08-09-2016, 10:09 AM
Canaveral National Seashore is the longest undeveloped beach in Florida, 24 miles of pristine coastal sanctuary for people and wildlife.
![[Image: fishing.png]](http://nbbd.com/godo/cns/data0/images/fishing.png)
Best time to go:
Weekdays. There is limited parking in beach lots, and they often fill up on weekends, especially in summer.
Canaveral National Seashore is a food factory for wildlife, an amazing terrestrial and marine eco-system that supports a diversity of creatures who inhabit its dunes, hardwood hammocks, unspoiled islands and lagoons.
Entry Fee:
$5 for cars and motorcycles; $1 for pedestrians, bicyclists.
North entrance to Canaveral Seashore — New Smyrna Beach
By car, there are two entrances to Canaveral National Seashore: the south entrance from Titusville and the north entrance from New Smyrna Beach.
The north entrance is the road less traveled, although it offers a more diverse selection of activities and sightseeing.
Take State Road A1A south to the end, which is the park entrance.
Apollo Beach in Canaveral Seashore:
There are five beach parking lots with limited parking along the six-mile beach road. Roadside parking is strictly prohibited outside the designated areas.
During the week, you rarely have a problem finding parking in the limited number of lots that provide access to the beach. But on weekends, plan to arrive early, especially if your destination is the southernmost Lot No. 5.
The surf-fishing crowd at Canaveral Seashore usually gravitates to Lots 2-5 early, but they also leave early. These three beaches have shifting near-shore sandbars that trap fish on outgoing tides, giving fishers a leg up when casting into the outgoing currents between the sandbars.
Lot No. 1: 89 spaces with handicap access. Most crowded part of the beach.
Lot No. 2: 25 spaces. Solitude. Surf fishing.
Lot No. 3: 25 spaces. Most popular for surf fishing. Handicap access to the deck on the boardwalk.
Lot No. 4: 25 spaces. Solitude. Surf fishing.
Lot No. 5: 37 spaces with handicap access. Nude beach.
Be aware that the last lot, Lot No. 5, serves nude sunbathers who trek a few hundred yards further south to the clothing optional beach, putting a little distance between themselves and the gawkers who tend to gather on the boardwalk and viewing platform. In any case, this lot is often full and should be avoided on weekends, unless of course you are “sightseeing.”
All of the beach parking lots at Canaveral Seashore have chemical toilets, recycling and trash containers.
Alcohol is tolerated if used responsibly, but bottles are prohibited.
Kayaking, paddleboards and canoeing at Canaveral Seashore
A wonderland for paddlers, you can put in at several locations on the river side:
Turtle Mound — Launch from the open picnic area behind the midden.
Ranger Station — Canoes and kayaks can be rented here.
Eldora Parking Lot No. 7 — This parking lot provides excellent access to the islands and fishing.
Beach Parking Lot No. 5 — There is a hard-pack sand road that dips off the beach road on the west side of the dunes.
Fishing at Canaveral Seashore
Surf fishing at Canaveral National Seashore
Aside from surf fishing, there are several prime fishing areas in the lagoon that are accessible from the Eldora Road, including a fishing pier that juts out about a hundred yards over the lagoon.
Fly-fishers are often seen wading in this area, although I personally have not much luck here. I find that paddling out from either Eldora or Turtle Mound will provide the best access to backcountry channels and oyster bars, where you will enjoy the company of tailing red drum!
![[Image: surf-fish-apollo-canaveral.jpg?resize=610%2C457]](http://i0.wp.com/www.floridarambler.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/surf-fish-apollo-canaveral.jpg?resize=610%2C457)
If you’re serious about surf fishing, you’ll consider a cart that will carry all your gear (and then some) out to the surf line. This gentleman is a regular on Apollo Beach, and he’s geared up! (Photo by Bob Rountree)
http://www.floridarambler.com/florida-best-beaches/apollo-beach-canaveral-national-seashore
Best time to go:
Weekdays. There is limited parking in beach lots, and they often fill up on weekends, especially in summer.
Canaveral National Seashore is a food factory for wildlife, an amazing terrestrial and marine eco-system that supports a diversity of creatures who inhabit its dunes, hardwood hammocks, unspoiled islands and lagoons.
Entry Fee:
$5 for cars and motorcycles; $1 for pedestrians, bicyclists.
North entrance to Canaveral Seashore — New Smyrna Beach
By car, there are two entrances to Canaveral National Seashore: the south entrance from Titusville and the north entrance from New Smyrna Beach.
The north entrance is the road less traveled, although it offers a more diverse selection of activities and sightseeing.
Take State Road A1A south to the end, which is the park entrance.
Apollo Beach in Canaveral Seashore:
There are five beach parking lots with limited parking along the six-mile beach road. Roadside parking is strictly prohibited outside the designated areas.
During the week, you rarely have a problem finding parking in the limited number of lots that provide access to the beach. But on weekends, plan to arrive early, especially if your destination is the southernmost Lot No. 5.
The surf-fishing crowd at Canaveral Seashore usually gravitates to Lots 2-5 early, but they also leave early. These three beaches have shifting near-shore sandbars that trap fish on outgoing tides, giving fishers a leg up when casting into the outgoing currents between the sandbars.
Lot No. 1: 89 spaces with handicap access. Most crowded part of the beach.
Lot No. 2: 25 spaces. Solitude. Surf fishing.
Lot No. 3: 25 spaces. Most popular for surf fishing. Handicap access to the deck on the boardwalk.
Lot No. 4: 25 spaces. Solitude. Surf fishing.
Lot No. 5: 37 spaces with handicap access. Nude beach.
Be aware that the last lot, Lot No. 5, serves nude sunbathers who trek a few hundred yards further south to the clothing optional beach, putting a little distance between themselves and the gawkers who tend to gather on the boardwalk and viewing platform. In any case, this lot is often full and should be avoided on weekends, unless of course you are “sightseeing.”
All of the beach parking lots at Canaveral Seashore have chemical toilets, recycling and trash containers.
Alcohol is tolerated if used responsibly, but bottles are prohibited.
Kayaking, paddleboards and canoeing at Canaveral Seashore
A wonderland for paddlers, you can put in at several locations on the river side:
Turtle Mound — Launch from the open picnic area behind the midden.
Ranger Station — Canoes and kayaks can be rented here.
Eldora Parking Lot No. 7 — This parking lot provides excellent access to the islands and fishing.
Beach Parking Lot No. 5 — There is a hard-pack sand road that dips off the beach road on the west side of the dunes.
Fishing at Canaveral Seashore
Surf fishing at Canaveral National Seashore
Aside from surf fishing, there are several prime fishing areas in the lagoon that are accessible from the Eldora Road, including a fishing pier that juts out about a hundred yards over the lagoon.
Fly-fishers are often seen wading in this area, although I personally have not much luck here. I find that paddling out from either Eldora or Turtle Mound will provide the best access to backcountry channels and oyster bars, where you will enjoy the company of tailing red drum!
If you’re serious about surf fishing, you’ll consider a cart that will carry all your gear (and then some) out to the surf line. This gentleman is a regular on Apollo Beach, and he’s geared up! (Photo by Bob Rountree)
http://www.floridarambler.com/florida-best-beaches/apollo-beach-canaveral-national-seashore