South 28th Street Beach Access, Cocoa Beach Fishing

South 28th Street Beach Access is a quiet city street end in South Cocoa Beach that gives surf anglers a short walk to the sand. It is one of the 40 stub-end accesses the city keeps east of A1A, and it works as a simple, no-frills place to cast a rig into the Atlantic.

• Open ocean beach with a dune crossover from a dead-end street
• Whiting and pompano are the everyday catch, with bluefish and jacks in season
• Metered parking at the street end; restrooms not listed
• The city does not list fishing here, so read the posted signs

The access is at the east end of South 28th Street, off A1A in South Cocoa Beach. The City of Cocoa Beach says its 40 stub-end streets east of A1A offer direct beach access, each with metered parking and a dune crossover.

• Park in the metered spaces at the street end and pay as posted
• Walk the dune crossover to the sand
• Expect a short, soft-sand carry with a cooler and rods
• Hours are not confirmed for this access; check the signs

This is open surf, so the catch follows the seasons of the Space Coast beaches.

• Spring (Mar-May): pompano and whiting as the water warms, with bluefish tapering off
• Summer (Jun-Aug): whiting, croakers and the odd jack or small shark
• Fall (Sep-Nov): mullet and bait schools bring jacks, bluefish and Spanish mackerel close
• Winter (Dec-Feb): pompano on cool clear days and big bluefish on cut bait

A 9 to 12 foot surf rod with a sinker of 3 to 5 oz holds bottom in the wash.

• Pompano and whiting: a two-hook pompano rig with sand fleas, small pieces of shrimp or shrimp-flavored artificial bait
• Bluefish and mackerel: cut mullet or a casting spoon thrown past the breakers
• Sharks: only with the free FWC shore-based shark permit and the rules posted on site; many beaches restrict it
• Bring a sand spike, since the beach is open and flat

The Atlantic has two highs and two lows a day, and the trough in front of the beach is where fish feed.

• Fish the two hours either side of high tide, when the trough is deep
• Dawn and dusk are quieter and cooler
• A light onshore breeze stirs up food without muddying the water
• Heavy surf and brown water shut the bite down

The beach is open sand with a dune crossover, so the way in is easy but not paved all the way.

• Rip currents are common; do not wade out deep to cast
• Keep your line well away from surfers and swimmers
• Leave the beach at the first thunder of a summer storm
• Shuffle your feet in the wash to warn stingrays
• There is no lifeguard at a street end that we could confirm

A street-end access is basic.

• Metered parking at the end of the street
• A dune crossover to the sand
• Restrooms are not listed at the city's street-end accesses
• No bait shop at the beach; stock up on sand fleas or shrimp on A1A before you arrive

• Bring a few quarters or a payment method for the meter and note the time limit
• Catch your own sand fleas in the wash at the swash line only where digging is allowed; otherwise buy shrimp
• Early morning has the fewest beachgoers and the easiest casting
• Look for a trough or a slightly darker patch of water just past the break
• Carry a sand spike and a small cart for the soft sand
• Take your trash with you

The City of Cocoa Beach manages its beach accesses. The city's access page does not list fishing at this street end, so fishing here is not confirmed by the managing body: read the posted signs and follow any rules for lifeguarded or swim areas.

• Metered parking applies; obey the signs
• Shore-based shark fishing needs a free FWC permit
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything