2 weeks ago · Updated 2 weeks ago
Cocoa Beach, located on Florida’s Space Coast, offers diverse saltwater fishing opportunities from surf, river, and offshore waters. The fall mullet run is underway, bringing heightened activity and a variety of species close to shore.
Weekly Catches
The catches below cover the last 7 days.
Whiting
Surf anglers along Cocoa Beach have reported steady action on whiting this week, with fish being caught in both the first and second troughs near shore. The most productive setups have been Blue Magic shrimp pieces rigged on pompano rigs with pink, pink and white, or chartreuse floats. Many fish are being caught close to the shoreline, so tight casts are recommended for best results.
- Consistent catches in the surf, especially during favorable tide stages.
- Best baits: Blue Magic shrimp pieces on colored pompano rigs.
- Fish are often found in the first and second troughs, close to shore.
Pompano
While the main pompano run is expected to peak later in the fall, the first schools have started to appear on northern Brevard County beaches, including Cocoa Beach. Anglers are picking up scattered pompano using clam and crab flavored Fishbites tipped with fresh shrimp or sandfleas on pompano rigs. Action is still sporadic but should improve as the season progresses.
- Early season pompano showing up on northern beaches.
- Best baits: Clam and crab Fishbites, fresh shrimp, sandfleas on pompano rigs.
Snook
The snook bite is in full swing along the Cocoa Beach surf, coinciding with the peak of the fall mullet run. Large schools of mullet are moving down the shoreline, attracting aggressive snook that are feeding heavily in the surf. Anglers are having success with live mullet as well as lures that imitate mullet, such as Live Target mullets, NLBN’s, and Bombers. The action is highly visual, with snook often seen crashing bait near the shore.
- Best action during the mullet run, especially near visible bait pods.
- Effective baits: Live mullet, mullet-imitating lures (Live Target, NLBN, Bombers).
- Mobile surf fishing with light tackle is recommended for covering ground.
Tarpon
Tarpon are active along the beaches and in the river mouths, drawn by the abundance of mullet. These acrobatic fish are being targeted with live mullet and lures that mimic baitfish, especially at dawn and dusk. Tarpon are rolling just out of reach for some anglers, but persistence and downsizing lure presentations have been key to getting bites.
- Present in surf and river mouths during the mullet run.
- Best times: Dawn and dusk, near bait pods.
- Effective baits: Live mullet, paddle tails, jerkbaits, topwater lures.
Black Drum
Surf anglers have reported catching a few solid black drum this week along Cocoa Beach and nearby Cape Canaveral beaches. These fish are being picked up in the same troughs as whiting and pompano, often on shrimp-based baits.
- Occasional catches in the surf, especially near deeper troughs.
- Best baits: Shrimp pieces on pompano rigs.
Jack Crevalle
Small to medium jack crevalle have been running through the surf, providing rod-bending action for anglers using shrimp on pink floated pompano rigs. These fish are often caught incidentally while targeting other species.
- Scattered catches in the surf, often mixed with whiting and catfish.
- Best baits: Small pieces of shrimp on pompano rigs.
Sharks
Shark fishing remains productive along Cocoa Beach, with heightened activity due to the mullet run and increased baitfish presence. Sharks are being caught both day and night, with charters running multiple trips daily. Most shark fishing is done close to shore, inside the shoal, using cut bait or live bait.
- Consistent action day and night, especially near bait schools.
- Best baits: Cut bait, live bait fished close to shore.
Redfish
Redfish are active on the flats and around mangroves in the river side near Cocoa Beach. Anglers are spotting cruising redfish and having success with small paddle tails, jerkbaits, topwater lures, and live shrimp or finger mullet. Downsizing lure presentations has been especially effective for these sometimes finicky fish.
- Best areas: River flats and mangroves.
- Effective baits: Small paddle tails, jerkbaits, topwater, live shrimp, finger mullet.
Weather & Marine Conditions
Conditions have been favorable for surf fishing this week, with wave heights holding steady around two to three feet and a steady northeast breeze helping to carve out deeper troughs and bring in cleaner water. The surf has been relatively calm, making for comfortable fishing on the sand. The mullet run has been heavy, with large schools moving steadily down the shoreline and attracting predatory fish.
Tides & Solunar Activity
The best surf action has been reported in the first and second troughs, with the exact productive zone shifting based on the stage of the tide. Anglers are advised to keep casts tight to the troughs before reaching for longer rods, as many fish are being caught close to shore during favorable tide windows.
Fishing Conditions & Tips
For surf fishing, Blue Magic shrimp pieces on colored pompano rigs remain the top choice for whiting, pompano, and black drum. Sputnik weights and pyramid sinkers (3–5 oz) are recommended depending on wave height. For snook and tarpon, matching the hatch with live mullet or mullet-imitating lures is key, especially near visible bait pods. Downsizing lures and using live shrimp or finger mullet has been effective for redfish in the river. The absence of weeds and the end of dredging have improved water quality and fishing conditions along Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral beaches.
Regulations & Notices
Fishing is not allowed from the Cocoa Beach Pier as of July 2024. Anglers are advised to fish from the beach or less populated areas to avoid conflicts with swimmers and lifeguards. Jetty Park is an alternative, but parking must be arranged in advance. No new regulatory changes specific to Cocoa Beach have been reported this week.
Fishing Dashboard 🎣
Your one-stop hub for tides, catches, and weather — tailored to your favorite fishing spots
Cocoa Beach
Loading...
--°F
Loading...
Temperature
--°F
Feels like
Range: --°F / --°F
Wind
-- mph
Direction: --
Quality: --
Precipitation
-- in
Chance: --%
Status: --
Humidity
--%
Relative humidity
Comfort: --
Pressure
-- inHg
Trend: --
Level: --
UV Index
--
Level: --
Protection: --
Visibility
-- mi
Distance visible
Quality: --
Water Conditions
--°F
Water temperature
Waves: -- ft
24-Hour Forecast
Cocoa Beach
Fishing Spots Map
Unable to load map
There was an error loading the map. Please try refreshing the page.
Leave a Reply