Kiwanis Island Park Fishing

Kiwanis Island Park is a large community park on Sykes Creek where anglers can fish a county fishing dock or the shoreline, a few minutes from the SR 520 causeway on Merritt Island.

• Shoreline and dock fishing, which the county says are popular here
• Snook, redfish, seatrout and black drum in a sheltered creek
• Sheepshead and mangrove snapper around structure
• Restrooms, a two-lane boat ramp, pavilions, a playground and sports courts

The park is at 951 Kiwanis Island Park Road on Merritt Island, on Sykes Creek just off the SR 520 causeway between Merritt Island and the Banana River.

• Getting there: turn off SR 520 onto Kiwanis Island Park Road and follow it into the park
• Parking: park lots serve the sports fields, courts and boat ramp; keep the trailer spaces for boaters
• Fees: the county lists free parking, and no other fee is listed
• The walk: from the parking areas to the shoreline and the fishing dock
• Sykes Creek leads to the Barge Canal and the Banana River for anyone launching a kayak

Sykes Creek is sheltered water, and the fish use its mangroves, docks and channel edges through the year.

• Spring (Mar-May): redfish and seatrout along the mangrove edges, black drum, sheepshead around the docks
• Summer (Jun-Aug): snook at dawn and dusk, mangrove snapper around structure, jacks and ladyfish on bait
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the mullet run brings snook, redfish, jacks and ladyfish into the creek; flounder on the bottom
• Winter (Dec-Feb): black drum and sheepshead around the dock pilings, seatrout in the deeper channel on warm afternoons

A medium-light spinning rod with 15 lb braid and a 20-30 lb fluorocarbon leader handles the creek fish and the structure.

• Snook: live shrimp, pinfish or finger mullet, or a small swimbait worked along the mangroves at first light
• Redfish and black drum: shrimp, crab or cut mullet on a light Carolina rig
• Seatrout: live shrimp under a popping cork, or a soft plastic along the channel edge
• Sheepshead and mangrove snapper: fiddler crabs or shrimp on a short leader near the pilings
• Jacks and ladyfish: small spoons and jigs
• Use enough leader to stop snook and snapper cutting you off on the structure

Sykes Creek sits in the Banana River system and has almost no lunar tide; the wind moves the water.

• A breeze that pushes water into the creek brings bait with it
• Dawn and dusk are the best times for snook and seatrout
• Calm, clear mornings are good for spotting fish along the mangroves
• Winter cold fronts send fish into the deeper channel; fish the warm afternoons
• Heavy summer rain freshens and clouds the creek

A developed county park with a fishing dock makes this an easy place to fish.

• Stay clear of the boat ramp while boats launch and load
• Manatees use Sykes Creek; never snag, feed or touch one
• Leave at the first thunder; summer storms build fast
• Watch your footing on the shoreline, and bring insect repellent on still evenings
• Docks and the shoreline can be slick after rain; wear shoes with grip

Brevard County lists a large set of facilities.

• Restrooms and drinking fountains
• A fishing dock, plus boarding docks beside the boat ramp
• A two-lane motorized boat ramp and a natural launch area for canoes and kayaks
• Pavilions, a gazebo and a playground
• An exercise trail, lighted ball fields and tennis, pickleball and racquetball courts
• A community center with a gym
• No bait shop in the park; bring bait with you

• Early mornings are the quietest time, before the courts and ramp get busy
• Work the mangrove edges with a small swimbait for snook in summer and fall
• The dock pilings hold sheepshead in winter; drop fiddler crabs straight down
• A kayak from the natural launch opens up miles of creek and canal shoreline
• Carry pliers and a dehooking tool; catfish and small snapper swallow baits deeply

Kiwanis Island Park is run by Brevard County Parks and Recreation; follow the 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 and its creeks, are managed by region, and the lagoon region has release rules for redfish; check FWC before keeping any fish
• Follow posted manatee protection and boat speed zones
• Check current FWC rules (myfwc.com) for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything