Cardinal Drive Beach Park, Ormond Beach Fishing

Cardinal Drive Beach Park is a county beach access in Ormond Beach, with its own lot and a short crossing to the sand. It is a plain surf spot for whiting and pompano, on a beach where you may meet cars as well as anglers.

• County beach access with a 118-space lot
• Surf catches of whiting, pompano, bluefish and drum
• A signalized crosswalk to the beach ramp
• Open all year, with a daily parking fee

The access is at 650 S. Atlantic Avenue in Ormond Beach, about 1.25 miles south of Granada Boulevard. Volusia County runs it as a coastal park.

• Parking: an off-beach lot with 118 regular and 6 accessible spaces
• Fee: the county charges a daily parking fee at its off-beach lots (county residents can register to park free); check the current rate
• Parking is not allowed overnight, from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.
• A signalized crosswalk leads to the beach ramp, then soft sand to the water

Surf fishing here follows the Daytona beaches' patterns.

• Spring (Mar-May): whiting and pompano in the troughs, with bluefish and Spanish mackerel when bait is close
• Summer (Jun-Aug): whiting and croakers by day, sharks and rays at night
• Fall (Sep-Nov): whiting and bluefish, with the mullet run drawing in jacks
• Winter (Dec-Feb): whiting, drum and the occasional pompano on mild days

Use a 9 to 12 foot surf rod with 15 to 20 lb line.

• Whiting and pompano: a two-hook pompano rig with sand fleas, shrimp or Fishbites, in the trough
• Bluefish and mackerel: a cut-bait rig, or a metal spoon cast past the breakers
• Drum: a heavier rig with cut shrimp or crab on the bottom
• Bait: bring or buy it, rather than digging fleas yourself
• A sand spike and a long-handled net help

The Atlantic beach has two highs and two lows a day.

• Fish a rising tide through high, when fish move into the troughs
• Dawn and dusk are best, with fewer swimmers
• A light onshore wind stirs up bait; heavy surf muddies the water
• Low tide shows the troughs and bars so you can place your cast
• Check the beach conditions before you go, since driving and tides change the beach

A busy beach with vehicle traffic.

• Cars drive on the beach at the ramp; watch for them when carrying gear
• Rip currents, especially in rough surf
• Do not fish in front of swimmers; the visitor bureau asks anglers to use common sense and designated areas
• Do not disturb sea turtle nests, which are fenced off
• Shuffle your feet for rays and carry water

Facilities are modest.

• A paid off-beach parking lot
• A signalized crosswalk and beach ramp
• Restrooms and showers were not confirmed here; plan without them
• Bait: Granada Pier Bait & Tackle in Ormond Beach sells live and frozen bait
• Bring water, shade and a cart for gear

• Come at dawn, when the beach is quiet and the troughs are clear
• Read the water from the crosswalk to spot the trough before you carry gear across
• A beach cart saves the long walk across soft sand
• Pick up bait at a tackle shop on the way
• Pack out all line and trash; the visitor bureau stresses it
• Check the county's page for ramp or lot closures after storms

Volusia County manages the Cardinal Drive Beach Park as one of its coastal parks.

• All county coastal parks are open every day of the year
• Chumming is not allowed on Volusia beaches
• Surf fishing is allowed on the beach, but stay out of swim areas and away from swimmers
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Check current FWC rules (myfwc.com) for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything