BEACH

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DESCRIPTION:

The house is situated on one of the best beaches on the East Coast. The broad expanse of sand changes with the seasons, but always provides plenty of room for beach activity. Because of the Gulf Stream bringing warm water from the south, the ocean is swimmable year round. In the fall and winter months, the water is warmer than the air.

Fishing is excellent. When the "blues" are running, you can haul them in as fast as you can cast. Also to be had are whiting, pompano, snook (the best tasting fish in the world), Spanish mackerel, and several other varieties. You can usually catch your own bait. Mullet can be taken from the surf with a net, and sand crabs (which the locals call "fleas") with a scoop.

Wildlife abounds. Besides seagulls, pelicans, and other common shore birds, this beach is frequented by Great Blue Heron (friendly birds which stand about four feet tall). They will stand a few feet from you while you fish, waiting for a handout. But keep your bait covered, or they'll steal it. About half of the year, we also have Ibis, gorgeous white birds with long curved beaks. They are the royal bird of ancient Egypt. This stretch of beach is the prime nesting area for several species of sea turtles. Most common is the loggerhead turtle. These 300-pound gentle giants crawl up on the sand at night between April and September and lay their eggs in the warm sand along the dune line. Two months later, their offspring dig to the surface and crawl back to the ocean. The endangered green turtle also nests here. They can weigh over a thousand pounds. The Sea Turtle Preservation Society conducts evening turtle walks, allowing tourists and others a chance to see the turtles laying their eggs. After the eggs are laid and they're on their way back to the ocean, you can even pet the mother turtle. To residents of the mansion, however, it is a common sight. To protect this unique habitat, the state has bought up much of the beachfront, preventing further development.

This portion of the beach is far enough south of the Port Canaveral inlet and jetty that it does not suffer beach erosion. Since 1990 there has been a gradual buildup of the beach, so that three steps that were exposed then are now covered with sand.