Within a 75-minute drive of Daytona Beach there are 26 fishing waters in our guide: 22 lakes, 3 bays and estuaries and 1 river or creek. The mix is 22 freshwater and 3 salt or brackish waters. Across these waters, 42 fish species are on record.
The shortest drive: Rose Bay, 14 min
Starting from Daytona Beach, the nearest water is Rose Bay, a estuary, at 14 min (8.8 mi). The drive time is measured to the pier: Spruce Creek Park.
Also within a short drive:
- Turnbull Bay (estuary) — 15 min (10 mi)
- Indian River Lagoon (estuary) — 24 min (15.1 mi)
- Lake Ashby — 33 min (21.5 mi)
Brown Bullhead and 42 more species on record
The most widespread fish is Brown Bullhead, recorded in 23 of the 26 waters. It is followed by Largemouth Bass (22), Sunshine Bass (22), Channel Catfish (22) and White Catfish (22).
All 5 are on record at Lake Ashby, the nearest water for each of them — 33 min (21.5 mi) from the center.
Launching near Daytona Beach: 130 ramps
The waters within reach of Daytona Beach have 130 boat ramps, 62 fishing piers and 3 shore-fishing spots. Nearest to the center for launching: Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Perserve - Spruce Creek Park and Campground on Rose Bay, roughly 8.6 mi as the crow flies. For fishing without a boat, the closest pier is Spruce Creek Park on Rose Bay, about 8.7 mi from the center.
Where to start: Indian River Lagoon
Our ranking for Daytona Beach weighs the drive, the depth map, the fish on record and the ramps; it puts these 3 first:
- Indian River Lagoon (estuary): 218,769 acres, 7 fish species on record, max depth 75.5 ft (surveyed) and 209 ramps.
- Turnbull Bay (estuary): 376 acres, 11 fish species on record, max depth 4 ft (surveyed) and 3 ramps.
- Lake Monroe: 8,771 acres, 23 fish species on record, max depth 22 ft (surveyed) and 13 ramps.
Deepest nearby: Indian River Lagoon, 75.5 ft
The deepest water in this guide is Indian River Lagoon: 75.5 ft at its deepest point (surveyed). It is followed by Saint Johns River (65 ft), Lake Down (36 ft) and Lake Conway (34 ft). Maximum depths are known for 25 of the 26 waters.
6 stocked waters near Daytona Beach
Stocking records cover 6 of these waters; the largest totals are Lake Apopka (513,463 fish), Lake Eustis (257,289 fish) and Clear Lake (158,213 fish).
8 campgrounds near the water
8 campgrounds sit by the waters around Daytona Beach. The closest are Canaveral National Seashore Permits (23 mi, by Indian River Lagoon), Indian Mound Fish Camp (23.8 mi, by Indian River Lagoon) and Riverwood Park Campground (24.2 mi, by Indian River Lagoon).
