U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Boating and Fishing 2019
Sport Fishing Regulations (including crab- n You may launch a boat at night from: n You may not harvest or posses bing, clamming, oystering and shrimping) Bairs Cove and Beacon 42. All other horseshoe crabs, frogs, turtles, Refuge Boat Ramps are closed to snakes or other wildlife. You may recreationally fish, crab, clam, night launching. oyster, and shrimp in the Indian River n Commercial fishermen and fishing Lagoon, Mosquito Lagoon, Banana River, n You may not crab or fish from Black guides are required to obtain and mosquito control impoundments and Point Wildlife Drive or any side road carry an annual Commercial Special interior freshwater lakes except for the connected to Black Point Wildlife Use Permit. restricted areas of the Kennedy Space Drive except L Pond Road. Center or as noted below. In advance n Fishing in the immediate vicinity of launches, the normal restricted area n You may not launch boats, canoes, of the Manatee Viewing Deck, both is expanded which temporarily closes kayaks, or stand up paddle boards from the shore or from a boat, is certain waters that are normally open from Black Point Wildlife Drive or prohibited. to sports fishing. If you have questions any side road connected to Black regarding these temporary closures, you Point except L Pond Road. n Camping, fireworks and open fires may call the Refuge for more information. are prohibited. Individuals found in NASA’s normal or n Motorized vessels are not permitted expanded Restricted Area are subject to in the Banana River within the n Persons possessing, transporting, arrest. All Florida Fishing Regulations posted No-Motor Zone. This includes or carrying firearms on National apply as well as the following Refuge any vessel having an attached or Wildlife Refuges must comply with Specific Regulations: non-attached internal combustion or all provisions of State and Local laws. electric trolling motor capable of use. n You must posses a current signed n Pets must remain on a leash and be Refuge Sports Fishing Permit at all n You may not use air thrust boats, under control at all times. times while fishing on the Refuge. hover craft, personal watercraft, or The permit is self-issuing and assures engage in kite surfing, kite boarding, n Fish cleaning is not allowed on you have read and understand wind surfing, sail boarding and Refuge Property. Merritt Island NWR’s fishing other similar non-wildlife oriented regulations. recreational activities in Refuge n Littering is prohibited and subjected waters. to a fine. We prohibit glass beverage n You may fish at night from a boat containers. in the waters of Haulover Canal, n Vessel speeds must not exceed Idle Mosquito Lagoon, Indian River Speed in Bairs Cove and KARS n Vehicles, boats, equipment and other Lagoon and Banana River. Bank Marina or Slow Speed/Minimum belongings are subject to inspection fishing after dark is not permitted. Wake in Haulover Canal. Florida law by law enforcement. Impoundments and interior ponds are also regulates boat speeds on other not open to night fishing. waters of the Refuge.
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge P.O. Box 2683 Merritt Island NWR 2019 Fishing Permit Merritt Island NWR 2019 Fishing Permit Titusville, FL 32781 http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Merritt_Island Name:______Name:______321/861 0669 Visitor Center Address:______Address:______U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service ______1 800/344 WILD
January 2019 Signature:______Signature:______(I have read and understand all Refuge (I have read and understand all Refuge fishing regulations.) fishing regulations.) U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service n To improve fishing and protect grass flats, two Pole & Troll Zones have been established in Mosquito Lagoon (see map).
The zones are delineated with buoys. Within the zones, internal combustion engines must be shut off (except in posted channels) and vessels drafting more than 12 inches at rest must not enter. Vessels may be propelled by a non-motorized power source such as drifting, push poles, paddles, etc. Electric trolling may be used through the zones.
Boats may operate internal combustion engines only in the posted channels within the Pole & Troll Zones. n The use of internal combustion engines is restricted to the perimeter impoundment ditch at all times, to reduce habitat degradation and damage to the marsh. Vessels may be propelled outside the impoundment perimeter ditches by push-poles, paddles, or electric motors only. Internal combustion engines must be shut off while inside impoundments past the perimeter ditch. n Commercial fishing activities are not allowed inside Refuge impoundments.
Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Refuge Visitor Center. Call 321/861 5601 or visit the website: www.fws.gov/refuge/Merritt_Island
To report a law enforcement violation, call 407/275 4150, press 7 and request a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Officer. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Fishing Map
(/1 Pole & Troll Pole & Troll Zone Boundary Posted Channel Zone (Internal Combustion Engines Permitted)
3 Mosquito Lagoon !y Atlantic Ocean Mosquito Lagoon !y
!y !y 3 WSEG Road !y 1 (/ Merritt Island NWR Fishing Map Black Point Restricted Area - No Public Entry Wildlife Drive Banana River No Motor Zone 406 3 Refuge Boundary
Roads 402 !y Refuge Boat Ramp
Miles Kennedy Space Center 0 1 2 3 4 406 Security Zone Titusville No Public Entry ¦§¨I-95 No Fishing
Indian River Atlantic Lagoon Ocean 50 50
405
407
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station 3 No Public Entry
Banana River No Motor Zone Hall Road Banana River ± 528