Taft Avenue Beach Access, Cape Canaveral Fishing

Taft Avenue Beach Access is a small free street-end access in Cape Canaveral, a good fit for anglers who want a simple, quiet place to surf cast without paying a meter. It sits on the same open beach that holds pompano, whiting and bluefish north and south of Port Canaveral.

• Free street-end parking, about a dozen spaces
• Walkway over the dunes to open Atlantic sand
• Whiting and pompano on the bottom, bluefish in cool months
• No restrooms and no lifeguard

The access is at Taft Avenue and Ridgewood Avenue in Cape Canaveral. A public access list shows 12 parking spaces here, pedestrian access and no restrooms; the city says most street ends have free beach parking.

• Park in the small street-end lot; no charge at most city street ends
• Take the boardwalk crossover over the dune
• The sand beyond is soft, so travel light
• The city's own access page does not list this street, so confirm it is open when you arrive

The beach is open surf, and the catch tracks the water temperature.

• Spring (Mar-May): pompano and whiting as the surf warms
• Summer (Jun-Aug): whiting, croakers and jacks, with small sharks at night
• Fall (Sep-Nov): bait runs bring bluefish, Spanish mackerel and jacks close
• Winter (Dec-Feb): bluefish on cut mullet, pompano on calm clear days

Fish it as simple surf: a rod that reaches the second bar and a rig that stays put.

• Pompano rig with sand fleas or shrimp on 2 small hooks and a 3 to 5 oz sinker
• Cut mullet or a spoon for bluefish and mackerel
• A 10 to 12 foot rod with 15 to 20 lb line
• Bring your own bait; digging fleas may not be allowed everywhere

The Atlantic runs two tides a day.

• Fish the two hours either side of high tide
• Look for a darker gutter in front of the bar
• Clean green water after a few calm days is best
• Heavy northeast surf brings weed and muddy water

A quiet access with few people around means you are on your own.

• No lifeguard at a street end that we could confirm
• Rip currents run on this coast; stay out of deep water
• Keep your line clear of swimmers and walkers
• Leave when thunder is heard
• The boardwalk and the sand beyond are not wheelchair-friendly beyond the crossover

The access is basic, a street end rather than a developed park.

• A small free street-end lot of about 12 spaces
• A boardwalk crossover over the dune
• No restrooms at this access, so plan your stop before you arrive
• No lifeguard tower or showers that we could confirm
• No bait shop on the beach; buy bait and ice in town before you walk down
• Bring your own water, shade and a bag for trash

• The lot is small, so arrive early on weekends
• Pick your cast spot near a gutter, not in front of the crossover
• Pack out your line and bait scraps
• Carry water and a sun hat; there is no shade
• Check conditions before you go; this beach has few lifeguards

The City of Cape Canaveral manages its beach accesses. The city does not list fishing at this access, so read the posted signs and follow any beach rules.

• Most street-end parking is free, but follow 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