Banana River South Inlet

About

Introduction:

Getting its start in a pool of water called the “Gator Hole,” which is located between Space Shuttle launch pads 39A and 39B, the Banana River flows south past Cape Canaveral all the way down to Indian Harbour Beach where it meets the Indian River and Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) some 35 miles away.

The image above is a view from the south looking north over the Banana River to the right (east) and the Indian River to the west (left). Dragon Point is located between the two rivers, and the area marinas can be seen on the east side of the Banana River channel.

Across the Indian River and to the south just a mile away an Intracoastal Waterway Mile 915 is the city of Eau Gallie, where several excellent marina and marine facilities are located. Inside the inlet to the Banana River at Indian Harbour Beach is the Telemar Bay Marina, which has a wide array of services for visiting boaters transiting the area.

Navigating the Water:

Use NOAA Chart 11472.

From the ICW north of the 65-foot fixed vertical clearance Eau Gallie Bridge, set a course to the east to intercept green daybeacon “1,” just south of Dragon Point. This marker prevents boaters from going up on a notorious rock that is located just to the north-northeast of the daybeacon, south of Dragon Point. Be sure you give the daybeacon plenty of room, but also mind that there is a shoal (four-foot depths) that works its way north from the small fixed bridge on the east side of the Indian River. Once you have cleared the green daybeacon, you can head north into the Banana River where depths increase quickly to 10- and 12-foot depths.

Farther up the river above the 7-foot closed vertical clearance swing bridge (opens on signal) is a small anchorage and an additional marina facility.

Local Notices to Mariners:

Local Notices to Mariners are available online from the U.S. Coast Guard.