New Smyrna Beach Inshore Fishing Adventure
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Professional inshore fishing trips lasting 48 hours near New Smyrna Beach.Target redfish, trout, snook, and tarpon with experienced local captains.All equipment provided including rods, reels, bait, and tackle.
New Smyrna Beach sits right where the Indian River meets the Atlantic, creating some of Florida's most productive inshore waters. When you fish with Davy Jones Fishing Company, you're getting access to backwater flats, oyster bars, and nearshore structure that holds serious fish year-round. Our captains have been working these waters for decades, and they know exactly where to find redfish tailing on the flats or snook hanging around the docks. Whether you're a seasoned angler or just getting your feet wet, this 4 to 8-hour trip gives you plenty of time to dial in your technique and put some quality fish in the boat.
Your day starts at the boat ramp where you'll meet your captain and get the rundown on conditions and game plan. We're running a smaller boat that handles three anglers max, so you're not fighting for space or dealing with crowded rails. The shallow draft lets us get into skinny water where the big fish live, and we can pivot between inshore flats and nearshore structure depending on what's biting. Your captain will have the boat rigged and ready with quality spinning gear, circle hooks, and whatever bait is working best that week. Some days it's live shrimp under popping corks, other days we're throwing artificial lures at structure. The beauty of New Smyrna is the variety - one cast you might be sight fishing a laid-up red, the next you're working a snook under a dock. Expect to move around and fish different zones throughout the trip, from grass flats to oyster bars to inlet mouths where the current brings in baitfish.
We keep it simple but effective out here. Most of the time you'll be throwing medium spinning tackle - 3000 to 4000 size reels spooled with 15 to 20-pound braid and a fluorocarbon leader. For live bait fishing, we're using circle hooks under popping corks or free-lining shrimp around structure. When the artificial bite is on, soft plastics like paddle tails and jerk baits work great, especially in the 3 to 5-inch range. Your captain will have you covered on the tackle front, but if you've got a favorite rod or lucky lure, bring it along. The water here ranges from two feet on the flats to 15 feet in the deeper channels, so we adjust our presentation based on depth and current. Sight fishing is huge when conditions are right - polarized sunglasses are a must for spotting fish in the shallows. Don't worry if you've never sight fished before; your guide will talk you through it and help you spot your first tailing red.
Redfish are the bread and butter of New Smyrna Beach inshore fishing. These copper-colored fighters cruise the oyster bars and grass flats in schools, especially during the cooler months from October through April. A typical slot red here runs 18 to 27 inches and will give you a solid fight on spinning gear. What makes reds so fun is their willingness to eat - they'll hit live shrimp, cut bait, and artificials with equal enthusiasm. During the fall months, you might encounter schools of oversized bull reds in the 30 to 40-inch range that will test your drag and your arms. The shallow water fishing for reds here is world-class, with fish often feeding in less than three feet of water where you can see their backs and tails.
Cobia show up in good numbers from March through October, cruising the nearshore waters and sometimes venturing into the deeper inshore channels. These brown sharks, as locals call them, are curious fish that often approach the boat, giving you multiple shot opportunities. A typical cobia here runs 25 to 40 inches and fights like a truck, making long runs and testing your tackle. They're sight fish primarily, so when your captain spots one, be ready with a live shrimp or crab. The great thing about cobia is their aggressive nature - they'll often eat whatever you throw at them if you can get it in front of their face.
Tripletail are one of the more unique catches you'll find around New Smyrna Beach. These sideways swimmers hang around floating debris, channel markers, and dock pilings, looking like floating leaves until they move. They're incredibly strong for their size, with fish in the 3 to 8-pound range putting up fights that rival much larger species. Tripletail fishing requires patience and precision - you need to get your bait close without spooking them, and the bite is often subtle. Live shrimp under a small cork or free-lined is the go-to technique. The season runs from April through October, with the best action during the warmer months.
