Robert P. Murkshe Memorial Park Fishing

Robert P. Murkshe Memorial Park is a pocket-sized county access in south Cocoa Beach: park, follow the paved path past the restroom, cross the dune and start casting.

• Listed by Brevard County for surf fishing
• Free parking in a small lot shaded by sea grapes
• A restroom, an outdoor shower and a small picnic pavilion
• No lifeguard tower is listed, so the flags and your own judgment are the safety net

The park is at 1600 S. Atlantic Avenue (A1A), on the beach at 16th Street South in Cocoa Beach.

• Getting there: take A1A south through Cocoa Beach to 16th Street South; the park is on the ocean side
• Parking: free, in a small lot that fills early on weekends
• Hours: the county lists the park as open from dawn to dusk
• The walk: a paved walkway leads from the restroom to one dune crossover, then soft sand to the water
• Neighbors: the city's leashed dog beach runs from 4th Street South down to the park's north side

A single trough in front of the crossover can hold most of what swims along this part of the Space Coast.

• Spring (Mar-May): pompano and whiting feeding in the trough, bluefish and Spanish mackerel moving north, blacktips beyond the bar
• Summer (Jun-Aug): whiting and croaker most mornings, snook on calm days at first light, jacks and ladyfish when bait shows
• Fall (Sep-Nov): mullet schools pull snook, jacks, bluefish, redfish and sharks tight to the sand; pompano reappear late
• Winter (Dec-Feb): pompano and whiting on the calmer days after fronts, black drum on clam

Pack for a single trip over the crossover; one surf rod and one light rod cover almost everything.

• Surf rod: 10-12 ft, 20-30 lb line, 3-6 oz sinkers to hold in the wash
• Pompano and whiting: a two-hook float rig with small circle hooks, baited with sand fleas, clam, shrimp or a scented synthetic strip
• Bluefish and Spanish mackerel: a spoon on a short wire leader cast into bait sprays
• Snook and jacks: swimbaits, plugs or live finger mullet worked along the trough at dawn
• Redfish and black drum: cut mullet, crab or clam on a fish-finder rig
• A sand spike, a small cart and a flea rake make the walk easier

The Atlantic here runs two high and two low tides a day, and the fish move with the water.

• The flood into high tide is usually the best window
• Scout at low tide for troughs and cuts in the bar, which shift after every storm
• Light winds and green water suit pompano
• Onshore gales stir up sand and weed; wait for the water to clear
• Summer heat pushes the bite toward dawn and dusk

This is a simple, unstaffed beach access, so come prepared.

• No lifeguard tower is listed for this park; rip currents are common, so never wade deep to cast
• Leave at the first thunder; summer storms build quickly over the beach
• Keep casts clear of swimmers and surfers
• Shuffle your feet in the wash for stingrays, and watch for jellyfish after onshore winds
• The paved walkway helps, but the crossover and the soft sand beyond are hard going with a heavy cart

Brevard County lists a compact set of facilities, enough for a morning in the surf.

• A restroom and an outdoor shower for rinsing sand off gear
• A small picnic pavilion with two tables and a grill
• A paved walkway to one dune crossover
• A small, free parking lot
• No bait shop; bring bait, water and shade

• The small lot fills on weekends; come early or be ready to wait
• Walk a little north or south from the crossover to find a deeper trough and room of your own
• Dig sand fleas in the swash as waves pull back; they are the best pompano bait
• Early mornings and evenings bring leashed dogs to the city's dog beach just north of the park
• Keep a spoon rigged for bluefish and Spanish mackerel when bait sprays

Robert P. Murkshe Memorial Park is run by Brevard County Parks and Recreation inside the City of Cocoa Beach, whose beach guidelines apply.

• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you qualify for an exemption
• The city lists surf fishing as allowed and asks anglers to keep fishing areas safe for swimmers
• Dogs belong only on the city's dog beach, on a leash and during its posted hours
• Sea turtles nest from March 1 to October 31; leave nests alone and keep lights low
• Shore-based shark fishing needs the free FWC permit, and a snook permit is needed to keep a snook
• Check current FWC rules (myfwc.com) for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything