About Banana Creek, FL

Banana Creek is located 5 miles from Merritt Island, Brevard County, Florida. It is a stream that is near Stony Island. Banana Creek is connected to the Indian Lagoon River and Banana River. The stream is now divided, creating a gravel pathway called Crawlerway. Nearby water bodies are the Indian River, Moore Creek, Oyster Prong, Tuming Basin, Pepper Flats, and Devils Elbow. Banana Creek is visited chiefly because of the nearby attractions such as NASA’s SLS rocket and Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex. A spot on the western side of the creek is known as Peacocks Pocket, and many gather here to fish. One of the tributaries of Banana Creek is called Happy Creek, which is used to convey canoes towards Mosquito Lagoon. In 1744, Banana Creek was described as clear flowing water with an oyster bed. In 1605, it was tagged as the capital of the Northern Ais clan.

All About Fishing in Banana Creek, FL

In Banana Creek, the most prominent fish species available are red drum, mangrove snapper, and spotted green pufferfish. There are also spotted sea trout, common snook, bonnethead shark, channel catfish, black drum, and striped burrfish. Often, there are also zander, crappie, tench, common carp, ruffe, rainbow trout, minnow, ide, goldfish, and tilapia. There is a good amount of algae blooming in the area. It shows a good balance in the ecosystem, and the fish species would further benefit. Red drum fish often eat small crabs, shrimps, and marine worms. When they grow big, they eat larger crabs, shrimps, small fish, and at times, croakers. Good baits are small fish, crabs, shrimps and other invertebrates for mangrove snapper fish. What pufferfish eat are algae and other invertebrates. 

Inside Banana Creek, several fish species are tagged in no-take zones yet you can still enjoy sight fishing, wade fishing and carter fishing in the area. A popular technique done in the area is fly fishing. Using a large fly and searching deeper places opt to increase your chances of catching giant red drum fish, which at times could get as heavy as 30 pounds. Smaller red drum fish of about 12 pounds, remain along the shoreline and stay where the water is skinny. Using a brown minnow to catch red drum fish would significantly increase the chances. No motors are allowed in the area, so one can either paddle or row in a boat. Otherwise, one can get arrested. While paddling, one can already look for visible fish around. It is also advisable to check the wind direction when using a paddle boat in picking which side of the stream to fish. Knowing the wind direction is an important factor for fishing.

Fishing Seasonality

During winter, fish species, such as black drum, trout, and redfish, tend to be in shallow places to feel warmer. It is also the prime time for tailing fish. In the drier months of winter, it is easy to wade fish since the water level drops bringing the fish to the surface. The best time to fish in the winter is around 4PM, when the wind is lighter. On the other hand, fish, such as red drum and spotted sea trout, are more active in summer mornings. In May, the common snook would be more present. It is not recommended to wade fish during summer because more alligators are present than fish. These are the times where fish tend to go into deeper water. Fish species would be more accessible and more active during the early times of the day. All year-round, a good amount of fish species are available at Banana Creek.

Fishing Seasonality

During winter, fish species, such as black drum, trout, and redfish, tend to be in shallow places to feel warmer. It is also the prime time for tailing fish. In the drier months of winter, it is easy to wade fish since the water level drops bringing the fish to the surface. The best time to fish in the winter is around 4PM, when the wind is lighter. On the other hand, fish, such as red drum and spotted sea trout, are more active in summer mornings. In May, the common snook would be more present. It is not recommended to wade fish during summer because more alligators are present than fish. These are the times where fish tend to go into deeper water. Fish species would be more accessible and more active during the early times of the day. All year-round, a good amount of fish species are available at Banana Creek.

All About Fishing in Banana Creek, FL

In Banana Creek, the most prominent fish species available are red drum, mangrove snapper, and spotted green pufferfish. There are also spotted sea trout, common snook, bonnethead shark, channel catfish, black drum, and striped burrfish. Often, there are also zander, crappie, tench, common carp, ruffe, rainbow trout, minnow, ide, goldfish, and tilapia. There is a good amount of algae blooming in the area. It shows a good balance in the ecosystem, and the fish species would further benefit. Red drum fish often eat small crabs, shrimps, and marine worms. When they grow big, they eat larger crabs, shrimps, small fish, and at times, croakers. Good baits are small fish, crabs, shrimps and other invertebrates for mangrove snapper fish. What pufferfish eat are algae and other invertebrates. 

Inside Banana Creek, several fish species are tagged in no-take zones yet you can still enjoy sight fishing, wade fishing and carter fishing in the area. A popular technique done in the area is fly fishing. Using a large fly and searching deeper places opt to increase your chances of catching giant red drum fish, which at times could get as heavy as 30 pounds. Smaller red drum fish of about 12 pounds, remain along the shoreline and stay where the water is skinny. Using a brown minnow to catch red drum fish would significantly increase the chances. No motors are allowed in the area, so one can either paddle or row in a boat. Otherwise, one can get arrested. While paddling, one can already look for visible fish around. It is also advisable to check the wind direction when using a paddle boat in picking which side of the stream to fish. Knowing the wind direction is an important factor for fishing.