Beginner-Friendly Fishing Trip in New Smyrna Beach
Private Trip
River Fishing
5hour beginnerfriendly fishing trip with expert guide Neal GoodrichTarget redfish, snook, black drum in Indian River watersAll equipment provided for hasslefree river fishing experience
Looking to get your feet wet in the fishing world? Captain Neal Goodrich's 5-hour river fishing adventure in New Smyrna Beach is exactly what you need. This top-rated beginner trip takes you into the fish-rich waters of the Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon, where redfish, snook, black drum, and tarpon call home. Neal's got everything covered – rods, reels, tackle, bait, and most importantly, the patience to teach you the ropes. With space for just two anglers, you'll get personalized attention that turns nervous first-timers into confident casters. This isn't about pressuring you to land trophy fish; it's about learning, laughing, and maybe hooking into something that'll have you planning your next trip before this one's over.
Captain Neal knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he's spent years perfecting the art of teaching newcomers how to fish properly. You'll start your day learning basic casting techniques and how to read the water – skills that'll serve you well whether you stick to inshore fishing or eventually head offshore. The Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon offer calm, protected waters that are perfect for beginners who might get seasick in rougher conditions. Neal will position the boat in productive spots where fish are actively feeding, then walk you through everything from how to hold your rod to setting the hook when you feel that first bite. The 5-hour timeframe gives you plenty of opportunities to practice different techniques without feeling rushed. You'll try live bait fishing, artificial lures, and learn when to use each approach. Don't worry about bringing anything – Neal provides all the gear, including different rod weights so you can feel the difference between light tackle and heavier setups.
Neal runs a well-equipped operation with quality spinning reels spooled with appropriate line weights for the target species. You'll primarily use light to medium-light tackle, which gives you the best feel for what's happening underwater while still having enough backbone to handle larger fish. The tackle box is stocked with everything from DOA shrimp and gulp baits to topwater plugs and spoons – Neal will explain when and why to use each lure type. Live bait fishing with shrimp is often the go-to method for beginners since it's forgiving and produces consistent results. You'll learn how to properly hook live bait, how much weight to use in different current conditions, and the subtle art of detecting bites. Artificial lure fishing adds another dimension to the experience – Neal will teach you retrieval techniques that trigger strikes from predatory fish like snook and redfish. The shallow flats and grass beds of these waterways require specific approaches, and you'll learn how to work baits through structure without getting hung up constantly.
Redfish are the bread and butter of New Smyrna Beach fishing, and for good reason. These copper-colored fighters typically range from 18 to 27 inches in these waters, with the occasional oversized bull red pushing 30-plus inches. Redfish are active year-round, but fall and winter months often produce the most consistent action. They're perfect for beginners because they're aggressive feeders, fight hard enough to get your adrenaline pumping, but won't break you off on light tackle if you follow Neal's coaching. What makes redfish special is their willingness to eat both live and artificial baits – you might catch one on a live shrimp, then immediately hook another on a gold spoon.
Snook fishing in the Indian River system is legendary, and these ambush predators provide some of the most exciting strikes you'll experience. Most snook here run between 20 to 30 inches, with their distinctive black lateral line and sloped head making them unmistakable. They're most active during warmer months, typically May through October, when water temperatures stay consistently warm. Snook are notorious for their explosive strikes and aerial acrobatics – when one hits your bait near a mangrove shoreline, you'll understand why anglers get addicted to targeting them. They're also notorious for their sharp gill plates, so Neal will handle the unhooking process while teaching you proper fish handling techniques.
Black drum might not win beauty contests, but they're fantastic fish for beginners to target. These bottom-dwellers can range from schoolie-sized fish around 14 inches to impressive specimens over 20 pounds. They're available year-round but are particularly active during cooler months when they move into shallow waters to feed. Black drum provide steady, powerful fights that teach new anglers how to work fish properly without the explosive runs that can overwhelm beginners. They're excellent table fare too, with sweet, flaky white meat that rivals any restaurant fish dinner.
