Kelly Park East, Merritt Island Fishing

Kelly Park East is a Banana River park at the SR 528 bridge where anglers share the shore with windsurfers and boaters, casting from the lagoon boardwalk and the shoreline into shallow, grassy water.

• Shoreline and boardwalk fishing listed by Brevard County
• Redfish, black drum and spotted seatrout in the Banana River
• Sheepshead in the cooler months; snook, jacks and ladyfish in the warm ones
• Restrooms, pavilions, a playground and a four-lane boat ramp

The park is at 2550 N. Banana River Drive on north Merritt Island, on the west side of the Banana River just south of the SR 528 (Bennett Causeway) bridge.

• Getting there: follow North Banana River Drive on Merritt Island to the park entrance by the river
• Parking: separate parking for cars and for boat trailers; keep out of the trailer spaces
• Fees: no entry fee is listed
• Hours: the county lists the park as open from dawn to dusk; only the boat ramp is open around the clock
• The walk: a paved walkway links the parking, restrooms and pavilions, with a boardwalk along the lagoon
• Kelly Park West, across Banana River Drive, is a separate park with a small brackish lake

The Banana River is a shallow lagoon with grass flats and sand holes, and its fish move with the water temperature.

• Spring (Mar-May): redfish and black drum cruising the flats, seatrout on the grass edges
• Summer (Jun-Aug): seatrout early and late, snook and jacks on bait, ladyfish in the open water
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the mullet run brings redfish, snook, jacks and ladyfish close to shore; flounder on the sandy bottom
• Winter (Dec-Feb): black drum and sheepshead near the bridge and deeper edges, seatrout in the potholes on warm afternoons

Light spinning gear with 10-15 lb braid and a 20 lb fluorocarbon leader suits the shallow, clear water.

• Redfish and black drum: live shrimp or a piece of blue crab on a light Carolina rig, or a scented soft plastic dragged slowly
• Seatrout: live shrimp under a popping cork, or a paddle-tail on a 1/8-1/4 oz jig head over grass
• Sheepshead: fiddler crabs or shrimp near the bridge pilings and docks in winter
• Snook, jacks and ladyfish: small swimbaits, spoons and topwater plugs at dawn and dusk
• Keep noise down and cast well ahead of cruising fish in the clear water

The Banana River is almost tideless; the wind raises and lowers it and pushes the water around.

• Calm, sunny mornings are best for spotting redfish and drum in the clear shallows
• A steady breeze colors the water on the downwind shore and moves bait; fish that side
• A wind shift often starts fish feeding as the water flows back
• Winter cold fronts push fish to the deeper holes and the bridge channel
• Heavy rain and algae blooms can cloud the lagoon; if the water looks brown or green, try another day

A paved walkway links the parking, restrooms and pavilions, so the park is easy to get around.

• The sandy beach is a sailboard and catamaran launch; do not cast across it when boards are out
• The four-lane boat ramp is busy on weekends; keep gear and lines out of the lanes
• Leave at the first thunder; summer storms build quickly over the lagoon
• Shuffle your feet if you step into the water; stingrays lie in the shallows
• Manatees are common in the Banana River; never snag or feed one

Brevard County lists a full set of facilities for a lagoon park.

• Restrooms and drinking fountains
• Shoreline fishing and a lagoon boardwalk
• A four-lane motorized boat ramp with a dock
• Two small riverside pavilions, larger pavilions and a gazebo
• Playground and a sand volleyball court
• A sandy sailboard and catamaran launch beach
• No bait shop in the park; bring bait with you

• Early morning before the windsurfers and boats arrive is the quietest time to fish
• Walk the shoreline slowly and look for tailing redfish and drum in calm water
• An east wind blows straight onto this shore and piles bait against it
• Parts of the Banana River to the north lie in the wildlife refuge, with their own boating rules; check them before you launch a kayak there
• Bring polarized sunglasses; the clear water rewards sight-fishing

Kelly Park East is run by Brevard County Parks and Recreation; follow posted park rules and hours.

• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you qualify for an exemption
• Keeping a snook needs a snook permit as well as the license
• Redfish and seatrout in the Indian River Lagoon system, which includes the Banana River, are managed by region, and the lagoon region has release rules for redfish; check FWC before keeping any fish
• Parts of the Banana River in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge are a manatee sanctuary open only to non-motorized boats
• Check current FWC rules (myfwc.com) for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything