New Smyrna Beach Inshore Fishing Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Combo charter targets inshore waters and shallow flatsExpert guides provide tailored fishing experience for all levelsSmall group capacity ensures personalized attention with two guests
Looking for a fishing charter that gives you the best of both worlds? Captain Bach Charters delivers exactly that with our top-rated combo trip covering New Smyrna Beach's productive inshore waters and the legendary flats of Mosquito Lagoon. This isn't your typical half-day trip where you're stuck in one spot – we're talking about hitting multiple prime fishing zones where the big fish actually live. With space for up to 2 anglers, you get personalized attention and the flexibility to chase whatever's biting hottest that day.
This charter combines the excitement of inshore structure fishing with the finesse of sight-fishing the flats. We start early, hitting the inshore waters around New Smyrna Beach where snook stack up along the mangrove edges and tarpon roll in the deeper channels. The beauty of this combo approach is adaptability – if the fish are firing on the flats, we spend more time there. If the inshore bite is hot, we work those areas harder. Captain Bach knows these waters like his backyard, reading tide movements, bait schools, and seasonal patterns that most weekend warriors miss completely. You're not just getting a boat ride – you're getting decades of local knowledge that puts fish in the boat. The fully equipped vessel comes loaded with quality tackle, but feel free to bring your favorite rods if you've got them.
We run a mix of live bait and artificial presentations depending on conditions and target species. In the deeper inshore waters, we'll work live shrimp under popping corks around docks and oyster bars, or throw soft plastics along drop-offs where redfish ambush prey. When we hit the flats in Mosquito Lagoon, it's all about stealth and precision – sight-casting to tailing reds with gold spoons or working weedless jigs through the grass beds. The shallow water game requires different skills, and we'll coach you through proper presentation and fish-fighting techniques in skinny water. Rod selection matters here – we use medium-light spinning gear for finesse work and step up to medium-heavy baitcasters when targeting bigger tarpon or snook around structure. Circle hooks are the standard for live bait to ensure clean releases, and we always carry a variety of leader weights to match water clarity and fish mood.
Snook are the crown jewel of our inshore fishery, and New Smyrna Beach holds some serious fish. These ambush predators love hanging around dock lights, mangrove overhangs, and bridge pilings where they can dart out to nail unsuspecting baitfish. Peak season runs from late spring through early fall, with the best action happening on moving water during dawn and dusk periods. What makes snook so special is their explosive strike and acrobatic fight – they'll jump, gill-rattle, and make drag-screaming runs toward cover. Plus, they're absolutely delicious if you decide to keep a slot fish for dinner.
Tarpon fishing in these waters is world-class, especially during the summer months when juvenile tarpon flood the lagoon system. These silver kings range from 20-pound "baby" tarpon up to 100-plus pound giants that will test your tackle and stamina. The smaller fish are perfect for light tackle fun, while the big girls provide bucket-list battles that can last over an hour. Tarpon are catch-and-release only, but the memory of that first jump when a six-foot fish launches skyward is something you'll never forget. They're most active during warmer months, with peak action from May through September.
Sheepshead are the technical challenge of our fishery – these black-and-white striped fish have incredible eyesight and notorious light bites that frustrate many anglers. They hang around structure like docks, bridges, and oyster bars, picking off barnacles and small crustaceans with their human-like teeth. Winter months are prime time for sheepshead, when they stack up in deeper water preparing for their spawning run. Landing a quality sheepshead requires patience, sharp hooks, and quick reflexes, but they're fantastic eating and provide a different style of fishing that keeps things interesting.
Redfish are the bread-and-butter species that keeps this fishery so popular with serious anglers. These copper-colored bruisers are available year-round and provide consistent action when other species get finicky. In the deeper inshore waters, look for schools of reds working oyster bars and grass flats. On the shallow flats of Mosquito Lagoon, sight-fishing for tailing redfish is as good as it gets – watching a fish's tail waving above the surface as it feeds, then making the perfect cast and watching that fish absolutely demolish your bait. Redfish fight hard and dirty, using their broad tails and strong bodies to make powerful runs toward cover.
This combo charter offers something most other trips can't – the versatility to chase fish wherever they're biting best. Whether you're an experienced angler looking to target specific species or someone who just wants to catch fish and have a great time on the water, Captain Bach tailors every trip to match your skill level and interests. The intimate 2-person capacity means no crowded boat, no fighting for fishing spots, and no rushed feeling that comes with larger group charters. New Smyrna Beach and Mosquito Lagoon represent some of Florida's most productive and beautiful fishing waters, and there's no better way to experience them than with a guide who lives and breathes these fisheries. Don't wait for the perfect conditions – the best fishing trip is the one you actually book.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are our bread and butter inshore fish - bronze-colored with that signature black spot near the tail. School fish run 18-27 inches while the big bulls can push 35+ inches and 20+ pounds. They love super shallow water, often feeding in just 1-3 feet around oyster bars, grass flats, and mangrove shorelines. Year-round fishing with fall and spring being exceptional when they school up heavily. What makes reds so popular is their willingness to eat almost anything and their bulldogging fight in shallow water. Plus, slot fish make excellent table fare with mild, sweet meat. The tail-waving in skinny water creates some of the most exciting sight fishing around. Local tip: look for nervous water or copper flashes in the shallows, then make long, quiet casts with gold spoons or live shrimp to avoid spooking the school.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the convict fish of our docks and bridges - gray with black stripes and human-like teeth perfect for crushing barnacles and crabs. Most run 2-4 pounds and 14-18 inches, though we catch some real doormat fish pushing 8-10 pounds around deeper structure. Find them tight to pilings, jetties, and oyster bars in 5-20 feet of water. Winter through early spring is prime time when they stack up for spawning. What makes them fun is they're notorious bait thieves with great table fare - sweet, white meat that's hard to beat. They're also tricky to hook with those small mouths. Here's the secret: use small hooks with fresh shrimp or fiddler crabs, get right against the structure, and set the hook hard at the first nibble. They'll steal your bait all day if you hesitate.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are the perfect ambush predators in our waters - sleek, golden fish with that distinctive black lateral line running down their sides. Most run 18-24 inches, but we catch some real slabs pushing 3-4 feet around the mangroves and docks. They love structure, hanging tight to oyster bars, bridge pilings, and grass edges in 2-6 feet of water. Spring through fall is prime time when water temps stay above 70 degrees - they're super temperature sensitive. What makes snook special is their explosive strike and strong runs toward cover. Plus, they're excellent eating with sweet, white meat. Here's a local trick: cast your lure or live shrimp just upcurrent from the structure and let it drift naturally past their hiding spot. They can't resist that easy meal floating by.
Megalops AtlanticusTarpon are the silver kings of our flats - massive, acrobatic fish that'll jump clean out of the water when hooked. Most of what we see runs 4-6 feet and 80-150 pounds, though giants over 200 exist. They cruise shallow waters, channels, and around bridges in 3-15 feet, often rolling on the surface. Late spring through summer is peak season when they migrate through our area. What draws anglers is pure spectacle - these prehistoric fish put on aerial shows that'll get your heart pumping. They're catch-and-release only due to their bony meat and conservation status. My go-to advice: when you see one roll, lead it by about 10 feet with your cast. Live crabs or large pinfish work best, but keep that drag smooth - they'll straighten hooks with those powerful runs.
Titusville