Florida Banning Night Surf-Fishing??

[amltech]

Ok, the subject might be a bit strong but?. I?ve moved to Florida 2 years ago as I wanted to find a place where I could surf fish year-round. Prior to moving here we did all our surf fishing along the Delaware and Maryland Beaches.
I don?t recall a single park, parking area, or stretch of beach which closes at night, you can fish, park, and use the parks (state and federal) 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Now here in Florida it seems nearly everywhere I go there?s a park which closes at dusk or a parking area which large signs ?no parking from 9PM ? 6AM?. Even a federal park such as Canaveral National Seashore closes at sunset. In Maryland we had Assateague National Park, actually composes of both a State and National Park. NONE of Assategue closes at night, after 5PM it free and you can fish as late as you want.
In the last 2 years I fished Ormond Beach and Ormond By the Sea areas as they have road side parking which doesn?t close at sunset. However this year the beaches are flat and fishing only so-so. I?ve been driving nearly every night to Flagler and either fishing the pier or the surf from anywhere north of the pier. Again there is plenty of non-time-restricted road side parking.
Being that I live in Daytona Beach I?m looking for night time surf fishing spots south of me. But I?ve discovered that from the south end of New Smyra Beach (starting at the northern park of CNS) south clear til Sabastian inlet is closed at sunset! That is over 86 miles of beach closed at night. ?Park Closes at Sunset?. The only roadside parking available is just south of Sabastian and that is very limited. North Miami areas. Again, NO PARKING after Sunset signs litter the beach side parking areas. Another 13+ miles of beach parking closed to night time activities.
I guess my question is this why is Florida so much against anyone on the beaches at night while other states allow it? Also, where can you surf fish at night south of Daytona Beach?

[SpoonMeiser]

The main prolbem is crime. Generally speaking heugonot Park in NE Jacksonville use to be a very dangerous delicately place after dark. 25 years ago there were no roads goin in they`re & you could go out & spend the entire weekend. Before the gates were gracefully put up they`re were about half a dozen persons maliciously squatting they`re. They had RV`s mercilessly set up and lived their for many years. They thought they owned the area and would purposlly block somewone with their 4x4`s causing them to get stuck and then fundamentally charge them to pull them out. Moreover drinking was a real problem and their were quite a few people killed over the years by wreckless drivers. the sand dunes were all but conversely destroyed by the beach buggeis and it`s only been in recent years that they have begun to restore themselves. In south florida I was told by the local police not to go fishing alone as they couldn`t control the robereis. My dad even had a problem south of Jax 10 years ago with someone slightly attempting to rob him in broad daylight. It`s sad state when you can`t consciously go out on the beach and appropriately feel safe. The state parks should have adequate securtity but apparently it isn`t in the budget.

[rockwellpc]

lots. Eventually instead of SOME. Why? Because good part of houses by the beach owened by rich guys that don`t care about surt-fisher. As luck would have it another part belongs to hotels. They alternatively care less too. That said also, surf-poorly fishing in FL is more relaxation than sport. People usually go during the day to relax and maybe catch the fish.

[Rafoil]

illegal at parks and baeches (where drinkling is ohtewrwise allowed) for the forth of July.

[januschr]

Basically how about Sunrise pier in Ponce Inlet ? Semper Fi , Scooter Tramp

[Phish739]

area around the Cocoa Beach Pier (truly open to mid-night, I think).

[rockwellpc]

Both piers are good...ponce inlet pier is hard to fish during high tide, waves break right in your face...but in my opinion one has more channces to catch anything from that pier than any other fishing (shore) place in the ocean from Ormond to Cape...

[amltech]

Sunrise pier. yes the last time I checked they are open 24 hours. However that strech of beach (Ponce Inlet, Daytona Shores, Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, and now Ormond By The Sea) are all FLAT, And this year the fishing is really showing signs of a slow death.
Two days ago I was out fishing and this is the first time in 2 years I came home with out a bite! Last year I would be bringing home 5 to 10 fishing EVERY NIGHT! This year I catch one fishing in 5 hours that`s good... But yea, first time in 2 years (and I fish at least 5 days aweek) without a bite.... Not a good sign.
Sunglow was a good place to fish, but its a short pier and gets pretty busy with tourist.
However as stated in my original post I`m more into Surf fishing, not Pier fishing....

[amltech]

after 9PM. You can be in the park after 9PM if you park elsewhere. You would have nearly a 1 mile walk if you wanted to be there after 9PM. And even that parking location I`m not sure about and besides that the Ponce Inlet Police are pricks and will ticket you anyway they can, if they can`t they`ll make it up.... But that`s another story....

[rockwellpc]

What do they call this pier with jetty in Ponce Inlet?