10 Hour Deep Sea Fishing - New Smyrna Beach
Captain Brad's 10-hour deep sea fishing adventure off New Smyrna Beach puts you right where the big fish live. This small-group charter takes just three anglers per trip, so you'll get personal attention and plenty of rod time. We're talking about a full day on the water, heading out to the offshore grounds where king mackerel, mahi mahi, and monster amberjack patrol the blue water. The Atlantic waters off New Smyrna Beach are loaded with structure and current breaks that hold serious gamefish year-round. You'll spend your day working proven fishing spots that consistently produce trophy catches for both seasoned anglers and newcomers to deep sea fishing.
What to Expect on the Water
Your fishing day starts early with a pre-dawn departure from New Smyrna Beach. Captain Brad knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he'll have you on fish while other boats are still looking. The run out to the deep water fishing grounds takes about an hour, giving you time to get your sea legs and prep your gear. Once we reach the fishing zones, you'll be working depths from 80 to 200 feet, targeting structure and temperature breaks where gamefish congregate. The boat is rigged with quality tackle and all the gear you need, but feel free to bring your favorite rods if you've got them. We'll adjust our fishing strategy based on conditions and what's biting, but expect to spend time both trolling and bottom fishing depending on the bite. The small group size means everyone gets hands-on instruction and plenty of opportunities to fight fish.
Trolling and Bottom Techniques
Captain Brad runs a mix of trolling and bottom fishing to maximize your chances at different species. When we're trolling for mahi mahi and king mackerel, we'll pull a spread of lures and ballyhoo at different depths and distances. The boat's outriggers let us cover more water and present baits naturally. For bottom fishing, we'll anchor up on productive reefs and wrecks using heavy tackle to pull amberjack and cobia off the structure. Live bait works great when we can get it, but the captain always has a selection of frozen baits that produce fish. Circle hooks are the standard for most applications, and the crew will show you proper hook-setting techniques. The tackle is sized appropriately for each target species - lighter spinning gear for mahi mahi and heavier conventional reels for the big amberjack that can easily hit 50+ pounds in these waters.
Top Catches This Season
King mackerel are the bread and butter of New Smyrna Beach fishing, with fish ranging from schoolie-sized "smokers" up to 40+ pound kings that will test your tackle and technique. These fish are aggressive predators that hit trolled baits hard and make blistering runs. Spring and fall bring the best king mackerel action, but you can find fish year-round in the right conditions. Greater amberjack live around the offshore reefs and wrecks, ambushing anything that gets too close to their territory. These bruisers average 25-50 pounds and fight like freight trains, trying to drag you back into the structure. Mahi mahi show up around floating debris and current lines, especially during the warmer months. These colorful gamefish are acrobatic fighters and excellent table fare. Great barracuda patrol the reefs and are opportunistic feeders that will hit both trolled lures and bottom baits. They're known for their explosive strikes and razor-sharp teeth. Cobia are the wild cards of the offshore scene - these brown sharks (as some anglers call them) can show up anywhere and grow to impressive sizes. They're curious fish that often approach the boat, giving you sight-fishing opportunities.
Species You'll Want to Hook
King mackerel are New Smyrna Beach's signature species, and for good reason. These sleek predators cruise the offshore waters year-round, with peak action during the cooler months when schools of baitfish draw them close to shore. Kings are built for speed, with razor-sharp teeth and an attitude to match. They'll hit trolled spoons, plugs, and rigged ballyhoo with authority, often jumping clear of the water on the initial strike. The fight combines long runs with sudden direction changes that keep you guessing. Most kings here run 15-30 pounds, but don't be surprised to hook into a 40+ pound smoker that will put your drag system to the test.
Greater amberjack are the powerhouses of the reef system, and the structures off New Smyrna Beach hold some real bruisers. These fish can exceed 50 pounds and have the muscle to back up their reputation. Amberjack are ambush predators that live around wrecks, reefs, and hard bottom areas. They'll crush live baits dropped near structure, but you need heavy tackle and a tight drag to turn them away from their home. The first run of a big amberjack is something every angler needs to experience - it's pure power that will leave your arms burning. Peak season runs from late fall through early spring, when the biggest fish move in from deeper water.
Mahi mahi bring color and acrobatics to your fishing day. These beautiful gamefish show up around floating debris, current edges, and temperature breaks, especially during the spring and summer months. Mahi are fast-growing fish that feed aggressively on small baitfish, squid, and anything else that looks like food. They're known for their aerial displays when hooked, often jumping repeatedly in an attempt to throw the hook. Schools of smaller "chicken" mahi provide fast action, while the larger "bulls" offer a tougher fight. The meat is premium table fare with a mild, sweet flavor that makes them a favorite target for many anglers.
Great barracuda are the apex predators of the reef system, using their speed and razor teeth to dominate their territory. These fish can reach impressive sizes in the deeper waters off New Smyr