5.0(3 Reviews)New Smyrna Beach 3-Hour Fishing Charter
5.0(3 reviews)
Private Trip
River Fishing
Threehour guided fishing adventure in Indian River watersTarget redfish and black drum in prime fishing locationsAll fishing gear and equipment provided by experienced guides
Captain Neal's got you covered for one hell of a fishing adventure in New Smyrna Beach's prime waters. This 3-hour charter takes you to the sweet spots where the Indian River meets Mosquito Lagoon – some of the most productive inshore fishing grounds on Florida's east coast. You'll be targeting trophy-sized Redfish, feisty Snook, massive Black Drum, and if you're lucky, some silver kings (that's Tarpon for you newcomers). All your gear comes included, so just bring yourself and get ready to put some serious bend in those rods.
You're looking at a solid 3-hour window to work the flats, grass beds, and structure that make this area legendary among Florida anglers. Captain Neal knows every oyster bar, every grass line, and every hole where fish like to hang out. The Indian River system here is shallow enough to sight-fish when conditions are right, but deep enough in spots to hold some real monsters. Expect to cover water efficiently – this isn't a lazy drift trip. You'll be moving between productive zones, reading the water, and adjusting techniques based on what the fish are telling you. The boat stays comfortable for just two anglers, so you get personalized attention and plenty of room to work your lines without tangling up with other folks.
Captain Neal runs a mix of live bait and artificial setups depending on what's working best. You might be throwing topwater plugs at first light, switching to soft plastics when the sun gets higher, or soaking cut bait near structure when the bite gets tough. The Mosquito Lagoon side offers crystal-clear flats perfect for sight-casting to cruising Reds, while the Indian River section has deeper channels and docks that hold different species. Your captain provides everything – spinning reels spooled with the right line weights, a tackle box full of proven lures, fresh bait, and the local knowledge that turns a good day into a great one. Circle hooks, fluorocarbon leaders, and proper net technique keep fish healthy for release while maximizing your hook-up ratio.
"We booked our trip with less than two days' notice, and Captain Neal got in touch within the hour to confirm everything. From start to finish, the entire process was seamless. We wanted to target trout, and he brought us to the right spots—we managed to reel in a few! The kids had a blast, and the morning couldn't have gone any better. Overall, it was a great experience." - Antti
"We went out with Captain Neal for a trip with our two boys, ages 11 and 4, and he was absolutely fantastic. He showed incredible patience with our chatty kids, happily answering every question they had—and ours too! He was hands-on the entire time, helping with bait, hooks, and landing fish. We caught plenty, including three keepers, and our 11-year-old said it was a day he'll always remember. We had such a fun, memorable time and even spotted manatees and dolphins along the way. The Indian River was beautiful, and we're so thankful to Captain Neal for such a great experience!" - Kari
"I highly recommend fishing with Captain Neal. Having grown up in Oak Hill, he knows Mosquito Lagoon like the back of his hand. His local knowledge really shines through, and he's an absolute pleasure to spend the day with on the water." - James
Redfish are the bread and butter of this fishery, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers cruise the shallow flats year-round, though they really turn on during cooler months when they school up in massive numbers. A slot-sized Red (18-27 inches) puts up one hell of a fight on light tackle, making blistering runs and using their broad sides to leverage against your drag. They're sight-fishing gold when you spot their backs and tails in skinny water. What makes Reds so special here is their predictability – they follow the same feeding patterns, hit the same grass beds, and respond well to both live shrimp and soft plastic jigs.
Snook fishing in this area gets your heart pumping like nothing else. These ambush predators lurk around docks, mangroves, and bridge pilings, waiting to absolutely crush whatever swims by. They're notoriously finicky – one day they'll eat anything you throw, the next day they'll follow your lure right to the boat and turn away. Peak season runs from late spring through early fall, but the Indian River holds fish year-round. A good Snook fights dirty, jumping, gill-rattling, and making powerful runs toward whatever structure they can find. The slot limit keeps things interesting, and a keeper-sized fish makes for outstanding table fare.
Black Drum don't get the glamour of other species, but they'll test your tackle like few fish can. These bottom-dwellers grow massive in these waters – we're talking 20, 30, even 40-pound fish that'll make you question whether your drag is set right. They're most active during cooler months and love crab baits fished near oyster beds and deeper channels. The fight is all about power and endurance rather than speed and acrobatics. Young Black Drum (called puppy drum) are actually great eating, while the big breeding stock females get released to keep the population strong.
