Camping at Canaveral National Seashore
By: John Kumiski
This young lady connected with a nice Mosquito Lagoon redfish.
At the north end of the Mosquito Lagoon a labyrinth of islands, channels, and shallow ponds hosts loads of wading birds, dolphins, redfish, and seatrout. Canaveral National Seashore administers a dozen National Park Service campsites here. Accessible only by water, these are true wilderness sites. A few have a fire grate and a picnic table. The others have space for your tents, and that's about it.
I've gone camping here by canoe and kayak many times over the years. While sometimes the fishing hasn't been good, other times it has been outstanding. Either way, I always have an enjoyable time.
A Typical Trip
Roseate spoonbills are only one of many bird species you're likely to see here.
Obtain the necessary camping permit from Canaveral National Seashore, Turtle Mound station. Launch your boats at River Breeze Park in Oak Hill, on the west side of the lagoon, or at Turtle Mound, on the east side of the lagoon.
After dinner roast marshmallows and watch the sun set. After it gets dark you can stargaze for hours. During the winter months Orion (the easiest of all constellations to recognize), Gemini, Taurus, and Canis Major are all clearly visible. Sirius, in Canis Major, is the brightest star in the sky! If you're lucky you'll see satellites, or a meteor streaking across the heavens. You certainly don’t get to see meteors every day.
After breakfast go fishing. Fishing being fishing, sometimes it's great and sometimes you'll get skunked. But the wading birds will be thick. You will see pelicans, ospreys, and maybe a bald eagle, and dolphins are commonly encountered. If you don't catch any fish, cook some hot dogs over a blazing campfire. When you roast a wiener on a stick over an open fire, they are as good as hot dogs can be!
Potential Perils
The sun rises over the Canaveral National Seashore.
You can expect raccoons to visit your campsite while you’re here. Make sure to pack your food and water in raccoon-proof containers. A hard plastic cooler with a rope tied around it works well. On one trip we left our s'mores fixings in a shopping bag, unattended on a table, for less than five minutes. A raccoon quickly found and tried to steal the bag. The chocolate and crackers fell out as he ran off, but he made a successful getaway with all of our marshmallows.
The Mosquito Lagoon wasn't named on a whim. The bugs can be nasty when the weather is warm, so the best time to camp is from about Thanksgiving through about Easter. The prudent camper will bring bug spray at whatever time of year they camp, anywhere in Florida. I always like a physical barrier, i.e. long pants and shirt, whenever biting insects are around.
The sun will cook you, especially if you've grown pale from a northern winter. No matter your skin type, bring, and use, sunblock to protect yourself from potentially debilitating sun damage.
A Quick Look at Fishing
A happy fisherman shows off his seatrout catch.
The most common gamefish here are redfish and seatrout. A ten-pound spinning outfit is appropriate. Effective lures include soft plastic shrimp and jerkbaits, weedless gold spoons, and small popping plugs. Popular natural baits include shrimp and cut mullet. Small crabs can also be effective.
I kayak fish this area a lot, ordinarily using fly tackle. The preferred technique is to paddle along shorelines, searching for fish to which to cast the fly. During the cooler months (when camping is most enjoyable), fishing for both reds and seatrout can be excellent.
Florida saltwater fishing laws apply here. If you choose to fish you will need a saltwater fishing license.
Nuts and Bolts
A flight of pelicans over the Mosquito Lagoon
Canaveral National Seashore lies northeast of Orlando about one hour's drive. To camp there you must obtain a permit (fee required) from their office at Turtle Mound, on Florida route A1A south of New Smyrna Beach. They accept reservations by telephone at 386-428-3384 Ext. 10. one week in advance. During the busy spring season, reservations are strongly recommended. Before you go, check out their camping brochure.
The different campsites have varying capacities. Some sites, like the two on Orange Island, can fit three small tents maximum. Others, like the spoil island campsites, could hold 20 or more people. Remember, these are unimproved sites with no fresh water, electricity, or toilet facilities. If you don’t bring what you need, you won’t have it out there.
Another point to keep in mind is that adjacent to Canaveral National Seashore is the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. No camping is allowed at any time here. So if you intend to camp on a spoil island in the Mosquito Lagoon, be sure to find the right one.
While I prefer to paddle to the campsites, there are no restrictions on motor vessel use here. You can easily use a boat with a motor to gain access to any of the CNS campsites, or to go fishing. You will still need the national park service permit to camp, of course.
Remember to bring sunblock and plenty of water. Have fun, and enjoy your trip!
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