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Canoe, Kayak Fishing Access
Space Coast South, Freshwater
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(SR-192 Melbourne, South)
Note; Click on proerty name to go to
official website for property.
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The
Upper St. John's River Marsh Wildlife
Management Area extends from
State Road 520 west of Cocoa and extends
down to encompass the headwaters of the
St. John's River and Lake Blue Cyprus.
Consisting of more than 119,000 acres in
Brevard and Indian River counties, the
Wildlife Management Area is jointly
owned by the State and the St. John's
River Water Management District
(SJRWMD). The Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission (FFWCC)
primarily manages and controls hunting
within the property while the Water
Management District controls habitat
restoration and recreational activities
during non-hunting times. For these
purposes the District has divided them
up into several different Conservation
Areas. On this page we will discuss all
Kayak Launch Points for this area South
of State Road 192 which encompasses
Three Forks Marsh Conservation Area,
Blue Cypress Conservation Area,
and
Fort Drum Marsh Conservation Area.
Of special interest to boaters and
kayakers are the designated campsites
and camping platforms within the Three
Forks Area. These will be discussed
farther on the Backcountry Camping
Pages. There is also one site on this
page not within the
Upper St. John's River Marsh Wildlife
Management Area, and that is the
St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park.
FFWCC Brochure
Three Faorks Property Map
Primitive campsites and platforms
Blue Cypress Property Map
Fort Drum Property Map
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Camp Holly; This privately owned
fish camp is located on State Road 192
where it crosses the St. Johns West of
Melbourne. Features include boat ramps,
a bar, bait, tackle, boat rentals,
airboat rides, and live entertainment.
Putting in here provides access to the
River Lakes Conservation Areato
the North, and
Three Forks Marsh Conservation Area
to the South.
In fact camp Holly is the only clear
kayak access point to the Three Forks
Area allowing you to actually travel the
headwaters of the St. John's River.
Paddling south from here will take you
to Sawgrass lake, little Sawgrass lake,
then to Lake Hell N Blazes, and finally
to the Three forks that become the St.
Johns. (All upstream paddling as the St.
Johns flows south to north.)
Camp Holly Website
GPS N 28 05.105 W 80 45.110
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C54 Canal;
The C-54 was dug between 1966 and 1970
as a major flood relief channel for
thousands of acres of farm and ranch
land in the western portions of Brevard
and Indian River counties. The canal,
now managed by the St. Johns River Water
Management District, is 12 miles long,
starting at the famed Stick Marsh-Farm
13 impoundment and ending on the
channelized north fork of the Sebastian
River. It forms the border between
Brevard and Indian River county, and at
the boat ramp at the Stick Marsh as well
as the border between
Three Forks Marsh Conservation Area
and
Blue Cypress Conservation Area.
It was dredged to depths of 16 to 18
feet, and is 300 feet wide. The design
included an 8-to 10-foot-wide shelf
extending out-from the shorelines before
dropping off to deep water.
A single-lane dirt ramp on the south
side of the canal a quarter-mile west of
Babcock Street Bridge is the only boat
or canoe / kayak launch site on the
canal. The ramp is at the midway point
on the canal, so there's plenty of
fishing in either direction. Paddling to
the East takes you into
St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park
and eventually joins the Sebastian
River, while paddling west takes you
toward the Stick Marsh / Farm 13 area
within
Blue Cypress Conservation Area.
Control structures are at both ends of
the canal.
GPS N 27 49.377 W 80 36.788
Google Satellite Image
SJRWMD St. Sebastian River Preserve
Website
Property Map
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Blue Cypress Conservation Area
Property map
Location:
This conservation area is 54,458 acres
in size and extends from the Fellsmere
Grade along C-54 Canal at the top of the
Stick Marsh southward to State Road 60
west of Vero Beach in Indian River
County and can be accessed from several
locations listed below.
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Stick Marsh / Farm 13
This impoundment was designed to
contain and treat water from the C-54
Canal, prevent flooding reduce
freshwater inflow into the Indian River
Lagoon to the east.
Blue Cypress Conservation Area.
The name Stick Marsh refers to the
standing dead trees in the water from
when the area was impounded and flooded.
The result has been a world class Bass
fishery. Today this area boasts one of
the highest percentages of bass ten
pounds or greater when compared to the
total catch of anywhere in the nation.
GPS N 27 49.343 W 80 42.478
Google Satellite Image
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Kenansville Lake
This is another impoundment designed
to contain and treat water from the C-54
Canal and prevent flooding without
diverting the water to the Indian River
Lagoon to the east. This area was cattle
pasture before being purchased and
flooded in 1993. Great bass fishing as
well as bluegills and crappie. There is
one small boat ramp on the lake.
Directions; From Kenansville, go south
on U.S. 441. Turn east on
Kenansville/Fellsmere Road. The road
ends at the parking area to Kenansville
Lake (about 12 miles).
GPs (Kenansville Lake) N 27 49.361 W
80 48.699
Google Satellite Image
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Blue Cypress Restoration Area
Blue Cypress Restoration area is an
impoundment adjacent to the
Blue Cypress Conservation Area
designed to improve the water quality of
the Upper St. Johns River and is a
deepwater cypress wetland where a
paddling and small boat series of loop
trails has been marked by red and white
buoys, depending on which trail you are
on.
GPS N 27 39.762 W 80 38.667
Google Satellite Image
Paddling Map
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Lake Blue Cypress County Park;
Blue Cypress Park is located at
7400 Blue Cypress Lake Road. . To get
there take State Road 60 from Interstate
95 about 18 miles, turn right on Blue
Cypress Road. The park will be at the
end of this road, about 4.3 miles, just
past Middleton's Fish Camp (Below)
Features include 2 boat launches, a
floating dock, paved parking, grass
overflow parking, rest room facilities
with showers and 2 covered pavilions.
GPS N 27 43.628 W 80 46.599
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Middleton's Fish Camp;
Middleton's is a private owned fish camp
located on Blue Cypress Lake West of
Vero Beach, To get there take State Road
60 from Interstate 95 about 18 miles,
turn right on Blue Cypress Road, about 4
miles up turn right on 73 Manor and camp
will be on the left, Middleton's offers
fishing for big bass at Blue Cypress
Lake and pontoon boat nature tours for
birdwatchers and photographers, with
abundant and varied wildlife everywhere.
Guide Service, boat rentals, free launch
and camping, and full-service bait and
tackle.
GPS N 27 43.542 W 80 46.527
Google Satellite Image
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