E 12th Avenue Beach Access, Daytona Beach Shores Fishing

E 12th Avenue Beach Access puts you on the open Atlantic surf of Daytona Beach Shores with a county parking area close to the sand. It is a plain surf-casting spot with no pier, jetty or structure, so the fishing is about reading the beach and the tide.

• Open-beach surf fishing on a wide, hard-packed beach
• Whiting and pompano are the staple catches, with drum and bluefish in season
• County off-beach parking at the street end
• Best early, before the beach fills with sunbathers and cars

The access is at E 12th Avenue where it meets S Atlantic Avenue in Daytona Beach Shores. Volusia County's Park Volusia beach-parking page lists it as an off-beach parking location.

• Parking: the county charges a vehicle fee for beach access and parking; check the current pass options before you go
• Walk: a short walk from the street end to the sand
• Driving: this part of the coast is a driving beach, so watch for vehicles and do not assume the sand is traffic-free
• Exact walkover or ramp layout is not confirmed; look at the street end when you arrive

Surf fishing along Daytona Beach is centered on whiting and pompano, with other fish passing through by season.

• Spring (Mar-May): pompano pass through, with whiting and the odd bluefish
• Summer (Jun-Aug): whiting are the steady catch, with ladyfish, jacks and rays
• Fall (Sep-Nov): pompano again, plus redfish and black drum along the troughs, and mullet running the beach
• Winter (Dec-Feb): whiting, bluefish, black drum and the occasional flounder on calm days

Surf rods of 8 to 12 feet with 15 to 20 lb line are typical on this coast.

• Whiting and pompano: a two-hook bottom rig with 1/0 or smaller hooks, baited with sand fleas, small pieces of fresh or frozen shrimp, or Fishbites-style baits
• Pompano: a small pompano jig or a sand flea fished right in the wash
• Drum and redfish: larger cut mullet or fresh shrimp on a fish-finder rig with a pyramid sinker
• Bring a sand spike and a long-handled net or just wait for a wave to slide the fish up the beach
• Keep gear simple on the sand; pliers and a bait knife are enough

The Atlantic coast has two highs and two lows a day, and the beach changes shape through each cycle.

• A rising tide an hour or two before high water is a reliable window
• At low tide, walk the beach and look for the dark, deeper troughs behind the bars
• Early morning and dusk are the best light; water is clearest after a few days of light wind
• Strong onshore wind and surge roil the water and weed up the line
• After a nor'easter, the trough can be productive for whiting and drum

This is a driving beach with rip currents and summer crowds, so choose your spot with care.

• Watch for cars and trucks on the sand and keep gear away from the traffic lane
• Stay out of the water in front of swimmers and lifeguard areas; fish at a distance from them
• Rip currents can form near sandbars; wade only where you can see the bottom
• Shuffle your feet to warn stingrays
• Summer thunderstorms build in the afternoon; leave the sand at the first rumble
• Access: a short walk over sand; not a paved fishing platform

Facilities here are not confirmed, so plan to bring what you need.

• The county lists the lot for off-beach parking, with a fee
• Restrooms are not confirmed at this exact access, so assume none and use the nearest public facilities
• Bait and tackle: no shop at the access; local tackle stores sell sand fleas and shrimp in the area
• Bring water, sun protection and a cart for gear if you have much to carry

• Arrive at first light for the quietest beach and the best bite
• Dig or buy sand fleas, or use frozen shrimp cut into small pieces for whiting
• Walk a bit along the beach to find a trough rather than casting in front of the lot
• A beach cart helps a lot if you carry a long surf rod and a cooler
• Park close and keep valuables out of sight, as cars sit in a busy lot
• Check the posted signs for swim areas and pier buffers before you set up

Volusia County Coastal Division manages the beach and its off-beach parking.

• Chumming may be restricted on county beaches, so check posted rules
• Park Volusia lists a year-round vehicle access fee for driving on the beach; parking fees apply at the off-beach lots
• The county does not list fishing specifically at this access, so read posted signs; stay out of marked swim areas
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything