New Smyrna Beach Fishing Charters | 3-Hours
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
3hour inshore fishing charter targets redfish, trout, and snookCaptain John provides expert guidance and toptier fishing equipmentMaximum 3 guests ensures personalized attention and tailored experience
When you're looking for a solid inshore fishing trip on Florida's east coast, Captain John Frazier knows exactly where to put you on the fish. This 3-hour charter out of New Smyrna Beach hits all the right spots where redfish, sea trout, snook, and black drum love to hang out. Captain John's been working these waters for years, and he's got the local knowledge to put you right where the action is. Whether you've never held a rod or you've been fishing since you could walk, he'll make sure you're set up for success. The boat's equipped with quality gear, and with only 3 anglers max, you'll get plenty of personal attention to help you land some serious fish.
Your morning starts at the dock where Captain John will get you rigged up and ready to fish. New Smyrna Beach's inshore waters offer some of the most productive fishing on Florida's Atlantic coast, and this charter focuses on the flats, grass beds, and structure where game fish feed. You'll be fishing aboard a well-maintained boat equipped with all the tackle you need, from live bait rigs to artificial lures that match what the fish are hitting. The beauty of a 3-hour trip is that it gives you enough time to hit multiple spots without wearing you out. Captain John reads the water conditions, tide, and weather to determine the best game plan for your specific day. Some days you might be sight-casting to tailing redfish in shallow water, other days you'll be working deeper grass flats for sea trout. The approach changes, but the goal stays the same - putting fish in the boat.
Inshore fishing around New Smyrna Beach requires different techniques depending on what you're targeting and where they're feeding. Captain John runs a versatile operation, switching between live bait and artificials based on conditions and fish activity. When the redfish are up shallow, you might be throwing gold spoons or soft plastics into the grass. For sea trout, live shrimp under a popping cork often does the trick, especially around structure and drop-offs. Snook fishing calls for different tactics altogether - these fish are ambush predators that love to hide around docks, mangroves, and oyster bars. The tackle is sized appropriately for inshore species, typically medium-action spinning rods with 15-20 pound test line. Captain John provides all the gear, but if you have a favorite rod or reel setup, feel free to bring it along. He's always got a cooler full of live bait when conditions call for it, and his tackle box is stocked with the proven lures that consistently produce in these waters.
Redfish are the bread and butter of New Smyrna Beach inshore fishing, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers average 20-28 inches in this area and fight like fish twice their size. They're most active during moving tides, especially around oyster bars and grass flats. Fall and winter months are prime time for reds, though you can catch them year-round. What makes redfish so exciting is their aggressive strikes and bulldogging fights - they'll make long runs and use their broad sides to fight you every inch of the way back to the boat.
Sea Trout are another staple that keeps anglers coming back to these waters. The grass flats around New Smyrna Beach hold some nice trout, especially during cooler months when they school up in deeper holes. A good sea trout runs 15-20 inches, and the bigger ones will surprise you with their speed and jumping ability. They're excellent table fare too, which makes them a favorite among families looking to bring home dinner.
Snook are the glamour species of inshore fishing, and New Smyrna Beach has some solid populations around its numerous docks and mangrove shorelines. These fish are temperature sensitive, so they're most active when water temps are above 70 degrees. Summer and early fall offer the best snook action. They're known for their explosive strikes and acrobatic fights - a good snook will jump repeatedly and make strong runs toward structure. Landing one requires quick reflexes and steady pressure.
Black Drum might not be the prettiest fish in the water, but they're absolute powerhouses when it comes to fighting ability. The New Smyrna area produces black drum ranging from 5-pound "puppy drum" to 20-pound slabs that will test your tackle and patience. They're bottom feeders that love crabs and shrimp, and they're most active during cooler months. When you hook a big black drum, settle in for a long fight - these fish are pure muscle and won't give up easily.
Captain John Frazier's 3-hour New Smyrna Beach fishing charter offers the perfect balance of fishing time and value for anglers who want to experience some of Florida's best inshore action. With his local expertise, quality equipment, and personalized approach, you'll have every advantage to make this a memorable fishing trip. The small group size ensures you get plenty of hands-on instruction and fishing time, while the captain's knowledge of seasonal patterns and local hotspots puts you right where the fish are feeding. Don't wait - the best fishing days fill up fast, especially during peak seasons. Book your charter today and get ready to experience why New Smyrna Beach is considered one of Florida's top inshore fishing destinations.
Captain John's motorboat cuts through New Smyrna Beach waters with precision, equipped with GPS navigation and fish finder technology to locate the hottest inshore spots. This nimble vessel gets you and two fishing buddies right where the Redfish, Sea Trout, Snook, and Black Drum are biting. The boat's shallow draft design navigates backwater flats and oyster bars where trophy fish hide. Modern fish finder electronics scan beneath the surface while GPS marks productive locations for return trips. Perfect for small groups wanting personalized attention from Captain John, who knows every creek, flat, and structure along this productive coastline. The boat's open layout gives everyone room to cast and fight fish without tangling lines. Whether you're working live bait around mangroves or throwing artificials at schooling fish, this setup puts you in prime position for New Smyrna's legendary inshore action.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of the inshore flats, running 5-30 pounds with some bruisers hitting 50+. These bottom feeders cruise oyster bars and muddy flats using their pharyngeal teeth to crush crabs and shellfish - you'll hear them crunching away underwater. Spring spawning season brings the best fishing when they school up in shallow water. The smaller ones under 15 pounds are excellent table fare with firm, white meat. What guests love is the pure power - once hooked, they use that broad tail and bulk to make strong, steady runs. The key is getting your bait right on bottom with fresh crab or cut bait. My go-to trick is using blue crab pieces on a fish finder rig - let it sit still and wait for that steady pull.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the perfect inshore target - copper-colored beauties with that signature black spot near the tail. They typically run 18-27 inches in our shallow waters, living in 1-4 feet around oyster bars, grass flats, and mangrove shorelines. Year-round fishing here, but fall and spring offer the most consistent action when they're actively feeding. What makes reds special is they eat almost anything and fight like crazy once hooked - long, powerful runs that'll test your drag. They're also excellent table fare with mild, firm meat. The sight-fishing is addictive when you spot their backs and tails in skinny water. Best local tip: work your lure slowly past them - redfish are opportunistic but won't chase far, so put it right in their face.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are our bread and butter inshore fish, typically running 12-20 inches with occasional 3-4 pounders that'll surprise you. Look for them over grass flats in 2-8 feet of water, especially around potholes and current edges. They're most active during cooler months and low-light periods - dawn, dusk, and overcast days are prime time. What makes them fun is they'll hit topwater plugs with aggressive strikes, plus they're some of the best eating fish we catch with sweet, flaky white meat. They school up, so when you find one, there's usually more nearby. The trick is using light tackle and working your lures slowly - trout are sight feeders but spook easily. Try a soft plastic on a 1/4 oz jig head, twitched just above the grass.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are ambush predators with that distinctive black lateral line running down their golden sides. Most run 1-3 feet, but the big females can push 4 feet and really test your drag. They love structure - mangroves, docks, bridges - anywhere they can hide and dart out at baitfish. Spring through fall gives you the best action when water temps stay above 70. They're temperature sensitive, so cold fronts can shut them down fast. What makes snook special is that explosive strike and bulldog fight in tight quarters. Plus they're great eating if you keep a slot fish. Pro tip: cast past the structure and work your lure back through it - snook rarely chase baits into open water, they want that ambush from cover.
New Smyrna Beach