Captain Pete's Lagoon Adventures — Wildlife Cruises & Fishing, Merritt Island FL

Merritt Island, Florida

Captain Pete's
Lagoon Adventures

Wildlife, Nature Cruises & Fishing with Captain Pete Wallace

Join us on one of our adventures in the calm, protected, salt waters in and around the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and the beautiful, 1,000 Island area around Cocoa Beach.

If you are looking strictly for fishing or shark fishing please stop over to captainpetesfishtales.com to book your fishing experience.

White boat with blue canopy on calm lagoon waters with guests aboard
Two and four-hour cruises·Merritt Island, FL·Family Friendly·Safety Certified

Your Adventure Awaits

Join Us for a Relaxing Yet Exciting Trip

with Captain Pete's Lagoon Adventures!

Manatees & Dolphins
Fishing Supplied
Remote Islands
USCG Licensed
Rocket Launches
Keep Your Catch

Our trip offers the best the "Sunshine State" has to offer. See one of Florida's largest and friendliest populations of Manatees & Dolphin in their natural environment, wet a line in the "Fishing Capital of the World", explore remote islands in search of seashells, pull crab pots, check out hundreds of species of unusual and exotic wildfowl, maybe see an alligator, catch a shark, have a front row seat for a rocket launch or just lay back and enjoy the Florida Sunshine in the calm protected salt waters of the Banana River & Indian River Lagoons around Cocoa Beach and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. If you decide to go for a swim, remember you cannot harm the Manatees when they come up to you.

This is not a cattle car approach with a bunch of people packed into bench seats. You will have the boat to yourself with plenty of room, padded comfortable seating and a canopy top. If there are any screaming children onboard, they will be yours. This is not a narrated trip with a person on speaker repeating a memorized speech that they have given on every trip. All of our trips are unique and designed to please you and your group. The Captain and Mate will point out any wildlife and answer any questions that they have the answer to. If you want to stop and take pictures or spend a little more time doing one thing or another, just ask.

We offer a two hour and a four hour trip, but for those that feel they want more time let the person know when you book your trip and we will try to work it out. You can do any of the things mentioned. If you just want to fish, that's fine. If you just want to enjoy the water and checking out wildlife, that's fine also. All of our Captains are licensed by the US Coast Guard and our boats have all required safety equipment. Don't forget sunscreen & camera. You are welcome to keep any legal fish or crabs that you catch — don't forget a cooler if that's your plan. Everything for fishing is supplied.

Kids watching a rocket launch from the bow of Captain Pete's boat on the Indian River Lagoon
Front-Row Seats— Watch rocket launches right from the water
Guest photographing a dolphin surfacing right alongside the boat

Up-Close Encounters

Banana River Lagoon

Dolphin surfacing and gliding through the calm lagoon waters

Dolphins

Manatee surfacing close to the boat in calm lagoon waters

Manatees

About the Lagoon

Florida's Most Friendly
Dolphins & Manatees

The Banana River Lagoon is home to one of the largest and most friendly populations of both dolphin and manatees in Florida. The remote islands offer excellent opportunities for collecting seashells and the clean waters and sandy beaches are a great place to swim.

Established in 1985.  Captain Pete Wallace did 2 day offshore fishing trips to the canyons for years & decided on a easier life inshore. Fishing while Manatees and Dolphin swim up to the boat to checkout what you are doing. Better weather and calmer water. Captain Pete Wallace has been guiding tours through these pristine waters for years, sharing his deep knowledge of local wildlife and ecosystems with guests of all ages. Whether you're a nature enthusiast, a family looking for a memorable outing, or an avid angler, there's an adventure waiting for you.

What Awaits You

Wildlife You May See

The Indian River Lagoon is one of the most biodiverse estuaries in North America. Every trip brings something new.

Bottlenose dolphin leaping in the lagoon

Bottlenose Dolphins

Florida manatee swimming through the lagoon

Florida Manatees

Roseate spoonbill wading in shallow water

Roseate Spoonbills

Great blue heron wading in calm shallow water

Great Blue Herons

Wild alligator along the mangrove shoreline at Merritt Island

Alligators

Bottlenose dolphins following Captain Pete's boat through the lagoon

Dolphins Following the Boat

Scenic view of the Indian River Lagoon with boats and mangroves

The Lagoon

Calm waters of the Indian River Lagoon on a clear day

The Lagoon

Scenic view of the Indian River Lagoon

The Lagoon

Family showing off their catch on Captain Pete's boat on the Indian River Lagoon

Fishing Fun for the Whole Family

Guest fishing from the sandy shoreline beside Captain Pete's boat on the Indian River Lagoon

Shoreline Fishing

Guest fishing along a mangrove shoreline on the Indian River Lagoon

Mangrove Shoreline Fishing

Wildlife sightings vary by season and conditions — every trip is a unique adventure.

Out on the Water

Weather Conditions and Wildlife Sightings

Every trip is different — here's what guests have spotted lately on the lagoon.

Today's Conditions

August 20, 2026

Partly cloudy, warm and humid

Temperature

83°F — feels like 93°F

Wind

3 mph W

Water

Calm, warm — 82–84°F

Visibility

Excellent

Humidity

75%

Warm and humid morning — great conditions on the lagoon for wildlife and fishing!

Wildlife Sightings

Manatees, Bottlenose Dolphins, Pelicans, Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, White Ibis, Pink Roseate Spoonbills, Tarpon, Snook & Redfish

Don't Miss Out

Experience the best of Florida's wildlife, scenery, and coastal waters on an unforgettable lagoon adventure!

Choose from our two-hour or four-hour cruises. Captain Pete will guide you to the best spots for fishing, wildlife viewing, and island exploration.

  • 2-hour and 4-hour cruise options
  • Suitable for all ages and skill levels
  • Departing from Merritt Island, FL
Family enjoying a fishing adventure on the lagoon

2 & 4 Hour

Cruise Options

Happy guests

Stories from the lagoon

Families, anglers, and nature lovers share what made their day on the water memorable.

A personal day on the water.

Small-group trips, local knowledge, and room to enjoy every sighting.

Captain Pete was absolutely amazing! We spotted dolphins and manatees within the first 20 minutes. My kids are still talking about it weeks later. Highly recommend!

Sarah M.

Orlando, FL

Best experience of our whole Florida vacation. Pete knows every inch of the lagoon and his passion for the wildlife really shows. We'll be back next year for sure.

James & Linda T.

Atlanta, GA

Took the 4-hour fishing trip and caught more fish than I ever have. Captain Pete put us right on the fish every time. Great guy, great boat, great time.

Mike R.

Cocoa Beach, FL

We did the wildlife cruise with our three kids and it was incredible. Saw roseate spoonbills, manatees, and a huge gator on the bank. Pete made it educational and fun for everyone.

The Johnson Family

Nashville, TN

Ready for your own lagoon story?

Call Captain Pete to check availability and reserve your trip.

Find Us

Getting Here

Ready to Book?

Call Captain Pete directly or send an email to [email protected] to reserve your spot on an upcoming cruise.

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Enjoyed Your Adventure?

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