Florida advice

Porter2

Porter2

Legend
I have read past posts and my requests from last year for info. Didn’t end up fishing last year tho. This year will be different I’m in Florida for two weeks from late mid June to early July. Yuck. Weather is a bit miserable at this time.

For 8 of the days we will have a nice Airbnb place right on the Banana River. We will have a dock and some type of boat house with kayaks. Also it is a 7-8 minute walk to Cocoa Beach. that’s what I’m most interested in is beach fishing. I was at Cocoa beach last year and what a zoo it was but that was afternoon hours. I’m an early riser. I get up at 430am for work. I naturally wake up around this time (internal alarm clock per se). My girls will easily sleep in til 10am every am. 😆

I’m looking at 4+ hour window of fishing a few am’s. We have dedicated two days … one to space center and one to universal studies. Other days are for bumming around.
My plan is to get a 7 day license and walk to the beach on the bumming days. (Not sure I want to venture the banana river in kayak with all the critters and slithers down there plus not knowing it well, I might change my mind when I see the water. But for most part it looks like a lot of channel type water). I also don’t really want to drive much. Floridian drivers are aggressively combative to deal with 😆.

Planning on taking one or two set ups. 9 weight or a 6 and 9 if I do two. I prefer to do two. See how that works out.

So what I’m asking for is suggestions/info. What are a couple lines I should be looking at to purchase for beach fishing? I know I can read the Rio and SA spiel but prefer some real intel on warm salt water lines.

Cocoa beach intel? North or South of pier for beach fishing. Just a go north or south of pier works for me. No specifics necessary.

Rods taking a 691 TCR (do have a Xi3 but I prefer the tcr for longer casting). and either a Horizon II or XP 9 weight. (For line references)

Thanks in advance.
 
I haven’t fished that area but would definitely go for it in the mornings when family is still sleeping, I’m in the same boat as you :)

When I went to Sarasota on spring break break I took an 8wt and Rio Elite Flats Pro with clear tip and really liked it.

It casts like an OBS but a tropical version, a floater with intermediate tip for stealth.

If you have kayak right on the water you should poke around, I’m sure there’s snooks and jacks in there. Even try night dock fishing for snooks. Would also fish the beach too if it’s calm, fish it all! :)
 
I'd look into getting one of the green battery-powered, usbc-charged submersible dock lights that turn on when immersed.

My son and I dropped one every night when we were in the Keys a few weeks ago, and boy did it make dock fishing easy and productive.
 
J Watrous said:
I'd look into getting one of the green battery-powered, usbc-charged submersible dock lights that turn on when immersed.

My son and I dropped one every night when we were in the Keys a few weeks ago, and boy did it make dock fishing easy and productive.
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Interesting.
 
Thank you for the links. Be doing my own thing with seeing how I will want/need to be back at the house around 10am. Or 🤔….

Why I wondering if 5-9am is tolerable? I was there after 12-evening and yes a zoo is a kind word.
 
Porter2 said:
Thank you for the links. Be doing my own thing with seeing how I will want/need to be back at the house around 10am. Or 🤔….
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Those sites mention fish species you may encounter and places to fish as you DIY
 
I've stayed at Cocoa Beach in the past after work conferences, but the odds of good fishing success without a boat and some guidance are slim. You might catch some small ladyfish, pompano, bluefish and/or jacks though fishing the beach surf. 8 weight casting Clousers or Deceivers (white) with a floating bonefish line of your choice.
Down the road south near Jupiter are beaches that fish well for snook. Travel west to the gulf side for great tarpon fishing June-July.
 
Porter2 said:
Thank you for the links. Be doing my own thing with seeing how I will want/need to be back at the house around 10am. Or 🤔….

Why I wondering if 5-9am is tolerable? I was there after 12-evening and yes a zoo is a kind word.
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It says you can catch tarpon in the Banana River in summer, and you are staying on the Banana River in summer and will have a kayak. :unsure:
I say embrace your inner Steve Irwin and get thee to the Banana River.
 
Years ago(many years ago actually), the submarine I was stationed on docked a couple of times at Port Canaveral. I fished both early mornings and late evenings off the pier and caught a variety of species each time on smallish white streamers. Jacks, pompano, sheepshead, small bluefish and some unidentified small fish. Nothing over maybe 4 pounds but looks of action and good fun. Seemed as if any dock, at prime times will produce something. Whatever bites will probably pull harder than any of our local freshwater fish.
 
It may be worth a trip to the Mosquito Lagoon. I have a buddy in Titusville and have enjoyed some great walk-in and kayak fishing up there.
 
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