What's biting, when to go, where the boats fish and what it costs, from a captain who fishes these waters every day.
New Smyrna Beach is one of the best fishing towns in Florida. The Mosquito Lagoon, a nationally known redfish fishery, sits just south of town, and Ponce Inlet opens straight onto the Atlantic. This guide covers the questions we hear most from visitors planning a trip.
New Smyrna Beach sits where the Mosquito Lagoon, the Indian River Lagoon and Ponce Inlet meet the Atlantic, so the list is long. Inshore, the main targets are redfish, spotted seatrout, snook and black drum, with tarpon rolling in the summer and fall. Around the inlet jetties and beaches you'll find snook, reds, sheepshead, mangrove snapper, sharks and the spring cobia run. Offshore trips add mahi-mahi, king mackerel, snapper and grouper.
There's something biting all year:
Tides matter more than the calendar, so Capt. Eric times every launch around them. Check today's tides and wind on our live conditions page.
Inshore trips work the shallow grass flats of the Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River Lagoon, the New Smyrna Beach Intracoastal, bridges and docks, and the backcountry around Oak Hill and Edgewater. Nearshore trips run out Ponce Inlet to the jetty rocks and beach troughs within two miles of shore. Offshore trips head to the deep reefs, wrecks and the edge on a 34-foot-plus partner boat.
With us, a 2-hour Family Quick Bite is $375, a 4-hour inshore charter is $600 (6 hours $750), a 4-hour Night Bite is $600, nearshore jetty and beach trips are $800 for 4 hours, and offshore trips start at $1,200 for 6 hours. Inshore rates cover up to 4 anglers, and you pay a 25% deposit to book with the balance due at the dock. See every option on Trips & Rates.
No. Everyone fishing aboard a licensed for-hire charter is covered by the boat's license, including the snook permit. Rods, reels, tackle and live bait are included too.
Not right now. Redfish in the Indian River Lagoon management region, which includes the Mosquito Lagoon, are catch-and-release only under current FWC rules. Spotted seatrout (in season, within the slot), black drum, sheepshead and snapper can be kept within FWC limits. Rules change, so we keep a live seasons and regulations table that checks FWC for updates.
Inshore is the most popular and works in almost any weather: calm water, sight fishing and steady action for redfish, trout and snook. Nearshore trips fish the Ponce Inlet jetties and beaches for bigger fish, but they depend on the sea conditions. If it's too rough we switch to inshore at the inshore rate. Offshore is for bluewater species like mahi, kings and snapper, and it's a full-day commitment on a bigger boat.
Yes. The lagoon is sheltered and shallow, and the Family Quick Bite is built for kids and first-timers: a short run, calm water and fast action. Capt. Eric handles the rigging and teaches as you go, and all ages are welcome.
Sunscreen, polarized sunglasses, a hat, and food and drinks. Bring a light jacket and bug spray for night trips. We supply everything else: licenses, rods and reels, tackle, live bait, ice and a cooler. We'll clean your fish and take photos and video of your catch.
Regulations summarized here follow current FWC rules. Always check the live regulations page before you keep a fish.