Snook are the glamour species of Florida inshore fishing, and New Smyrna Beach holds some quality fish. These ambush predators hang around docks, bridges, mangroves, and any structure that provides shade and current breaks. A slot snook here typically runs 28 to 34 inches and has the attitude to match its reputation. They're moody fish that can be incredibly frustrating one day and cooperative the next. The closed season runs from December through January and June through July, but when they're open, snook provide some of the most exciting inshore fishing you'll find. They'll blow up on topwater lures at dawn and dusk, and nothing beats the visual of a big snook crashing a walking plug in shallow water.
New Smyrna Beach fishing delivers year-round action with seasonal patterns that keep things interesting. Spring brings the cobia migration and warming water temperatures that fire up the snook bite. Summer means tripletail around the markers and plenty of variety in the deeper channels. Fall is prime time for big redfish schools and some of the most
Hit the waters of New Smyrna Beach aboard our well-kept 26' Sailfish, built to handle up to 6 anglers in comfort. This fishing machine comes loaded with everything you need for a productive day chasing redfish, speckled trout, snook, and tarpon in Florida's legendary inshore waters. The boat features a reliable GPS and fish finder to help locate the best spots, plus a quiet wireless trolling motor for sneaking up on spooky fish in the shallows. Keep your catch fresh in the onboard icebox, and take advantage of the multimedia system during travel time between fishing holes. With a private head and plenty of deck space for casting, you'll have room to work whether you're sight fishing the flats or drifting structure offshore. Our experienced local captains provide all rods, reels, bait, and tackle, so just bring your fishing license and sunscreen for 4-8 hours of prime Florida fishing action.
Rachycentron CanadumCobia are the brown sharks that aren't actually sharks - these solitary hunters average 3-4 feet but can push 6 feet and 100 pounds. You'll find them cruising around structure like buoys, wrecks, and channel markers in 30-70 feet during spring migration from April through June. They're sight-fishing targets, often spotted just under the surface with that distinctive dark brown body and single dorsal fin. What gets anglers fired up about cobia is their aggressive nature and acrobatic fight - they'll make powerful runs and jump clear of the water. The meat is fantastic too, firm and white like grouper. Here's the trick: when you spot one, cast a bucktail jig past them and work it back slowly. They're curious and will often follow the boat, giving you multiple shots.
Lobotes SurinamensisTripletail are some of the quirkiest fish we target - they get their name from having three fins that look identical at the back end. Most run 18 inches and 2-5 pounds, but they can reach 40 pounds. You'll find them floating on their sides near the surface, mimicking debris around weed lines, buoys, and channel markers. Summer months are prime time when water temps climb above 70 degrees. What makes them special is their ability to change color and their surprisingly acrobatic fight for such an odd-looking fish. They're also excellent eating, tasting similar to snapper. The key is being stealthy - cast well away from where you see them and slowly work your bait or fly toward them. They're easily spooked but will ambush prey that drifts naturally into their zone.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are Florida's signature inshore gamefish - sleek, golden fish with that unmistakable black lateral line running down their sides. Most range 18-30 inches, though they can hit 4 feet in ideal conditions. They're structure-oriented, hanging around mangroves, docks, bridges, and oyster bars in shallow estuaries and creeks. Spring through fall is prime time, especially around the full and new moons when they spawn. What makes snook special is their explosive strike and acrobatic fight - they'll jump repeatedly and make blistering runs. They're also temperature-sensitive, so cold fronts send them to deeper holes. The secret is fishing the ambush points where current meets structure. Cast soft plastics or topwater plugs tight to cover and work them slow. Snook are ambush predators that rely on surprising their prey.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are one of our most reliable targets here in New Smyrna's shallow waters. These copper-colored bruisers typically run 20-30 inches and love cruising the 1-4 foot flats around oyster bars and grass beds. You'll spot them by their distinctive black eyespot near the tail and that telltale red back. They're year-round residents, but spring and fall offer the best action when they're actively feeding. What makes reds so popular is their aggressive strike and bulldogging fight - they'll make screaming runs that test your drag. Plus, they're excellent table fare with mild, flaky meat. Pro tip: when you see a red tailing in skinny water, cast well ahead and let your bait drift naturally into their path. They spook easily but hit hard when fooled.
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