Boating and Fishing on the Space Coast

by Brittiany Osburn
Brevard County could be considered a water sportsman’s paradise. With the St. Johns River bordering to the west, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the large rivers (intercoastal) in between, there is an overabundance of things to do here! Residents and visitors alike can enjoy a multitude of activities in and on the water all year round!

With Florida being considered one of “the fishing capitals of the world” there are many different fishing options for residents and our out-of-state guests too!
Local Randy Osburn knows where to fish!

FISHING LICENCES
Residents and visitors can purchase annual salt and freshwater fishing licenses online or at a few local bait and tackle shops (including Wal-Mart in their hunting and fishing section) as well. Non-residents have the option to purchase a 3 day, 7 day, or annual non-resident license depending on your length of stay and future plans. And for the future generation of fisherman, you can purchase lifetime fishing licenses for kids at a discounted rate on the FWC website listed above as well!    

WATER ACCESS
For boaters, there are many different public boat ramps conveniently located along the St. Johns, Indian, and Banana Rivers, in Port Canaveral, and around Sebastian Inlet. Most of these ramps do not charge any fees to use them, except for the state park ramps (one of which includes Sebastian Inlet.) For larger boats that are heading offshore for the day, Freddie Patrick Park in Port Canaveral (right next to Grills restaurant) is the more “user friendly” of the 2 public ramps located in the port to launch from. Whether you want to run the river, cruise down the canals, go island hopping in the intercostal, or journey offshore for the day, there is definitely a ramp somewhere close by!
    
RENTALS & EXCURSIONS
For those who don’t own a boat, or didn’t travel down to the area with their own boat in-tow, there are a few local places to rent a vessel for the day. A simple Google search of “boat rentals in Brevard” pulled up quite a few different listings, and I personally have also seen signs at Harbor Town Marina (go to beachsidesailing.com for more info) and on the side of state road 520 in Merritt Island (cocoabeachjetskirentals.com for more info, they also rent kayaks!) There is an abundance of different eco-tours available to the public as well. These include a variety of nature tours, riding on anything from horses to airboats to kayaks and pontoon boats! There’s something for everyone here!

For the anglers who want a guided trip there are options for every want and budget! In Port Canaveral alone there are at least 3 different party boats going out at different times of the day for different types of fishing trips. There is the Miss Cape Canaveral, the Ocean Obsession, and the Orlando Princess, which are all available for charter. If you’re leaving out of Sebastian inlet, there is the Sebastian Lady too.

Most, if not all of these party boats provide all the bait and gear needed and a fishing license for the day as well. For a more personal and less crowded trip, you can find many charter captains that will take anywhere from 1 to 10 people out for half or full day excursions. You can go to flafish.com for a list of charter captains, and the site seemed to have a lot of general info on the local fishing scene.

Of course the best way to learn about how to find the better fishing hot spots is to take a few trips out with the locals and learn their techniques and tips. There are many different wrecks and ledges just off the coast, but it takes experience (and lots of luck!) to be able to find them and actually be successful fishing them.
    
So whether you live in Brevard, or you have a trip planned to come here, go and check out some of the local fishing spots! Or go out on a boat to an island and play in the water! Enjoy a guided nature tour in the St. Johns River or in the intercostal and see alligators, dolphins, and manatees in their natural environment! Go on … get outside, enjoy the diversity of this beautiful area that so many of us are fortunate enough to call home!

Go to the source to find out more about fishing in Florida:
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Saltwater Fish Guide and Freshwater Fish Guide

Salt and Freshwater Fishing Licenses
State of Florida Online
www.myfwc.com

Harbor Town Marina Boat Rentals
Located at the Port
www.beachsidesailing.com

Cocoa Beach Jet Ski Rentals (boats, jet skis, kayaks)
520 in Merritt Island
www.cocoabeachjetskirentals.com

Cocoa Beach Boat & JetSki Rentals
1872 E. Merritt Island Causeway
www.cocoabeachboatandjetskirentals.com

Miss Cape Canaveral
Port Canaveral Party Boat and Fishing Charter
www.misscape.com

Ocean Obsession
Port Canaveral Party Boat and Fishing Charter
www.fishobsession.com

Orlando Princess
Port Canaveral Party Boat and Fishing Charter
www.orlandoprincess.com

Sebastian Lady
Sebastian Inlet Fishing Charter
www.captnbutcher.com