Tarpon are the wild cards that can show up any time from late spring through summer. When a silver king rolls near the boat, everything else becomes secondary. These prehistoric-looking fish launch themselves completely out of the water when hooked, gill-rattling and tail-walking in displays of pure athletic power. Most Tarpon in this system run 80-150 pounds, though smaller juvenile fish provide non-stop action on
Your ride for this 3-hour New Smyrna Beach fishing adventure is a restored 19' Polar flats boat that's perfect for navigating the shallow waters of Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon. This classic 1996 hull got a complete makeover in 2015 and runs on a reliable 90HP Suzuki engine that'll get you to the hottest redfish and black drum spots at a smooth 30 knots. The shallow draft design lets you slip into those back-country areas where the big fish hide, while the open layout gives you plenty of room to cast and fight your catch. With space for up to 2 anglers, you'll have the perfect setup to work the flats and grass beds where trophy fish cruise. The boat comes loaded with all the rods, reels, tackle and bait you need - just bring yourself and get ready to bend some rods in some of Florida's most productive inshore waters.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of our local waters, typically running 10-25 pounds, though we see plenty pushing 40+ pounds in the deeper channels. They're bottom feeders that cruise oyster beds, muddy flats, and around bridge pilings looking for crabs and shellfish. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll find the most fish and the biggest ones. What guests love about drum fishing is the powerful, bulldogging fight they put up. These fish don't jump, but they'll test your drag and your patience. The smaller ones under 15 pounds make great table fare with firm, white meat. My go-to tip for landing more drum: use fresh blue crab or fiddler crabs on a fish-finder rig. Keep your bait right on the bottom and be patient - drum take their time inspecting a meal before they commit.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are hands-down our most reliable target species here in New Smyrna's shallow waters. Most run 20-32 inches and put up a fantastic fight with strong runs and head-shaking action. You'll find them tailing in 1-3 feet of water around oyster bars, grass flats, and mangrove shorelines throughout the Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon. Fall and spring offer the best fishing when they school up, but they bite year-round in our area. What guests love most is sight-fishing to these copper-colored beauties - watching their black tail tips wave above the surface as they root for crabs is pure excitement. The smaller "slot fish" make excellent table fare with sweet, flaky meat. Pro tip from years on these waters: when you spot tailing reds, cast well ahead of where they're moving and let your bait settle to the bottom. They spook easily in skinny water, so keep noise to a minimum and make long, accurate casts.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are ambush predators that love hanging around mangroves, docks, and structure in our shallow waters. Most run 18-28 inches, but you'll occasionally hook into a 30+ inch bruiser. They're temperature sensitive, so spring through fall gives you the best action, especially around the new and full moons from May to September when they're spawning. What makes snook special is their explosive strike and acrobatic fight - they'll make multiple runs and try to wrap you around whatever cover they can find. The meat is fantastic too, with a clean, mild flavor that's hard to beat. Here's a local trick: when you see snook lurking in the shadows, cast your lure past them and work it back slowly along the edge. They almost always hit on the drop or right as it passes their hideout.
Megalops AtlanticusTarpon are the silver kings of our waters, and hooking one is a bucket-list experience. Most fish we see range from 50-120 pounds, though monsters over 150 pounds cruise through during peak season. They prefer deeper channels and edges of grass flats, often rolling on the surface in 6-15 feet of water. Late spring through early fall is prime time, especially May through July when they're most active. What makes tarpon special isn't the eating - we always release these prehistoric giants - it's the aerial show they put on. When hooked, they'll jump repeatedly, sometimes 6+ feet out of the water, shaking their massive heads to throw the hook. The fight can last 30+ minutes on a big fish. Here's the key to success: when you see them rolling, cast ahead of the school and let your bait sink naturally. Once hooked, keep steady pressure but bow to the fish when it jumps to avoid a break-off.
5.0 out of 5.0We booked our trip with less than two days' notice, and Captain Neal got in touch within the hour to confirm everything. From star...
We went out with Captain Neal for a trip with our two boys, ages 11 and 4, and he was absolutely fantastic. He showed incredible p...
I highly recommend fishing with Captain Neal. Having grown up in Oak Hill, he knows Mosquito Lagoon like the back of his hand. His...
New Smyrna Beach