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BANANA RIVER - NO MOTOR ZONE by Brad Miller |
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The best day of fishing I ever had was at the Banana River, in the Cape Canaveral area. I was able to improve my
personal best in both redfish and trout on the same day. There are not too many places that I know of where that is
likely. Reports regularly come in about one angler catching forty pound black drum and another finding gargantuan reds.
I have yet to find fish of that size myself, but have seen photographic proof of their existence. Though not all of the
fish in the Banana River are huge, there does seem to be a higher concentration of big fish in this area than anywhere
else in east-central Florida.
So where exactly are these fish? After all, the Banana River is pretty big. They are in an area that most fishermen call the "No-motor Zone." This place is huge; in fact, one could easily paddle twelve to fourteen miles while working the area. The zone starts at the power lines just north of Hwy 528 and extends north to Hwy 405. It is actually inside the space center boundary, so when there is a shuttle on the launch pad, the zone is closed. Make sure you check the launch schedule on the NASA website before making the drive, you do not want to be disappointed. There are several put-ins to choose from depending on where in the zone you want to fish. If fishing the west side of the zone, then the put-in at the Hwy 528 bridge is closer. But, do not get this bridge confused with the one that crosses the Indian River or you will end up fishing the wrong river. If fishing the east side of the zone, the put-in by the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station entrance is for you. To find this one, you will need to take 401 (Cape Road) north from Hwy 528, just after crossing the Banana River. Cape Road will make a sharp bend to the east and run right into the base entrance. As you approach the gate, you will notice a small off-road parking area to the left. Park there, then follow the path to the water. Many fishermen have asked, "Why are there so many large fish there?" Most likely, the reason is tied to the fact that motored boats are not allowed. The zone is very shallow in most places and the bottom is covered with a nice blanket of eelgrass. If motors were allowed, their props would tear it up. The eelgrass would certainly thin out, or worse, disappear. But because the eelgrass thrives, all the little critters that live in it thrive also. As we all know, those little critters are fish food. Also, the number of fishermen working the area is exceptionally low compared to other fisheries. Many fishermen love the ease of their motors and since they cannot use them in the zone, they simply do not fish there. Fewer fishermen means less stress on the fish population. Combine this with the fact that most of the fishermen that do fish the zone practice catch-and-release and the result is more, larger fish. In addition to the nice sandy, eelgrass covered bottom, there is quite a bit of mangrove along the shoreline. This diverse habitat supports all of the favored game fish including speckled sea trout, redfish, black drum and snook. Depending on the time of year, you may find all of them in the same day. The water clarity in the zone is exceptionally good, though it does get a little murky on really windy days. Be sure that you have a good variety of baits to choose from. The last time I was there, the water was crystal clear in most places. Using a white Saltwater Assassin twitchbait, I caught both trout and redfish. Though I did try some mullet and pinfish colored shad baits, they didn't work nearly as well. If you would like more information, or would like help planning a trip to the Banana River no-motor zone, please feel free to call us. |
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