Cocoa Beach Pier (originally called Canaveral Pier) is a popular landmark and is home to restaurants, bars, gift shops and entertainments as well as a fantastic place to fish from. It is also a favorite destination to view rocket launches from Kennedy Space Center and watch the surfers ride the waves.
When looking north you can make out the launch sites at the space center, and either side of the pier is numerous hotels, motels and condominiums, although nicely spaced apart.
If you are planning to fish, please remember that a fishing license is required from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and more can be found out about that here. Equipment rental is available here at the bait and tackle shop.
The pier was constructed in 1962 by Richard Stottler who was a local business man, and it has 270 pilings driven a minimum of 15 ft for support. When it was originally constructed you would have been able to drive straight up to the pier, but now must pay in the local parking lot or metered street parking.
As previously mentioned, the pier is a surfing magnet and the famous RonJon Surf shop, which was also built in 1962 and you can buy numerous items ranging from practical ocean wear to vacation novelties. There is an annual surf festival each year which is now held a few blocks south at Lori Wilson Park.
RonJon also has a surf school and you can rent boards and all sorts of equipment including sun umbrellas from Coco Beach Surf Company.
It is a great place to seek shelter from the strong Florida sun and numerous visitors take photos with their cell phones for vacation memories.
The pier was recently renovated from hurricane Irma last year and it’s been kept nicely maintained.
Cocoa Beach Pier can be found at 401 Meade Avenue, Cocoa Beach FL 32931