|  Included below are a number of links which you may find helpful in planning your next fishing trip or for checking up on conditions just before heading out. As the websites we are linking to may change you might occasionally find a broken link here. If you do, or if you know of a link you think we should include, please let us know by filling out our contact form.
Current Conditions and Forecasts (weather, tides etc.)
Weather
www.accuweather.com - Detailed hour by hour forecast
www.weatherunderground.com - A good forecast broken down into 3 hour segments.
www.intellicast.com
www.wxnation.com/orlando/ - A collection of links for all kinds of things having to do with weather in and around Orlando (or choose another location).
Current Winds
http://dugong.ksc.nasa.gov/met/ - This site gives the current wind conditions around Merritt Island and Cape Canaveral courtesy of NASA. Click on "Current Data" then click on a tower location to see the most current wind data. This is a great site to check just before hading to the Lagoon or the Indian River.
http://www.iwindsurf.com/ - Sure, it's windsurfing but the reports work for fishing too! Covers many sites up and down each coast of Florida. Also includes graphical tide chart (see below).
Tides
www.saltwatertides.com - Includes tide information for locations all over the US. Pick a location, a starting date, then how many days worth of information you want.
www.tidesonline.com - Another option for tidal data. This site presents a full month of tides for the area you choose as well as a number of nearby sites. Tides are given in relation to a standard location so you will have to do some simple calculations.
http://www.iwindsurf.com/ - A little difficult to navigate to but the graphical tide charts on this site make it easy to see where the predicted tide level will be at a particular point. Navigate to the location you want tide for and look for the "Tides" link on the left navigation bar. Tides are available for at least some locations that require a login for wind forecasts.
http://tidesonline.nos.noaa.gov/ - Find stations by clicking on one of the "Select Stations By:" links on the left navigation bar. This site is unusual in that it gives you bothe the predicted and observed tide levels. You can access past data by clicking on the "Historical Data Retrieval" link under "Other Options:" on the left navigation bar. Spend enough time here studying how the wind, rain and other variables affect the tide in the area where you fish and you are much less likely to be surprised by a particularly high or low tide.
Surface Water Levels (freshwater rivers, canals etc.)
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/fl/nwis/current/?type=flow&group_key=basin_cd - This link will take you straight to current water level data for Florida. Choose a site to get current data for gage height and discharge (where available).
Florida Red Tide Information
http://research.myfwc.com/features/ - Follow this link then click on "Red Tide" for current red tide conditions and other information.
Regulations
www.myfwc.com - Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission - regulations, licenses, boat ramps and lots of other information related to fishing in Florida.
www.fws.gov/merrittisland/fishing/ - Information on fishing Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge - and links to permits required to fish on the refuge. Follow the link at the bottom of the page to "Fishing Permits." These permits are self-issuing and state that you have read the regulations. You must have a signed copy with you to fish the refuge.
http://myfwc.com/boating/safety/vessel_class/A.htm - Kayak and canoe safety requirements for the state of Florida (pfd and whistle within reach during the day and white light at night).
Aerial Photos/Maps:
http://local.live.com/ - Look before you go. Overhead aerial high definition photographs of the US and many other parts of the world.
Places to go in and around Orlando:
Orlando area Freshwater fishing:
www.floridaconservation.org/Fishing/fishorlando/ - Information on the FWC's Fish!Orlando program, including places to fish in Orlando.
www.seminolecountyfl.gov/bcc/homerule/ - This site contains information on Seminole County parks and natural areas which allow fishing/boating.
St. John's Water Management District Recreation Guide:
http://sjr.state.fl.us/programs/outreach/pubs/recguide/ - This guide provides information on the public lands owned by the St. John's Water Management District. Orlando is in the South Central region. Many of the properties have pdf maps which you can print out and take with you.
Ocala National Forest:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/florida/ - National Forests in Florida. For information on Ocala click on the "Ocala " link on the "activities" menu to the left. Click on the "Maps and Brochures" link on the left side to find maps and brochures for Ocala.
The best information on fishing in Ocala is available in the book, Fishing Opportunities in the Ocala National Forest, available in the Ocala National Forest visitors centers (http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/florida/contact/)
. The visitors centers also sell good maps of the area which can further aid in finding places to fish.
www.florida-outdoors.com/article_ocala_canoe.htm - An interesting article on canoeing in Ocala. You could do it in a kayak too!
Tenoroc Fish Management Area
http://myfwc.com/fishing/offices/tenoroc.html - We haven't been there yet but this sounds like a great place to fish - and it's relatively close to Orlando.
Mosquito Lagoon, Indian River
http://www.fws.gov/merrittisland/ - Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge information.
DEP Trails
http://www.fws.gov/merrittisland/ - Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge information.
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/ - Canoe and walking trails around the state.
Freshwater
Boat Ramps
http://myfwc.com/boating/access/ramps/ - FWC owned freshwater boat ramps for Florida.
Other helpful resources:
- Florida DeLorme atlas
- County maps
- Pasadena TopSpots maps
- Outfitter's Mapping overhead aerial book. These maps are laid out in a laminated 8 1/2" x 11" spiral bound book for easy use on the water.
- Standard Mapping overhead aerial photographs.
- Waterways and Byways of the Indian River Lagoon. Aerial photographs of the lagoon system with information on the plant and animal communities found there.
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