With its temperate climate and lush foliage, Florida is heavily populated with all types of flora and fauna. Here, in New Smyrna Beach, where we are virtually surrounded by water, aquatic life flourishes as well. For example, the Indian River Lagoon aquatic estuary alone boasts over 4,300 species of plants and animals!

Okay, so let’s start from the bottom and work our way up. Seagrass, a crucial element to ensure the survival and overall health of the rivers in Florida, is prolific in New Smyrna Beach. You can also find night blooming cereus; and cypress swamps and mangrove forests create homes and sustenance for many of the creatures living along the rivers in New Smyrna Beach.

As far as fish, bass, crappie, perch, shad, bluegills and alligator gar are prevalent. Rivers in New Smyrna Beach are also home to shellfish, including crabs, mussels and clams. Keep an eye out for alligators; and some rivers in New Smyrna Beach are both fresh and saltwater, so dolphins and manatees can be found there as well.

If you happen to be a bird lover and/or watcher, the rivers in New Smyrna Beach offers a little bit of heaven on earth, with bald eagles, hawks, indigenous ducks, seabirds and so much more.

So, if you are planning on some fishing or a boat ride in and along our rivers in New Smyrna Beach, don’t be surprised if our majestic and bountiful aquatic life draws your attention and captures your heart.