As I have already told you, Florida has a lot of lakes, rivers, streams, and swamps.
Today I want to mention the Banana River, which is not a river at all but a blue lagoon! Shocked?
The Banana River is a 31-mile lagoon that lies between Cape Canaveral and Merritt Island in Brevard County, Florida.
What Animals Live in the Banana River, Florida?
The marine life here is extremely abundant and varied.
Large pelagic animals such as sea turtles, sharks, and sailfish are regularly encountered.
Tarpon, snapper, fathead wrasse, largemouth bass, and sea pike inhabit the lagoon.
Goliath grouper, longfin wrasse, seriola, barracuda, and lobsters can all be found on reefs and wrecks.
The lagoon is a home for sea turtles as well.
Sea acorns and small snails sit in crevices.
The first ones seemed dead, but as soon as the stones were slightly moistened with water, the shell valves soon opened.
From the shell, barnacle-shaped legs are shown, which the small animal pulled out like a net and, making a grasping movement with them, removed again.
This is repeated at regular intervals, in a certain rhythm, and continued until the stones dried up. In this way, sea acorns caught the tiniest organisms from the water.
As soon as there was no water left on the stones, the shell doors slammed shut again.
Some representatives of the pulmonary molluscs, such as the lung molluscs of the siphonaria, have entrenched themselves here.
In appearance, they resemble a mollusk’s sea saucer.
Like real sea limpets (Patella), they have a cone-shaped shell house and a wide leg, with which the snail sticks to the stones.
Does Banana River Have Alligators Or Sharks?
Oh, these formidable predators should be discussed separately. In the Banana River, the concentration of sharks and alligators is simply prohibitive.
Yes, the Banana River has them, and mostly you can see them along the coasts.
The popular type of the shark is a bull shark.
The hammerhead shark is also very popular among tourists. The bizarre shape of the head makes this shark an enviable trophy in any of the entrances to the sea.
Usually, individuals of small and medium weight stay in shallow areas of the water area.
Its weight reaches 441 pounds.
Are There Crabs In The Banana River?
Yes, there are stone crabs.
Crabs can be found in the Banana River from October until May, with the start of the migration season.
During the migration, the entire sandy strip is strewn with tiny sand peas deposited by crabs, and the regularity with which they are located is striking: the balls formed several concentric circles, in the center of which is a crab hole.
By the way, stone crab is a delicatessen in Florida.
The stone crab is seasonal, meaning it only graces restaurant menus for a few months of the year. Small but mighty crustaceans are usually served in a seafood cocktail style. Crabs can be tasted from October 15 to May 15.
During this period, they are served in South Florida.
What Kind of Fish Are in the Banana River, Florida?
Here is the list of fish in Florida lagoons:
- Sawfish
- Tarpon
- Sea trout
- Barracuda
- Redfish
- Snook
- Cobia
- Bonefish
- Various snappers.
Fishing in the Banana River
The coastline running along the coast from the Gulf of Mexico is quite uneven.
This creates excellent conditions for the life and hunting of different types of fish.
Relatively shallow depth, well-heated water, and a rich food base at any time allow you to count on the success of fishing.
The lagoon is a vast backwater surrounded by mangroves with depths ranging from 3 to 16 feet, located in close proximity to the coast.
The most striking and popular representative of this part of lagoon fishing in Florida is without a doubt the tarpon, also known as “Silver Lightning” and “King of Tropical Waters”.
Tarpon fishing is certainly one of the most dynamic and exciting.
Huge flocks of colossal fish come to hunt in mangrove bays.
Their movement often occurs on the surface, and the angler has the opportunity to observe the movements of the fish.
Chasing shoals of small fish, at the moment of attack, predators fly to the surface, thereby demonstrating their beauty and physical condition.
Such a sight is always mesmerizing. It is difficult to restrain oneself and not toss the bait to such a reckless predator.
Fishing for sea trout will please any spinner or even fly fisher.
Strong and beautiful fish have nothing to do with salmon scientifically, but are close to them in the manner of resistance.
But fishing in the lagoons can take place not only from a boat.
Two more fish are hunting near the shore; their capture will give the angler a very pleasant feeling.
It’s snook and redfish.
Often, they can be found at the very edge of the water. The size of these fish can also reach up to 3 feet, so they are well-deservedly popular among fans of spinning and fly fishing.
Due to the shape of the body and the dark green coloring of the snook, it is often also called the sea pike.
The Banana River is a Radiant Paradise
The Banana River is one of the few places where you can experience bioluminescence, as the water comes alive with bright, glowing hues.
This phenomenon, which occurs most often during the summer months, turns the local rivers and lagoons into a radiant paradise through which travelers can kayak and paddle board.
Bioluminescence is often referred to as “natural glow sticks” due to the illumination that occurs in the lagoon.
This phenomenon occurs in Florida due to a chemical reaction that causes cone jellyfish (jelly-like sea creatures that glow in the water) and dinoflagellates (bioluminescent plankton) to glow every time the water is disturbed.
A dash of an oar or even touching the water with your hand reveals waves of glowing lights, creating a mesmerizing natural spectacle.