Full Day Inshore Fishing in New Smyrna Beach
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Eight-hour private inshore charter targets redfish, snook, and troutCaptain Zachary Griffith provides all gear and expert guidanceAccommodates up to six guests with morning departure times
Captain Zachary Griffith knows these New Smyrna Beach waters like the back of his hand, and his full-day inshore charters are designed for serious anglers who want to maximize their time on productive fishing grounds. This 8-hour private trip targets the cream of the crop when it comes to inshore species – redfish, snook, speckled trout, mangrove snapper, and sheepshead. You'll launch early morning when the fish are most active, and with up to six anglers on board, there's plenty of room to spread out and work different techniques. All your gear is covered – rods, reels, tackle, bait, and lures – so you can focus entirely on putting fish in the boat.
New Smyrna Beach offers some of Florida's most diverse inshore fishing, and Captain Zachary takes full advantage of the area's varied structure and habitat. You'll work everything from grass flats and oyster bars to mangrove shorelines and creek mouths, depending on tides, weather, and what's biting. The beauty of an 8-hour trip is having time to adapt – if the redfish aren't cooperating on the flats, you can shift gears and target snook around structure or work the deeper holes for trout. The pace stays relaxed but productive, with Captain Zachary reading conditions and adjusting tactics throughout the day. Expect to cover significant water and fish multiple spots, giving everyone on board plenty of opportunities to hook up with different species.
This charter runs on versatility, with tackle setups ranging from light spinning gear for trout and snapper to medium-heavy baitcasters for snook and redfish. You'll fish both live bait and artificials depending on conditions and target species. Live shrimp works magic on the grass flats for trout and redfish, while pinfish and pilchards are deadly around structure for snook and mangrove snapper. On the artificial side, expect to throw soft plastics, topwater plugs, and jigs – Captain Zachary knows when each technique shines and keeps you in fish throughout the day. The boat is rigged with quality electronics for locating structure and bait, plus a live well system to keep your bait fresh and frisky. Drift fishing, anchor fishing, and sight casting all come into play depending on what you're targeting and where the fish are holding.
Snook are the kings of New Smyrna's inshore waters, and for good reason. These ambush predators love hanging around docks, mangrove edges, and creek mouths where they can surprise unsuspecting baitfish. Peak season runs from late spring through early fall, with the best action often coming during moving water on the tide changes. Snook fight hard and jump often, making them a favorite among experienced anglers. They're incredibly line-shy, so finesse presentations often outproduce power fishing. The slot size here runs 28 to 33 inches, and a keeper snook makes for excellent table fare with firm, white meat.
Grey snapper, or mangrove snapper as they're known locally, are year-round residents that provide consistent action when other species get finicky. These smart fish hang around any kind of structure – docks, oyster bars, bridge pilings, and mangrove roots. They're notorious bait stealers, requiring sharp hooks and quick reflexes to get a solid hookset. Peak fishing happens during warmer months when they're most active, but you can catch them any time of year. Size-wise, anything over 12 inches is a solid fish, with the bigger ones often lurking in deeper water. They're fantastic eating and one of the most reliable species you'll encounter on this trip.
Tarpon show up seasonally and turn every angler into a kid again. These silver kings migrate through New Smyrna's waters primarily in late spring and summer, offering shots at fish ranging from juvenile "poons" in the 20-50 pound range to monsters exceeding 100 pounds. They're primarily a catch-and-release fish, prized for their aerial displays and bulldogging fights. When tarpon are around, they become the focus of the trip – there's nothing quite like watching a 6-foot fish launch itself completely out of the water. They're structure-oriented during the day, often found around bridges and deeper channels, but they'll move into shallow water to feed during low-light periods.
Redfish are the workhorses of the inshore scene, available year-round and always ready to eat. New Smyrna's grass flats and oyster bars hold good numbers of slot-sized reds, with the occasional oversized bull mixed in. They're sight-fishing targets on shallow flats during calm conditions, but also respond well to blind casting around structure. Fall months offer the best action as reds school up in preparation for their offshore spawning runs. These fish pull hard and steady, using their broad tails to make long runs. The 18-27 inch slot provides excellent eating, while the oversized fish are catch-and-release only and offer the fight of a lifetime.
