Marker 22 near Melbourne, Fl

[captharv]

This is a great place for boat camping, either aboard or in a tent.
There are hundreds of small islands between melbourne and Ft. Pierce available for boat camping. The west side of the islands shoal quickly, and after a bit of 'learning curve" you can position the boat so stepping off the dive platform is into 2' of water and wade ashore.
Start by selecting the spot, and backing toward it. When 75-100' out, lower the bow anchor and snub it when the stern is near the shoal. Then take a line (rope) ashore and tie to a tree. beats trying to adjust two anchors.
Once situated, you can swim here safely or just plain relax. If you don't like the neighboring boat(s), there are 5 islands in that group.
best part: free!.
Launch at Ballard Park in Melbourne. Secure for overnight parking. Patroled and used by the police, sheriff, Coast guard, and marine patrol. And, they really don't bother you while there unless you are doing something wrong.

 

[falcon88]

Re: Marker 22 near Melbourne, Fl

I planning on being at Patrick AFB from Dec-Feb how is the boating on the Banana River and Indian river. This is the first time we are bringing the boat down. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Marker 22 near Melbourne, Fl

I haven't been there in many years, but thought it was great when I was. I wish my info was recent enough to offer suggestions on marinas, etc., but I left nearly 30 years ago. What I can tell you is that there is plenty of boating in the river, and there should be plenty of places to keep the boat. I worked for a marina on the Eau Gallie River and lived in Palm Bay. We had a very broad mix of boats there - both power and sail.

If you are going to keep the boat on the trailer, you can also find different interest points along the river. A couple of them will be Merritt Island, just to the north, and Sebastian Inlet to the south.

We also used to go to the beach alot at Indiatlantic and Melbourne Beach. Since those areas were developed about as much as they could be even then, I'd imagine they aren't much different now. If so, you'll find nice sand beaches and small but decent surf. Depending on what time of year that you are there, you may also see turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs. If you do, stay away from both mama and her eggs, because they are a protected species.

I have good memories of water skiing and sailing in the Indian River, as well as playing with the various boats that we had under brokerage sales at the marina. By all means, take the boat! You'll have fun!

 

[mhlbnghm]

Re: Marker 22 near Melbourne, Fl

Pictures please - we need pictures!

JMB

 

[captharv]

Re: Marker 22 near Melbourne, Fl

Here's a couple of pix of where our boat club had a cruise to. The island is at marker 63 near Sebastian Inlet.
Most of the islands are the same.
Boating in the Indian and Banana rivers is great. However, get a chart and use it. There are some shallow spots.
Captharv

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Marker 22 near Melbourne, Fl

stay in the channel, and use your depth finder outside the channel, it can get shallow really quickly.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Marker 22 near Melbourne, Fl

This thread gives me a chuckle, in Melbourne Australia I often fish marker 22 for snapper, great spot. It also can get shallow just outside the channel on a low tide.

 

[falcon88]

Re: Marker 22 near Melbourne, Fl

Thanks for all the input. Been reading up on both rivers and looking at charts online. Any more suggestions on any good place to cruise too? Please be specific cause I don't know all the names of places. Also I understand Mosquito Lagoon is a great place to fish...but it sounds really shallow and I don't have a fishing boat. Any other good locations to fish near patrick afb. Thanks

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Marker 22 near Melbourne, Fl

Cruise north down the waterway through Titusville, and then cut through Haulover Canal to Mosquito Lagoon. You'll find many miles of unspoiled scenery (and tons of birds this time of year). The Gov't owns the entire space center and wildlife refuge (the east coast and inland some 10 miles) from roughly Port Canaveral to almost New Smyrna Beach. You can camp on the islands up to Haulover, but not on the Mosquito Lagoon side. There is no better sight than shrimping on the Lagoon side of the Haulover canal and looking out toward the ocean to see the stars down to the horizon. Zero light pollution.......

 

[flyboycj84]

Re: Marker 22 near Melbourne, Fl

hey there!! im a Cape Canaveral local...and I keep my boat up in Port St. John. We have a coupla great places to go on the indian river....lately the water has been iffy as far as skiing and wakeboarding go....all the nice smooth areas are all manatee zones...oh well. Up our way is Old Florida Grill...its is located on US1 in Port St John....just before the 2 big smoke stacks, on the Indian River....they just remodeled and have a nice dock to tie up to. Harbortown Marina which is on the barge canal off the BLine between the two rivers....good food and beer, and some cute waitresses.

Very close to Harbortown is "Ski Island" on the Banana River. You can see it when traveling on the Bline east bound on the last bridge before A1A turns south. The Island is right before the locks....and trust me.....Ski Island is AWESOME on Sat and Sun!!! Lots of boats tied up together on the sand bar and there is a beer and food pontoon that comes out there.

Our fave place for food though is usually Conch Key Bar and Grill which is also on the Indian River, located on US1, but down in Rockledge....just north of the Pineda Causeway. That place gets jumpin at night....and there have been many late night cruises back home after all my passengers have a good bar night (gotta love bein the DD!).

Hope this helps!!!