CONTACT US:
Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission
Fish and Wildlife
Research Institute
100 Eighth Avenue SE
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701
727-896-8626
|
|
|
|
Partial funding for this project was obtained through the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Fund.
|
|
|
Additional funding for this project was obtained from a Conserve Wildlife license tag grant through the Wildlife Foundation of Florida.
|
|
|
 |
Boating, angling and water sports opportunities abound in Volusia County, which is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the east and the scenic St. Johns River on the west. The county boasts world-class beaches and barrier islands separated from the mainland by estuaries, lagoons and the Halifax/Indian River. This intracoastal waterway is fringed by red and black mangroves and extensive salt marshes that provide an important refuge for many fish and invertebrates such as shrimp and crabs. The area’s fish are prized by anglers, who come from all over the world to cast their lines for red drum, spotted sea trout, flounder and sheepshead.
|
Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, Garrett Grainger
|
With Ponce de Leon Inlet as a launching point, offshore fishing is another exciting activity for anglers. The numerous offshore artificial reefs provide excellent fishing opportunities to catch grouper, snapper, and amberjack. The reefs also allow divers to explore sunken vessels and view and photograph underwater wildlife. More adventurous anglers may travel to the Gulf Stream to catch king mackerel, mahi-mahi, tuna, and marlin.
Recreational boating on the Halifax/Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon provides unparalleled fishing, gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, and opportunities to view wildlife such as manatees, dolphins, and sea turtles. Birds can be seen foraging along the miles of beaches and shorelines and roosting among the trees fringing the waterways. Wading birds – including egrets, ibis and herons – ply the shallows for fish, while ospreys and eagles float on the breeze through sunlit skies looking for a meal. A visit to the county’s many coastal parks can provide a great outdoor family experience. Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach Shores, Ormond Beach and New Smyrna Beach offer numerous shopping and recreational activities as well.
The St. Johns River links magnificent parks with wildlife preserves along the county’s western border. Anglers can fish for prize-winning largemouth bass, striped bass, bluegill, sunfish and catfish. Lake George, DeLeon Springs, Gemini Springs, Lake Monroe, Blue Spring, Lake Beresford, and Lake Woodruff are popular boating and fishing destinations. While there, visitors can stroll through picturesque southern towns, including the award winning downtown in DeLand, the county seat.
For those interested in wildlife viewing, manatees, alligators, river otters, freshwater turtles, raccoons, and deer are frequently seen. Blue Spring State Park in Orange City is one of the most important wintering sites for manatees, which gather in the park from November to March. The marshes and shorelines are teeming with wading and water birds including ibis, wood storks, blue herons, and anhingas. One of the state’s largest concentrations of bald eagles is found around Lake George. Boating on the St. Johns River is a wildlife viewer’s paradise, providing visitors with a glimpse of what the real Florida is all about.
|
|
This Web site was last updated on May, 2014.
|
If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions about this Web site, please e-mail us at Boating_Guides@MyFWC.com.
Would you like to receive notices of changes to this Web site and the Boating and Angling Guide to Volusia County? If so, please e-mail us and include SUBSCRIBE-VC in the subject line.
|
