Full Day Inshore Fishing New Smyrna Beach
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Eight-hour guided inshore fishing adventure targeting multiple speciesLight tackle fishing aboard 22-foot Pathfinder in Mosquito LagoonAll gear, bait and local expertise provided by experienced captain
When you want to really get into some serious inshore fishing, nothing beats a full eight-hour day on the legendary waters around New Smyrna Beach. This isn't your typical half-day quickie – we're talking about a proper fishing adventure that gives you time to work multiple spots, dial in your technique, and chase the bigger fish that call Mosquito Lagoon home. Captain runs a top-rated 22' Pathfinder that'll get you to the honey holes fast and comfortable, with room for up to two anglers who want to fish without bumping elbows. You'll be targeting some of Florida's most sought-after inshore species: redfish, speckled trout, snook, sheepshead, and whatever else is biting that day. All your tackle, bait, and ice come with the trip, so you just need to show up ready to fish.
Mosquito Lagoon is hands down one of the most productive inshore fisheries on the East Coast, and spending a full day here means you're going to see why guides and anglers travel from all over to fish these waters. We'll start early when the fish are most active, working the grass flats, oyster bars, and structure that hold the best concentrations of gamefish. The shallow, clear water makes sight fishing a real possibility – there's nothing like watching a big red cruise up to your bait in two feet of water. Your captain knows these waters like the back of his hand, reading the tides, wind, and seasonal patterns to put you on fish throughout the day. With eight hours on the water, there's time to adjust if conditions change, move spots when the bite slows down, and really focus on the techniques that work best for each species. The extended time also means you'll get a complete education in inshore fishing – learning to read water, understand fish behavior, and pick up the local tricks that make all the difference.
This trip is all about light tackle fishing that puts you right in the fight with every fish you hook. We're talking spinning reels spooled with 10-15 pound test, medium-light rods that load up nice when a fish hits, and the kind of tackle that makes a three-pound trout feel like a ten-pounder. The captain provides all the gear, but if you've got your own favorite setup, feel free to bring it along. Bait selection varies with the season and what's working – live shrimp are always a safe bet, but don't be surprised to throw artificial lures, cut bait, or live pinfish depending on what the fish want that day. The beauty of Mosquito Lagoon is the variety of structure and cover – one minute you're working a grass flat with a popping cork, the next you're bouncing jigs around oyster bars or casting topwater plugs at shoreline structure. Your captain will teach you how to adjust your presentation for each spot, read the subtle strikes that speckled trout are famous for, and handle the powerful runs that big redfish are known to make in shallow water.
Redfish are the bread and butter of Mosquito Lagoon, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers love the shallow flats and oyster bars, often feeding in water so skinny their backs are out of the water. Reds here typically run 18-30 inches, with plenty of slot-sized fish perfect for the dinner table and occasional oversized bulls that'll test your drag system. Fall and winter are prime time when schools of reds stack up in predictable spots, but you'll find fish year-round if you know where to look. What makes redfish so popular is their aggressive nature – they'll eat live bait, artificials, and put up a fight that includes powerful runs and stubborn head-shaking that'll remind you why they're called bull reds.
Speckled trout are the other crown jewel of these waters, and Mosquito Lagoon produces some true gator trout that push five pounds or more. These fish are structure-oriented, hanging around grass beds, drop-offs, and channels where they can ambush baitfish. Specks have a soft mouth, so the fight is more about finesse than power – but when you hook into a big one, they'll make some impressive jumps and runs. Winter months are when the really big trout show up, following baitfish into the deeper holes and channels. What trout anglers love most is the variety of ways you can catch them – slow-rolling soft plastics, working topwater early in the morning, or fishing live shrimp under a popping cork.
Snook are the glamour fish that every anshore angler wants to tangle with, and the waters around New Smyrna Beach hold some real dandies. These fish are temperature sensitive, so timing is everything – summer months see them scattered throughout the lagoon system, while cooler weather pushes them into deeper holes and near warm water discharges. Snook are ambush predators that love structure, making them perfect targets around docks, mangroves, and oyster bars. They're also notorious for their gill-rattling jumps and powerful runs toward whatever structure they can find. The current slot limit keeps things interesting – you'll catch plenty that are too small or too big to keep, making that perfect slot fish all the more satisfying.
