Apollo Beach Parking Area 3, Canaveral National Seashore Fishing

Apollo Beach Parking Area 3 puts you on a wild stretch of Atlantic surf inside Canaveral National Seashore, with no condos, no crowds on weekdays and a reputation among local surf casters as the best of the numbered lots.

• Undeveloped Atlantic beach, reached from the Apollo Beach road
• Whiting, pompano, bluefish and redfish in the trough
• Sandbars here shift, so reading the water matters
• No lifeguards and no shops, so come prepared

The lot is one of five numbered beach lots on the Apollo Beach road, which runs south from the park gate along the dune line, on the New Smyrna Beach side of the seashore. The National Park Service manages it.

• Drive in through the north district entrance station, where an entrance fee is charged
• Park in the lot, then cross the dunes on the walkover or boardwalk
• A handicap-accessible boardwalk to the beach has been described here, but the park scheduled boardwalk demolition and replacement for Lots 2 and 3 in January 2026, so ask at the gate
• The lot is open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. year-round; confirm current hours at the gate

Surf fishing here follows the Atlantic calendar.

• Spring (Mar-May): pompano and whiting along the trough, with bluefish and Spanish mackerel when bait is near
• Summer (Jun-Aug): whiting, croaker and small jacks; ladyfish and sharks at dawn
• Fall (Sep-Nov): mullet run brings redfish, jacks and bluefish close to the beach
• Winter (Dec-Feb): whiting, black drum and the odd pompano in the cold, clear water

Most anglers fish the trough just past the first bar with a 9 to 12 foot surf rod and a pyramid weight of 2 to 4 oz.

• Whiting and pompano: a two-hook pompano rig with 2/0 to 1/0 hooks baited with cut shrimp or sand fleas, purchased in town
• Redfish and black drum: fresh cut mullet or shrimp on a fish-finder rig with a 4/0 circle hook
• Bluefish and mackerel: a small metal spoon or jig retrieved fast when birds work bait
• Use 15 to 20 lb line and a 30 lb leader
• Bring a sand spike; the surf keeps rods upright poorly

The Atlantic here has two highs and two lows a day, and the beach changes with each storm swell.

• Fish the two hours either side of high tide, when the trough is deepest and fish come close
• Walk the beach at low tide to find the cuts, slough edges and sandbars, then fish them on the rising tide
• Dawn and dusk are best, and also avoid the summer midday heat
• A light onshore breeze stirs the water and helps; a clean, calm green is easiest to read
• Heavy surf after a front muddies the water for a day

This is a remote beach, so plan to be self-sufficient.

• No lifeguard is on duty; rip currents are possible, so do not wade deep
• Shuffle your feet for stingrays
• Lightning is frequent on summer afternoons; head for the car at the first rumble
• Mosquitoes and biting flies can be heavy at dawn and dusk
• Bring water, shade and sun protection
• The walk from the lot to the sand is short, but it includes dune crossings and soft sand

Facilities are minimal, in keeping with the seashore.

• A paved parking lot beside the Apollo Beach road
• Restrooms are described as chemical toilets at the beach lots; verify what is open
• No bait shop, food or water in the park, so buy bait and supplies in New Smyrna Beach first
• No lights, so night fishing means headlamps and a full tide table

• Walk to the sandbars at low tide and note where the troughs sit, then fish them at high tide
• Lots 2 to 4 are favored by locals; if Lot 3 is crowded, try its neighbors
• Bring bait with you; digging for it in the park is not allowed
• Check the seashore's alerts before heading in, because storm and construction closures can shut parts of the road
• Fill your cooler with ice and water before the gate; there is nowhere to buy either inside
• Weekends in summer can fill the lots by midday

Canaveral National Seashore is managed by the National Park Service.

• The park lists fishing among its activities, but read the posted signs at the lot for the day's rules, closures and hours
• An entrance fee is charged at the gate
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless an exemption applies
• Volusia County does not allow chumming; check FWC rules for shore-based shark fishing, which needs a free FWC permit
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything