MERRITT ISLAND FISHING FIELD GUIDE
Gliding the Hidden Lagoons of Merritt Island: Close Encounters with Manatees, Dolphins and Tidal Islands
A fully guided, pet-friendly Coastal Lagoon Eco-Tour around Merritt Island that explores fertile feeding grounds and island shorelines in 2- or 4-hour options.
Gliding the Hidden Lagoons of Merritt Island: Close Encounters with Manatees, Dolphins and Tidal Islands.
On Merritt Island you move at the lagoon’s pace: slow, low light pooling on mangrove roots while manatees surface and dolphins quarter the channels. Coastal Lagoon Tours guides small, personal boats through tidal flats and island fringes where alligators, turtles, otters and a variety of tropical birds make up the living shoreline.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Manatees, Dolphins and Alligators Up Close
The tour takes you into fertile feeding grounds where manatees and dolphins are commonly seen and where alligators inhabit the lagoon’s edges, offering repeated, close-range wildlife viewing from the boat.
Shoreline Landings and Turtle-Studded Banks
Beyond cruising you can stop to explore one of the lagoon’s small islands and shorelines—places where turtles, otters and shore birds congregate and where the quiet reveals the lagoon’s smaller inhabitants.
Personal, Pet-Friendly Small-Group Tours
Offered as a relaxed cruise or a more exploratory landing-and-walk outing, these fully guided trips accommodate small groups and welcome pets, making the tour steady, intimate and adaptable.
What the day feels like
What the Tour Feels Like
You either lean back and watch the lagoon unfurl from the boat or step onto a quiet island to feel the tidal hush underfoot. Throughout, guides move you deliberately into feeding grounds and along shorelines where the day’s sightings—manatees, dolphins, alligators and a spread of tropical birds—frame a compact, wildlife-first outing.
THE WILDLIFE
Manatees, Dolphins and Alligators Up Close
The tour takes you into fertile feeding grounds where manatees and dolphins are commonly seen and where alligators inhabit the lagoon’s edges, offering repeated, close-range wildlife viewing from the boat.
THE ISLANDS
Shoreline Landings and Turtle-Studded Banks
Beyond cruising you can stop to explore one of the lagoon’s small islands and shorelines—places where turtles, otters and shore birds congregate and where the quiet reveals the lagoon’s smaller inhabitants.
THE EXPERIENCE
Personal, Pet-Friendly Small-Group Tours
Offered as a relaxed cruise or a more exploratory landing-and-walk outing, these fully guided trips accommodate small groups and welcome pets, making the tour steady, intimate and adaptable.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this trip suits best—and who should reconsider.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Trips run for 2 to 4 hours; the operator allows pets and offers fully guided outings suitable for small groups—pack sun protection, water, and anything needed for personal pets.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long are the tours?
Tours are offered in 2- or 4-hour options.
How many people are on a tour?
Trips accommodate up to six passengers.
Is the tour guided?
Yes — these are fully guided eco tours.
Are pets allowed?
Yes. The tours are pet-friendly.
What wildlife might we see?
Expect to encounter manatees, dolphins and alligators, plus a variety of tropical birds; shoreline sightings may include turtles, otters, bobcats and wild boar.