Sheepshead show up when the water cools down, and these black-and-white striped bait thieves will test your patience and improve your hook-setting skills. They're structure fish that love oyster bars, pilings, and anywhere they can find crustaceans to munch on. Sheepshead have human-like teeth that make short work of crabs and shrimp, but also make them notorious for stealing bait without getting hooked. When you do connect with a good sheepshead, you'll find they're strong fighters that make excellent table fare. The key is using small hooks,
Fish New Smyrna Beach's legendary backwaters aboard our 22' Pathfinder flats boat, powered by a reliable 200 HP Suzuki outboard. This shallow-draft vessel gets you into the skinny waters of Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River where the big reds and speckled trout hide. Built for serious inshore fishing, the spacious deck gives you plenty of casting room while the quiet motor won't spook fish in those shallow flats. The boat's design lets us slip into tight spots other vessels can't reach, putting you on productive water away from the crowds. Whether we're poling through grass beds or running between honey holes, this Pathfinder handles it all with smooth, dry rides that keep you comfortable during your full day on the water.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of our flats, typically running 8-25 pounds with some monsters pushing 40+. These gray, powerful fish cruise oyster bars and muddy bottoms looking for crabs and shellfish. They're easiest to target during spring spawning season when they school up in shallow water. What guests love is the steady, bulldogging fight - no flashy jumps, just pure power that'll test your drag. The smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent table fare with sweet, flaky meat. Here's the key: use fresh crab bait and fish it right on the bottom. When you feel that subtle tap-tap-tap, don't set the hook immediately - let them pick it up and start moving before you strike.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are our signature species here in the lagoon, running 18-35 inches with that copper-bronze color and black eyespot near the tail. They patrol oyster bars, grass flats, and mangrove shorelines in super shallow water - sometimes with their backs showing. Year-round fishing is good, but fall brings the best action when they're feeding heavy before winter. What makes them special is that explosive topwater strike in skinny water, plus they're fantastic eating in the slot size range. These fish are sight-fishing targets that'll give you a real fight on light tackle. My go-to technique is throwing a gold spoon or topwater plug just ahead of cruising fish in 1-3 feet of water - lead them slightly and let the lure sink a bit before starting your retrieve.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are our bread-and-butter fish, running 12-20 inches with those distinctive black spots scattered across their backs. They cruise grass flats in 2-6 feet of water, especially during cooler months when they school up tight. Spring and fall offer the most consistent action, though they bite year-round in our area. Guests love them because they're aggressive strikers that'll hit topwater plugs and soft plastics, plus they're perfect for the dinner table with tender, flaky white meat. The trick is working the grass edges during moving water - they ambush shrimp and baitfish along the drop-offs. Use a popping cork with live shrimp about 18 inches below, and work it slow with gentle pops.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" with those black and white stripes, typically running 2-8 pounds around dock pilings and structure. They've got human-like teeth perfect for crushing barnacles and crabs off pilings. Winter through early spring is prime time when they're thick around our bridges and docks. Guests get a kick out of their weird teeth and they're some of the best eating fish in the lagoon - sweet, white meat that's hard to beat. The challenge is they're notorious bait thieves with light bites. My secret is using fiddler crabs on small hooks and keeping steady pressure - the moment you feel weight, set that hook hard. They'll steal your bait all day if you're not quick on the trigger.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of Florida's premier gamefish, running 18-48 inches with that distinctive black lateral line and golden coloring. They're ambush predators that love structure - mangroves, docks, and creek mouths in our lagoon system. Most run 5-15 pounds, but bigger ones lurk near deeper channels. Spring through fall gives you the best action, especially around moving water during tide changes. What makes them special is that explosive strike when they crush a topwater lure, plus they're fantastic eating with firm, white meat. These fish are smart and spook easily, so my tip is always cast past the structure and work your bait back to it - never land your lure right on top of where you think they're holding.
New Smyrna Beach