Fishing in Cocoa Beach, Florida, United States

Just south of Cape Canaveral in Florida is the Cocoa Beach community. Cocoa Beach is on a barrier island on the Atlantic Coast, so most of your fishing here is saltwater. You can fish from the beach on either side, take a small boat like a kayak or flatboat or charter to go offshore or in the Banana River. The smaller islands on the mainland side are inshore hotspots.

Florida has seasons for certain fish species. If you catch one of the out-of-season fish, you must release it. The state also has size limits for most fish as well. Charter captains make sure you stay on the right side of the law no matter what you catch. Some species like certain sharks, tarpon and Goliath grouper must be released at all times unless you have a special permit. Professional guides can help with the permit.

As long as a hurricane is not blowing in, the weather will not affect fishing that much, depending on the species. Offshore fish are less affected by tidal changes and rain. Inshore fish, like snook, may quit biting completely during slack tides.

Fishing is good here year-round, with some seasons better than others depending on what you want to catch. If you head to deep water, mahi mahi (aka dolphin or dorado), mackerel, billfish and yellowfin tuna are common. Look for the microplankton blooms for fish like dolphin, tuna and billfish. Baitfish follow the blooms, and the predators are not far behind. If you see birds diving, head for them as the baitfish they are eating were chased to the surface by predators. The offshore reefs are consistent providers for things like grouper and snappers. 

Inshore, fishing is more dependent on the tides. At low tide, the fish move into the deeper channels. At high tide, reds move into the shallows to forage. Fishing these shallows is a perfect time to get out in a kayak as you can easily slip around without spooking the fish. When the water is moving, snook will congregate around points to catch a meal being swept along by the current.

The area has two fishing piers where you can expect reds, Spanish mackerel, flounder, sheepshead and speckled trout. Fishing in the surf, you will find pompano, snook, flounder and whiting. 

If you get on the water on the Banana River, look for the mangrove snapper, reds, and trout in the mangroves. Tarpon moves into the area when the water warms during summer. 

Offshore, the water is dotted with natural and artificial reefs. The fish do not see a difference between the two. Drop live or cut bait over the side and hang on. If you are strong enough, you can speed fish big jigs over the side as well.