Redfish Morning Charter in New Smyrna Beach
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Target Redfish, Snook, and Black Drum in coastal watersFourhour inshore charter accommodates up to two guestsAll fishing gear and licenses provided by experienced captain
There's nothing quite like getting on the water at first light in New Smyrna Beach. This 4-hour morning charter puts you right in the heart of some of Florida's best inshore fishing action, where the Mosquito Lagoon system meets the Indian River. You'll be targeting some of the most sought-after species in these waters – redfish, snook, black drum, and sea trout – all with a captain who knows exactly where these fish like to hang out. With gear and licenses included, all you need to bring is your enthusiasm and maybe a cooler for your catch.
Your morning starts early, which is exactly when these inshore species are most active. The shallow flats and grass beds around New Smyrna Beach come alive at dawn, and that's when you want your line in the water. This isn't a crowded party boat situation – with just 2 anglers max, you're getting personalized attention and plenty of room to work. The captain will have you fishing the prime spots along the mangrove shorelines, oyster bars, and shallow flats where these fish feed. The water here averages 2-4 feet deep in most spots, making it perfect sight fishing territory when conditions are right. You'll be working areas like the Mosquito Lagoon, Turnbull Creek, and the flats near the inlet where the current brings baitfish and gets the predators fired up.
This charter is all about light tackle inshore fishing, which means you're using spinning gear that's perfect for the shallow water and spooky fish you'll encounter. The captain provides everything – rods, reels, tackle, and bait – so you don't have to worry about bringing the wrong setup. You'll primarily be using live shrimp, finger mullet, and artificial lures like soft plastics and topwater plugs. The techniques vary depending on what's working that day – sometimes you're sight casting to tailing redfish in super shallow water, other times you're working structure with jigs or live bait. The beauty of this fishery is the variety. One minute you might be throwing a popper at a snook ambush point along a mangrove edge, the next you're drifting a shrimp under a popping cork over a grass flat for sea trout. The captain reads the conditions – wind, tide, and fish behavior – to determine the best approach for the day.
Redfish are the crown jewel of this fishery and what most anglers dream about when they think New Smyrna Beach fishing. These copper-colored bruisers typically run 18-30 inches in these waters, with plenty of slot-sized fish perfect for the dinner table. Redfish here are known for their aggressive strikes and bulldogging fights in shallow water. They're most active during moving tides and love to cruise the flats looking for crabs and shrimp. Fall and spring are prime time, but you can catch them year-round. What makes them special is how they behave in shallow water – you'll often see their tails sticking up as they root around in the grass, giving you a target to cast at.
Snook are the ultimate inshore gamefish and New Smyrna Beach has some healthy populations around the inlet and mangrove areas. These silvery missiles are ambush predators that love structure – docks, mangrove overhangs, and oyster bars are their favorite hangouts. They're incredibly aggressive when they're feeding but can be finicky when they're not. The slot limit keeps things interesting, and a keeper snook makes for some of the best eating you'll find. Summer months are typically best, especially around the inlet during mullet runs. Their explosive strikes and acrobatic fights make every hookup memorable.
Black drum might not win beauty contests, but they're absolute bulldogs that will test your drag system. These fish can range from schoolie-sized 2-3 pounders up to trophy fish pushing 40+ pounds. They're bottom feeders that love crabs and shrimp, making them perfect targets when you're fishing oyster bars and structure. Black drum are year-round residents but seem to be most cooperative during cooler months. They're also excellent table fare when they're in the slot, with firm white meat that's perfect for blackening or grilling.
Sea trout round out the slam and are often the most cooperative species you'll encounter. These spotted beauties are schooling fish that love grass flats and deeper potholes. They're excellent light tackle fish that will readily take both live and artificial baits. Sea trout are most active during cooler months but can be caught year-round. They're also one of the best eating fish in the lagoon system, with sweet, flaky meat that's hard to beat. The larger "gator" trout over 20 inches are the real prizes and provide fantastic fights on light tackle.
