Apollo Beach, Canaveral National Seashore Fishing

Apollo Beach, Canaveral National Seashore is the wild, undeveloped north end of the national seashore, with open-beach surf fishing away from the busy resort beaches.

• Whiting, pompano and bluefish are the staples
• Redfish, black drum, jacks and sharks in season
• Undeveloped sand and dunes, reached by boardwalks
• Entrance fee, night closure and National Park Service rules apply

From New Smyrna Beach, follow State Road A1A south past Bethune Beach to the Apollo Beach entrance station at 7611 South Atlantic Avenue, then continue on the park road to the beach parking areas.

• Entrance fee: charged per vehicle, motorcycle or person on foot or bike, valid for seven days; the entrance station takes credit or debit cards only, and passes can also be bought online
• Passes are not sold at the visitor center, Eldora House or Seminole Rest
• Walk: boardwalks cross the dunes from the parking areas to the sand
• Parking areas close to incoming traffic when full
• Storm damage and repair work (sand removal, boardwalk, parking-lot or restroom repairs) can close parts of the district at times, so check the park's alerts before you go

The surf here fishes all year, with the seasons changing the mix.

• Spring (Mar-May): pompano and whiting, bluefish early, blacktip sharks passing
• Summer (Jun-Aug): whiting and croaker in the troughs, jacks, the odd snook near the beach
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the mullet run brings bluefish, jacks, redfish, sharks and tarpon along the beach
• Winter (Dec-Feb): pompano and whiting on calm days after the fronts, black drum and redfish in the deeper troughs

A 9 to 12 foot surf rod with 15 to 20 lb line handles most days.

• Whiting and pompano: a two-hook bottom rig with small hooks and a pyramid sinker, baited with shrimp or bought sand fleas
• Do not dig sand fleas or other bait here; digging for bait is prohibited in the seashore
• Bluefish and jacks: cut mullet or a metal spoon during the fall run
• Redfish and black drum: cut mullet or crab on a fish-finder rig in the deeper troughs
• Carry a sand spike, pliers and a small cooler; the walk from the parking area is on foot

The Atlantic gives two highs and two lows a day here, and the troughs and cuts in the sandbar decide where the fish feed.

• Fish the incoming tide into the first of the outgoing; dead low is often slow
• Look for cuts and deeper troughs at low tide, then fish them as the water rises
• Calm, clean surf is best for pompano; rough, stirred water suits redfish and drum
• North-east winds make the surf heavy and weedy
• Summer afternoons bring storms; mornings are best

This is an undeveloped national seashore beach with no services on the sand.

• Rip currents: wade only knee deep and never in rough surf
• Stingrays: shuffle your feet when wading
• Summer lightning: leave the beach at the first thunder
• Heat and sun with no shade on the beach; bring water, a hat and shade
• Stay on the boardwalks; the dunes are closed to all foot traffic
• Sea turtles nest on this beach; keep away from marked nests

Facilities are few in the national seashore, so arrive with what you need.

• Apollo Visitor Center near the entrance
• Parking areas with boardwalk dune crossings
• No bait sales are listed in the park; buy bait and supplies in New Smyrna Beach before you enter
• Dogs are not allowed on the beach or the beach boardwalks
• Glass containers are prohibited on the beach, boardwalks and parking lots
• The Mosquito Lagoon side of the district has a boat ramp and paddling launches

• Arrive early on summer weekends; parking areas close when they fill
• Buy sand fleas or fresh shrimp before you arrive, since you cannot dig bait here
• Walk to find a trough or cut rather than fishing the first spot off the boardwalk
• Plan to be off the beach well before closing time; the beaches close half an hour before the park does
• Keep lines clear of swimmers and surfers

Apollo Beach is part of Canaveral National Seashore, managed by the National Park Service.

• An entrance fee is required
• The district south of the entrance gate closes at night: 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in winter and 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. in summer, and the inbound lanes close an hour before closing time
• No fishing within designated swimming beaches, surfing areas or public boat docks, and no digging for bait
• A Florida fishing license is required unless an exemption applies
• Shore-based shark fishing needs a free FWC permit
• Check current FWC rules (myfwc.com) for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything