4 Hour Evening Fishing Trip in Mosquito Lagoon
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fourhour evening inshore fishing trip in Mosquito LagoonTarget nine species including redfish, snook, and speckled troutBeginnerfriendly with experienced captain providing instruction
Captain Ryan Birge knows how to put you on fish when the sun starts dropping low over Mosquito Lagoon. This top-rated 4-hour evening charter is built for anglers who want to experience some of Florida's best inshore fishing without the crowds and heat of midday. Whether you're a seasoned angler or picking up a rod for the first time, you'll find yourself in prime fishing waters where redfish, snook, and trout come alive as the day cools down. With room for up to 3 guests, this intimate charter gives everyone plenty of space to work their lines and learn from one of the area's most experienced guides.
Mosquito Lagoon is a shallow-water paradise that stretches for miles along Florida's east coast, and evening is when the magic really happens. As the temperature drops and the water starts to cool, baitfish become more active, which means predator fish start feeding heavily. Captain Ryan will position you in the sweet spots where grass flats meet deeper channels, around oyster bars, and along mangrove shorelines where fish love to ambush their dinner. The lagoon averages just 2-4 feet deep in most areas, making it perfect for sight fishing when conditions are right. You'll be casting into crystal-clear water where you can often see your target before you make your presentation. The boat stays in protected waters, so even if it's breezy on the ocean side, you'll have comfortable fishing conditions. This isn't a rough offshore adventure - it's strategic inshore fishing where technique and local knowledge make all the difference.
Captain Ryan runs a well-equipped flats boat that can get into skinny water where the big fish hide. All rods, reels, tackle, and bait are provided, so you don't need to worry about bringing anything except your fishing license and enthusiasm. You'll be using medium-action spinning gear loaded with braided line for better sensitivity and hook-setting power in the grass. Live shrimp is the go-to bait for most species, but artificial lures like soft plastics, topwater plugs, and spoons come into play depending on what the fish are doing. The captain will teach you how to work a jig head through the grass beds, how to present a live shrimp near structure, and when to switch to topwater lures for explosive surface strikes. If you're new to saltwater fishing, don't worry - Ryan breaks everything down step by step, from proper casting technique to reading the water for signs of fish. Experienced anglers appreciate his willingness to share local knowledge about seasonal patterns, tide movements, and which spots produce during different conditions.
Bluefish are aggressive predators that travel in schools and provide non-stop action when you find them. In Mosquito Lagoon, they typically run 2-5 pounds and hit hard on both live bait and artificials. These fish are known for their razor-sharp teeth and fierce fighting style - they'll make screaming runs and jump clear out of the water. Evening hours are prime time for blues as they push baitfish against the shoreline. What makes them exciting is their willingness to hit just about anything you throw at them, making them perfect for beginners who want to feel that rod bend.
Black drum are the bulldogs of the flats, with fish ranging from 5-20 pounds being common in these waters. They're bottom feeders that love to root around oyster bars and grass edges looking for crabs and shrimp. When you hook into a black drum, get ready for a stubborn, powerful fight that tests your drag system. They don't jump like other species, but they use their broad sides to fight you all the way to the boat. Spring and fall are peak seasons, and they're most active during moving tides when food gets stirred up along the bottom.
Sheepshead are the tricksters of the lagoon - they have small mouths and are notorious bait stealers, but landing one is incredibly satisfying. These black-and-white striped fish hang around structure like dock pilings, bridge supports, and oyster bars. They rarely exceed 5 pounds in these waters, but they're excellent table fare with firm, white meat. The challenge with sheepshead is detecting their subtle bites and setting the hook before they spit the bait. Captain Ryan knows exactly where to find them and how to rig your line for the best hookup ratio.
Redfish are the crown jewel of Mosquito Lagoon fishing, with slot-size fish (18-27 inches) being the most common and a healthy population of oversized bulls for catch-and-release action. These copper-colored fighters are ambush predators that cruise the grass flats and shorelines looking for easy meals. What makes reds special is their willingness to eat in very shallow water - sometimes with their backs exposed as they tail in 12 inches of water. They fight with powerful runs and head shakes, and the larger fish will test your equipment. Fall and winter months produce the most consistent action, but you can find redfish year-round in the lagoon.
Crevalle jack are pure muscle and attitude packed into a silver torpedo shape. These fish range from 3-15 pounds in the lagoon and are known for absolutely brutal fights that will leave your arms burning. When a school of jacks moves through an area, you'll know it - they create surface disturbances as they chase bait, and once you hook one, others often follow the hooked fish to the boat. They're not great eating, but they're incredible sport fish that will give you a workout. Jacks are most active during warmer months and are often found in deeper channels and around bait schools.
This customer-favorite evening charter books up quickly, especially during peak fishing seasons when the bite is hot. Captain Ryan's local knowledge and patient teaching style make this trip perfect
Your fishing adventure starts aboard our reliable 18' Bossman boat, perfectly sized for chasing redfish, snook, and speckled trout through Mosquito Lagoon's shallow waters. This motorboat comfortably handles up to 4 anglers, though we find 2-3 people makes for the best fishing experience with plenty of room to cast and fight fish. The boat comes equipped with an icebox to keep your drinks cold and your catch fresh during those productive 4-hour evening sessions. Captain Ryan knows exactly where to position this nimble craft to target black drum around the oyster bars, work the grass flats for sheepshead, or drift the deeper channels for jack crevalle and mangrove snapper. Whether you're a seasoned angler or picking up a rod for the first time, this boat gives you the perfect platform to learn proper techniques and land some serious fish in one of Florida's most productive inshore fisheries.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of the drum family, commonly running 5-15 pounds with some monsters hitting 30+ pounds. These bottom-dwellers love oyster beds, muddy flats, and creek mouths where they crush crabs and shellfish with powerful jaws. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll hear their distinctive drumming sounds underwater. They're found in 2-8 feet of water around structure. What makes them special is the fight - they're bulldogs that use their weight and strength. The smaller ones under 15 pounds make great eating with firm, white meat. Here's my secret: fresh blue crab is the ultimate bait, and you want it right on the bottom. Use enough weight to stay down there because these fish won't come up to chase your bait.
Pomatomus SaltatrixBluefish are aggressive feeders that'll hit just about anything when they're in the mood. These silver-blue fighters typically run 2-10 pounds in our waters, though larger ones push 15+ pounds. They're voracious predators with razor-sharp teeth, so watch your fingers when handling them. You'll find them roaming open water and along grass edges, especially during their feeding frenzies when they push baitfish to the surface. Spring through fall are prime times here in Mosquito Lagoon. Guests love the hard strikes and strong runs they make. The smaller "cocktail blues" are excellent table fare with mild, flaky meat. My tip: use a wire leader or heavy fluorocarbon - those teeth will slice through regular mono in a heartbeat. When you see birds diving, get your lure in there fast.
Caranx HipposJack Crevalle are the bulldogs of Mosquito Lagoon - pure muscle and attitude wrapped in a 3-15 pound package. These brassy, golden fish patrol grass flats and open water, often in schools that create surface commotion when feeding. They're year-round residents but most active in warmer months. What guests love is the raw power - pound for pound, they're some of the strongest fighters you'll encounter. They hit hard and make long, burning runs that'll test your drag. While they're not great table fare, the sport is unmatched. Look for diving birds marking feeding schools. My tip: throw large silver spoons or topwater plugs and retrieve them fast - jacks love the chase. When you hook one, hold on tight because they don't know when to quit.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the stars of Mosquito Lagoon's shallow water fishing. These copper-colored beauties with distinctive black spots run 18-30 inches here, perfect slot-size fish. They cruise the grass flats, oyster bars, and mangrove shorelines in 1-4 feet of water, sometimes so shallow their backs show. Year-round fishing is good, but fall and winter are exceptional when they school up. What makes them special is everything - they fight hard, look beautiful, and the smaller ones are fantastic eating with mild, sweet meat. You can sight-fish them in clear water, which adds to the excitement. My go-to technique: gold spoons worked slowly over the grass beds. Keep your eyes peeled for wakes, tailing fish, or that telltale copper flash in the shallows.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the pickpockets of the lagoon - they'll steal your bait before you know what hit you. These black and white striped fish run 2-8 pounds typically, with their famous human-like teeth perfect for crunching barnacles and crabs off dock pilings. You'll find them tight to any structure: docks, bridges, oyster bars. They're year-round residents but really active in cooler months. What guests love is the challenge - they're notorious bait thieves that require finesse and quick reflexes. The payoff is some of the best eating fish in these waters with sweet, flaky white meat. My trick: use small hooks with fresh shrimp or fiddler crabs, keep your bait pinned tight to the structure, and when you feel that subtle tap-tap-tap, set the hook hard immediately. They'll clean you out otherwise.
Titusville