For boaters who trailer their vessels, public ramps are available at no charge at Rodney S. Ketcham Park and Freddie Patrick Park. We also have four marinas located within the Port's harbor and two more lie along the Barge Canal. These marinas provide wet and dry boat storage slips for boat owners who want easy access to the Intracoastal Waterway or the ocean.
Located on the west side of the port near the Canaveral locks this four-acre park offers boaters easy access to the Intracoastal Waterway (Banana & Indian Rivers). In addition to boat-launch ramps this park features covered picnic tables, fish cleaning stations, free parking and fully functional restrooms.
Located adjacent to Jetty Park, Freddie Patrick Park offers new boat ramps is minutes from open ocean. The new ramp area features eight slips, two pavilions, fish-cleaning tables, restrooms, a boat rinse station, paved parking and a grass overflow parking lot, free of charge.
Fishing is a popular sport at Port Canaveral, and there are many ways to do it. If you like to keep your feet on dry land, try fishing from the shore of one of our parks. Our most popular spot for shore fishing is the Malcolm E. McLouth Fishing Pier at Jetty Park. Anglers gather here around the clock to try their luck at snook, Spanish mackerel, drum and other challenging sport fish.
From our harbor, you have easy boat access to the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean or, through the Canaveral Barge Canal and Canaveral Lock, to the Banana River, part of Florida's Intracoastal Waterway system.
Notes on using Canaveral Lock: For vessels with up to 12 feet draft, there is no charge for lockage. Lock operating hours are 6:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., 365 days a year. Lockage takes 20 to 30 minutes.
Don't worry if you don't have a boat of your own (or your boat is 1,000 miles away, at home). Boat chartering services are readily available at Port Canaveral for half-day, full-day and nighttime excursions. You can join a scheduled tour or fishing expedition or plan your own party. The Canaveral Charter Captains Association also has established a website providing information on charter boats that operate in the area.
Our fishing and facilities are so appealing that several major deep-sea fishing tournaments are held here each year. One of them, the annual Florida Sport Fishing Association's Offshore Tournament, is the largest single-day fishing tournament in the world.
Note: No traps or nets (except cast nets) may be deployed in Port Canaveral.
Maximize your boating and fishing fun by paying attention to safety and the laws of the State of Florida. For fishing regulations, boating safety information and online application for a Florida fishing license, visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Boating and fishing is not allowed in any secured area of Port Canaveral with the exception that crewmembers of visiting ships may fish from their vessel. Secured areas are fenced in on both the north and south ends of the Port and require a Canaveral Port Authority (CPA) badge for entry.
No boating or fishing is allowed in the West Basin on days when cruise ships are present. Boating and fishing in the Trident Basin and within 200 feet of the Navy Pier in the Middle Basin is prohibited and under the jurisdiction of the United States Navy. Please also read about Launch Hazard Areas.
Boating and fishing is allowed in all port waters not designated above, provided the boat is 25 feet from any CPA-owned and operated pier, wharf or dock, and 100 feet from any vessel moored to any CPA-owned and operated pier, wharf or dock. Fishing also is allowed from all unsecured areas of the port such as Jetty Park and Rodney S. Ketcham Park.
Note: Violations and suspicious fishing-related activities should be reported to Canaveral Port Authority Security at 783-8878.
Our three public parks provide more recreational facilities than Florida's other 13 deepwater seaports combined. There is a park here to suit everyone's style, from 35-acre Jetty Park with its beach, campground and full range of activities to quiet 4-acre Rodney S. Ketcham Park.
In addition to our parks, a mile and a half of bike paths run, from the eastern boundary at Jetty Park through the Port. And note that all boat-launching ramps located within the Port are free and open to the public.
While you are visiting our beaches and parks, you may get the chance to see some of our protected species.
Jetty Park is one of the most popular recreation spots in Brevard County. Besides the 4.5 acre family beach with its designated areas for swimming and surfing (lifeguards on duty year round), one of this park's best-loved features is the 1,200 foot Malcolm E. McLouth Fishing Pier - open from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., paved, lighted, equipped with fish-cleaning tables with running water and fully accessible to the physically challenged. Specially designed beach wheelchairs give access both to the beach and pier. A recently renovated and expanded building on the boardwalk houses an air-conditioned refreshment center and a bait and tackle shop.
Jetty Park also contains a 210-site campground with options from rustic tent areas to full RV hook-ups. We also have 8 cabins available to rent.
All of the picnic pavilions are available for rent. Click here for rates.
All pavilion guests must pay the day parking fee.
24-hour notice is required for cancellation. Without this notice, the full rental fee will be charged to the credit card on file.
This 10-acre park is located near Jetty Park on the Port's south side. You may enjoy its facilities, including a boat wash area, restrooms and boat-launch ramps, at no charge.
Rodney S. Ketcham Park is a four-acre park at the Port's west end featuring boat-launch ramps, covered picnic tables, grills and fishing from the bulkheads. This park is also a stop on the Great Florida Birding Trail. There are no fees for its use.