Crevalle jack round out the target list as the ultimate fun fish. These aggressive predators travel in schools and hit lures with reckless abandon. They're not much for table fare, but pound-for-pound, few fish fight harder. When you hook into a school of jacks, everyone on the boat can get in on the action. They're year-round residents but most active during warmer months. Expect fish in the 3-10 pound range, though bigger specimens are always possible. They're perfect for getting kids or inexperienced anglers into fish, as they'll hit almost anything and provide non-stop action once you find them.
This full-day charter represents serious value for experienced ang
Your fishing platform for this full-day New Smyrna Beach adventure is a well-equipped 26' Pathfinder designed to get you on the fish and keep you comfortable through 8 hours of serious angling. Powered by a reliable 300 HP Yamaha, this boat moves efficiently between productive inshore spots where redfish, snook, and speckled trout patrol the shallows. The spacious deck accommodates up to 6 anglers with room to work your lines without crowding, while the onboard bathroom means you won't waste fishing time heading back to the dock. Built for the serious angler who wants maximum water time targeting mangrove snapper, sheepshead, and other premier inshore species that call these New Smyrna waters home.
Caranx HipposCrevalle jacks are the bullies of our inshore waters, averaging 3-8 pounds but capable of reaching 20-plus pounds. They roam both shallow flats and deeper channels, often in aggressive schools that push baitfish to the surface - look for diving birds as your best indicator. These powerful fish are available year-round but peak during warmer months when bait concentrations are highest. What guests love about jack fishing is the raw power and endurance - they'll make long, brutal runs that'll burn your arms. While not great eating, they're perfect for catch-and-release action when other species are slow. They're also fearless, often approaching the boat out of curiosity. Pro tip: when you find a school feeding on top, cast beyond them and retrieve fast with silver spoons or swimbaits - jacks love the chase and aggressive movement triggers violent strikes.
Lutjanus GriseusGrey snapper, or mangrove snapper as we call them locally, are smart fish that average 12-16 inches but can push 4-5 pounds in our waters. They hang around structure like docks, bridges, and oyster bars, usually in 10-30 feet of water. These opportunistic feeders are most active at night and during moving tides when they ambush crabs and small fish. What guests love about snapper fishing is the solid fight they put up and their excellent table fare - sweet, flaky white meat that's hard to beat. They're also great for teaching kids since they're aggressive biters. The trick with these guys is patience - let your live shrimp sit still on the bottom near structure rather than constantly moving it around. They're cautious and will spook if there's too much commotion, but when they commit, you'll know it.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are our bread and butter inshore species, typically 20-32 inches with that distinctive black spot near the tail and copper-bronze coloring. They cruise super shallow water - sometimes with their backs showing - around oyster bars, grass flats, and mangrove shorelines. Year-round fishing here, but fall and spring offer the most consistent action when they school up. What makes reds so popular is their powerful fight and willingness to eat almost anything you throw at them. Plus, they're fantastic table fare with mild, flaky meat perfect for blackening. These fish aren't spooky like snook, but they're smart. When sight fishing the flats, cast ahead of moving fish and let your bait sink naturally - don't splash it right on their heads. Gold spoons and live shrimp are hard to beat, but topwater plugs at first light will give you explosive strikes you'll never forget.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of our most prized inshore targets, usually running 18-36 inches with that signature black lateral line and golden coloring. They love hanging around mangroves, docks, and creek mouths in water from 2-20 feet deep. These ambush predators can handle both salt and fresh water, which makes our estuaries perfect habitat. Best action happens during warmer months, especially around dawn and dusk when they're actively feeding. What makes snook special is their explosive strikes and acrobatic fights - they'll jump and make blistering runs that'll test your drag. The meat is excellent too, with firm white flakes that taste great grilled. Here's a local tip: when working mangrove shorelines, cast your bait or lure right into the roots and let it sink before starting your retrieve - that's where the big ones hide.
Megalops AtlanticusTarpon are the ultimate inshore game fish, typically running 80-150 pounds and 4-6 feet long in our area. These silver kings cruise shallow flats, channels, and bridge areas, often rolling on the surface where you can spot them from a distance. Prime season runs May through September when they migrate through, with the best action on moving tides at dawn or dusk. What makes tarpon fishing special isn't the eating - we release these prehistoric giants - but the pure adrenaline rush of their aerial display. When hooked, they'll jump repeatedly, sometimes 6 feet out of the water, trying to throw the hook. The fight can last an hour with a big fish. My advice: when they jump, bow to the king by dropping your rod tip toward the fish to reduce tension on the line - this prevents them from throwing the hook on those spectacular jumps.
Titusville