About Canaveral Bight, FL

The Canaveral Bight in Brevard County is a protected coastline located at the southeast of Canaveral Peninsula. It is a saltwater bay that stretches 4.5 miles from the tip of Cape Canaveral, across Banana River and southwestward to the opening of Canaveral Barge Canal. The bay’s troughs and depressions have drops that reach depths of up to 25 feet and a maximum depth of 35 feet. Canaveral Bight is one of the significant fishing spots especially for anglers in the East Coast because of the diversity of fish found in it.

Cape Canaveral is most famous for its Air Force Station. Other popular sights and destinations around Canaveral Bight include the 

Air Force Space and Missile Museum, SpaceX Landing Zones, Cape Canaveral lighthouse, and several Launch Complexes. Since it is near Cocoa Beach, swimming, surfing and kayaking are among other fun activities to do in the area apart from fishing. The beach also has an Aerial Adventure Park where groups of family and friends can go for physical activities. 

All About Fishing in Canaveral Bight, FL

The entire shoreline of Canaveral Bight is closed to the public since it is part of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. This is why a boat is necessary in order to do inshore fishing in the bay. It is a haven for a huge variety of fish species like crevalle jack, snook, redfish, Spanish and king mackerel, tarpon, bluefish, cobia, grey snapper, common dolphin fish, and bonita. Most young fish in the Canaveral Bight eat plants and small animals like zooplankton and anchovies. These species move to eating bigger fish even of their own kind as they become juveniles. Depending on the season, pompano and southern kingcroaker, also known as whiting, are also caught in the bay. Pompanos’ diet consists mostly of crustaceans like shrimps and crabs but also includes clams and other small fish. Sharks like Atlantic sharpnose and blacktip shakrs can also be caught in the Canaveral Bight. 

Anglers find the Canaveral Bight a notable spot because of the range of species that can be caught in its waters. 

Drift fishing is one of the most common ways to fish in this bay. For some fish species like the pompano, commercial-grade jigs tipped with hooks that have scraps of peeled shrimp are the best bait used for jigging. On the other hand, a small circular hook attached to a sliding sinker flounder rig and scraps of peeled shrimp works for whiting. Live small fish on weighted bottom rigs works only for snook and redfish, but can also be substituted with lipped plugs when bait supply gets scarce. Since the only way to fish in the Canaveral Bight is by boat, if anglers want to be more stationary than drifting, they use an anchor or electric motors to stay in one place. Trolling is also a good technique to use when fishing in the bay.

Fishing Seasonality

October is the month to pin on your calendar if you are an angler on or near the east coast. Not only does Canaveral Bight’s fish population increase starting from this month, but also its range in species variety. Some even find it a surprise to get some occasional flounder. The peak season for the multitude of fish in the bay starts from October and lasts through January. December to January is the time when pompano and whiting appear in more sizable numbers.

The weather at the bay is mostly moderate, but January is coldest with an average temperature of 49.5 degrees Fahrenheit and July during summer peaks an average of 91.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Regulars start catching some good game in Canaveral Bight when the winds start blowing out of the west or northwest accompanied by the cold fronts.

Fishing Seasonality

October is the month to pin on your calendar if you are an angler on or near the east coast. Not only does Canaveral Bight’s fish population increase starting from this month, but also its range in species variety. Some even find it a surprise to get some occasional flounder. The peak season for the multitude of fish in the bay starts from October and lasts through January. December to January is the time when pompano and whiting appear in more sizable numbers.

The weather at the bay is mostly moderate, but January is coldest with an average temperature of 49.5 degrees Fahrenheit and July during summer peaks an average of 91.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Regulars start catching some good game in Canaveral Bight when the winds start blowing out of the west or northwest accompanied by the cold fronts.

All About Fishing in Canaveral Bight, FL

The entire shoreline of Canaveral Bight is closed to the public since it is part of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. This is why a boat is necessary in order to do inshore fishing in the bay. It is a haven for a huge variety of fish species like crevalle jack, snook, redfish, Spanish and king mackerel, tarpon, bluefish, cobia, grey snapper, common dolphin fish, and bonita. Most young fish in the Canaveral Bight eat plants and small animals like zooplankton and anchovies. These species move to eating bigger fish even of their own kind as they become juveniles. Depending on the season, pompano and southern kingcroaker, also known as whiting, are also caught in the bay. Pompanos’ diet consists mostly of crustaceans like shrimps and crabs but also includes clams and other small fish. Sharks like Atlantic sharpnose and blacktip shakrs can also be caught in the Canaveral Bight. 

Anglers find the Canaveral Bight a notable spot because of the range of species that can be caught in its waters. 

Drift fishing is one of the most common ways to fish in this bay. For some fish species like the pompano, commercial-grade jigs tipped with hooks that have scraps of peeled shrimp are the best bait used for jigging. On the other hand, a small circular hook attached to a sliding sinker flounder rig and scraps of peeled shrimp works for whiting. Live small fish on weighted bottom rigs works only for snook and redfish, but can also be substituted with lipped plugs when bait supply gets scarce. Since the only way to fish in the Canaveral Bight is by boat, if anglers want to be more stationary than drifting, they use an anchor or electric motors to stay in one place. Trolling is also a good technique to use when fishing in the bay.