About the Operation
Honest John’s Fish Camp began as a government homestead in 1887. Robert T. Smith and his brother Charley came from southwest Georgia seeking a new life after the ravages of the Civil War. They were farmers and raised beans, sweet potatoes (yams), c...
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Honest John’s Fish Camp began as a government homestead in 1887. Robert T. Smith and his brother Charley came from southwest Georgia seeking a new life after the ravages of the Civil War. They were farmers and raised beans, sweet potatoes (yams), collards and later citrus. Their produce was shipped to the White House during the presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Robert (Uncle Bob) bought out his brother's interest in the homestead, married a Missouri gal named Elizabeth (Bessie) Wells, built a cracker house in 1899 and started raising a family. Honest John was the third child of eight. He disliked farming and became a commercial fisherman. He holds the Honest John's Fish Camp trout record of 13 lbs. 4 oz. Honest John died in 1994, but his legacy lives on. His daughter, Barbara Smith Arthur holds seven IGFA world records for sea trout and one for black drum. Barbara and her husband Roger have three sons who operate the fish camp today.
This two-story house, built by Robert T. Smith in 1899, is documented in paperwork housed in the National Archives. The house is built from heart pine and sits on coquina pilings. Located on its original site, this is a typical cracker "I" house. A centennial celebration and Smith family reunion was held in March 1999 with four generations of Smiths attending including the oldest child born to Robert and Elizabeth Smith in 1900.
Honest John’s Fish Camp is located at 750 Old Florida Trail in South Melbourne Beach, Florida. We are on the Indian River Lagoon in South Brevard County, East Central Florida and are five miles north of Sebastian Inlet off State Road A1A. We are an hour and a half east of Orlando International Airport, 45 minutes south of Cocoa Beach and 20 minutes north of Disney World Resort in Vero Beach.
Honest John’s Fish Camp is open 6 am to 6 pm daily except Tuesdays. We feature motorboat, kayak and canoe rentals, a boat ramp, concessions such as soda, beer and ice as well as a variety of bait & tackle. Our location on Mullet Creek, adjacent to the Indian River Lagoon, allows us to provide private, secure boat storage. Boat slips are available for rent on a first come, first served basis.
South Melbourne Beach
- Melbourne Beach, FL 
Watersports allowed: 
Pets allowed: 
With License: 
Fuel covered: 
Captain Required: Yes 