse Reef. It’s the place to be if you’re looking to target some Spanish mackerel. On the southeast side of this 10-mile long sandbar, there’s a 90-degree deep grass transition where you will find lots of baitfish and predators on their tails. 

But if you’re looking for some kingfish action, go northwest of Seahorse Reef during spring and fall. You might just get lucky with some kingfish, along with black seabass and Cedar Key snapper.

At the end of the Seahorse Reef, you will find the Steel Tower. Right beside this lighted tower, you will find the submerged remains of an earlier version of the tower which was destroyed in 1993. It’s the spot you should head to if you’re looking to challenge yourself with some cobia and sheepshead.

Situated between Cedar Key and Yankeetown, you can access the unique Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park by boat. Here you’ll find 20 miles of salt marshes and tidal creeks, a significant estuary that’s home to the endangered salt marsh vole and the West Indian manatee as well as a great variety of both saltwater and freshwater fish species.
 

Top 10 Fish Species in Cedar Key, FL

The top 10 fish species to catch in Cedar Key are redfish, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, cobia, speckled trout, ladyfish, tarpon, bluefish, black seabass, and Cedar Key snapper.

Seasonal Fishing

It goes without saying that fishing in Cedar Key, just like the rest of Florida, is great all year round. Learn when your target fish is in peak activity so you will get the most out of your trip. For instance, redfish are available all year long but best targeted from spring to fall, with March till July the peak for this species. In October, though, you will find schools of redfish inshore. Kingfish or king mackerel, on the other hand, get active in the months of May and October. The summer months are, of course, free for all species such as Spanish mackerel, speckled trout, ladyfish, and bluefish. 
 

Get to Know the Small But Majestic Town of Cedar Key

Cedar Key may be small, but it’s got a lot of character and history that will tempt you to explore for days on end.

1.Book a Fishing Charter

Make sure you get a local guide to steer you towards Cedar Key’s productive fishing holes. Some of the areas can also be quite tricky to navigate, so having an expert on board will be better for your peace of mind and enjoyment.

2. Immerse in the City’s History

Visit the Cedar Key Historical Society Museum housed in two historic buildings: the 1871 Lutterloh Building and the Andrews House annex. The former houses the fossil findings in the city, as well as important cultural artifacts, while the latter contains exhibits on the industries of the city, including railroading, manufacturing, and medicine, and dentistry.

Then, if you want to feel truly immersed, head on over to Atsena Otie Key, a historic island on which the town was originally built. You can easily kayak to this island via the city beach, where you can rent your gear from Kayak Cedar Keys. Some even kayak further out to nearby islands after exploring Atsena Otie key.

3. Get Close to Nature

Nature-lovers instantly fall in with Cedar Key as it is home to several nature reserves and wildlife refuges. Both Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge and The Cedar Key Railroad Trestle Nature Trail are accessible via State Road 24. If you want to see something a little wilder, you will love the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge which has one of the United States' largest undeveloped river delta ecosystems. Active nature lovers will love Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve, with its 13 miles of multi-use trails.