Tarpon represent the holy grail of inshore fishing, and the juvenile tarpon in these waters provide a taste of what the "silver king" is all about. Most tarpon you'll encounter range from 20 to 50 pounds, but even these smaller fish are absolute rockets when hooked. They're most active during summer months when water temperatures peak, and their jumping ability is simply spectacular. Landing a tarpon on your first fishing trip is something you'll never forget – their chrome sides flashing in the sunlight as they cartwheel through the air. Neal practices catch-and-release with tarpon since they're such valuable gamefish, but the photos and memories last forever.
This beginner-friendly adventure strikes the perfect balance between education and excitement. You're not just paying for a fishing trip – you're investing in a foundation of skills and knowledge that'll enhance every future fishing experience. Neal's patient teaching style, combined with the productive waters around New Smyrna Beach, creates an environment where success feels natural rather than forced. The 2-person capacity ensures you won't get lost in a crowd, and the 5-hour duration provides enough time to really learn
The 19' Polar flats boat is your perfect fishing companion for exploring New Smyrna Beach's productive waters. Originally built in 1996 and completely restored in 2015, this reliable motorboat runs on a powerful 90HP 2016 Suzuki engine that can cruise up to 30 knots, getting you to the best fishing spots quickly. With space for up to 2 guests, you'll have plenty of room to cast lines while Captain Neal guides you through the Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon. The shallow-draft design lets you access those prime redfish and snook hideouts in skinny water where bigger boats can't go. Whether you're working the grass flats for tailing reds or drifting the channels for black drum and tarpon, this boat handles the varied terrain of our local waters with ease. All your gear is included, so just bring yourself and get ready to learn the ropes of inshore fishing.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are perfect for beginners because they're plentiful and fight hard without being too tricky to land. These bruisers typically weigh 5-15 pounds in our waters, though we catch some real bulls over 30 pounds. You'll find them cruising shallow flats, around oyster bars, and near creek mouths where they root around for crabs and shellfish. Spring is peak season when they school up for spawning, making them easier to target. What guests love about drum fishing is the steady, powerful fight they put up - no flashy jumps, just pure bulldogging strength. The smaller ones make great eating too. My go-to tip: use fresh cut crab or shrimp on the bottom near structure, and don't set the hook too hard - let them eat it and start swimming away first.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are hands down the best fish for beginners - they're aggressive, fight well, and taste fantastic. Most of our reds run 18-27 inches and put up a great scrap without being too overwhelming. You'll spot them tailing in 1-3 feet of water on grass flats, around oyster bars, and cruising the mangrove shorelines. We catch them year-round, but fall and spring offer the most consistent action when they're feeding heavily. What makes redfish so popular is their willingness to eat almost anything - live shrimp, cut bait, or artificial lures all work great. Plus, they're beautiful fish with that copper-bronze color and distinctive black spots near the tail. Local secret: look for nervous water or birds working bait - that's usually a school of reds feeding underneath, and they'll practically fight over your bait.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of our most popular targets here in the Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon. These sleek silver fish with that signature black lateral line typically run 18-30 inches, though we catch some real trophies pushing 40+ inches. They love hanging around mangroves, docks, and structure in shallow water, especially during moving tides. Spring through fall gives us the best action, with summer being prime time when they're most active. What makes snook special is their explosive strikes and acrobatic fights - they'll jump and run like crazy. Plus, they're excellent table fare with white, flaky meat. Here's a local tip: cast your lure just past the structure and work it back slowly along the edge - snook are ambush predators and won't chase far from cover.
Megalops AtlanticusTarpon are the ultimate bucket-list fish, and we get juvenile "baby" tarpon year-round in our backwater areas. These silver rockets typically run 10-40 pounds in the lagoons, though the big migratory fish can hit 100+ pounds. They cruise shallow flats, hang around bridges, and love deeper holes in the river systems. Late spring through early fall brings the best action, especially on warm, calm days. What makes tarpon fishing so addictive is their aerial show - they'll jump repeatedly when hooked, shaking their heads trying to throw the hook. Most anglers practice catch and release since they're not great eating. Pro tip: keep steady pressure but don't horse them - when they jump, bow to the fish by lowering your rod tip to give them slack and prevent the hook from pulling out.
New Smyrna Beach