This morning charter gives you everything you need for a world-class inshore fishing experience without the hassle of figuring out gear, licenses, or where to fish. The 4-hour timeframe is perfect – long enough to hit multiple spots and target different species, but not so long that you're exhausted by the heat of the day. With only 2 anglers per trip, you're getting a personalized experience that's hard to find with larger operations. The captain's local knowledge of seasonal patterns, tide movements, and fish behavior is what separates a good trip from a great one. Whether you're a seasoned angler looking to explore new water or someone wanting to experience Florida's renowned inshore fishing for the first time, this charter delivers the goods. Book early, especially during peak seasons, because word travels fast about productive fishing trips in a tight-knit community like New Smyrna Beach.
Your fishing adventure starts aboard this reliable 17' Mitzi Tournament Boat, perfectly sized for getting into those productive shallow waters where redfish love to cruise. Built for serious angling, this boat handles New Smyrna's backwaters and flats with ease while keeping you comfortable during the early morning bite. The onboard fish finder helps locate structure and baitfish that attract your targets, while the GPS ensures we hit all the prime spots efficiently. With an ice box to keep your catch fresh and space for two anglers to fish comfortably, you'll have everything needed to make the most of these productive waters. The shallow draft design lets us slip into skinny water where big reds and snook hang out, giving you access to some of the area's best fishing grounds that larger boats simply can't reach.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of our inshore waters, and they'll test your tackle. Most run 5-30 pounds, but 50+ pounders cruise these waters. They're bottom feeders with crushing jaws built for crabs and oysters. You'll find them on oyster bars, muddy flats, and around structure in 2-15 feet of water. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you hear their drumming sounds underwater. What guests love is the raw power - these fish bulldoze straight down and don't give up easy. Smaller ones under 15 pounds are great eating with firm, white meat. My go-to trick is fresh blue crab on a Carolina rig right on the bottom near oyster beds. Keep your bait still and let them find it.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the bread and butter of our inshore fishing, and they never disappoint. These copper-colored beauties with distinctive black spots near their tails typically run 18-27 inches, though oversized "bull" reds over 27 inches prowl deeper waters. They love super shallow flats, oyster bars, and mangrove shorelines in 1-4 feet of water - sometimes so shallow their backs stick out. Year-round fishing is good, but fall is peak season when they school up. What makes reds special is their aggressive strikes and strong, steady fights. They're also excellent eating when kept in slot size. The secret is sight fishing the flats with gold spoons or topwater plugs. When you spot their backs or tails, cast ahead of them and work your lure slowly past their nose.
Salmo TruttaSpotted seatrout, or "specks" as we call them, are beautiful fish covered in black spots with that signature speckled pattern. They typically run 14-20 inches and 1-3 pounds, though 5-pounders show up regularly. These fish love grass flats in 2-6 feet of water, especially around dawn and dusk. Fall and spring are peak seasons when they school up in deeper channels. What makes trout fishing fun is their willingness to hit topwater lures - the strikes are explosive. They're also excellent table fare with delicate, flaky white meat that's prized by locals. The trick is fishing soft plastics or live shrimp under a popping cork over grass beds. Work it slow and steady. When you find one trout, there's usually more nearby since they travel in schools.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of Florida's premier gamefish, and for good reason. These sleek, golden fish with that distinctive black lateral line typically run 1-3 feet long, though giants over 40 inches show up. They love structure - mangroves, docks, bridges - anywhere they can ambush prey. You'll find them in shallow estuaries, creeks, and along the surf. Spring through fall are prime months, especially around new and full moons when they spawn and their fins turn bright yellow. What makes snook special is their explosive strike and bulldogging fight. They're temperature sensitive, so warmer water gets them more active. Pro tip: cast your lure past the structure and work it back alongside - snook are ambush predators that strike from cover. They eat like bass but fight harder.
New Smyrna Beach