Happy Fourth of July to everyone! Fishing has been red hot in the backwaters around New Smyrna Beach, Ponce Inlet and down into Mosquito Lagoon. Over the past 4-6 weeks we’ve been having tremendous results targeting big spotted sea trout and catching decent numbers of redfish and snook.
June was a full booked month and July is almost full booked as well. I have 5 days open the rest of this month. About a dozen days remaining open in August. Summer is super busy so don’t miss out waiting too long to schedule a trip.
The last couple months have been spent mainly targeting big speckled trout in Mosquito Lagoon and around New Smyrna Beach and Ponce Inlet. Over the past 8 weeks we are averaging about 100 trout caught each week. Most of those are above average size, a majority fall in the 20-24 inch range. We’ve caught dozens in the 25-30 inch range…with several clients catching a trophy speckled trout over 28 inches. All that means is this is a great place to be for quality days of summer time catching. The trout but will remain strong all the way into October. Live bait remains the top option to produce great days of catching. Topwater plugs and soft plastics will also work to varying degrees.
In the routine of places we target we are also picking up redfish and snook. Redfish have been found tailing on grass flats in Mosquito Lagoon and on shorelines and oyster beds in the creeks around New Smyrna Beach and Ponce Inlet. Numbers caught each week tend to vary, but usually it’s a few each day. Bigger redfish are starting to get on the move in the ICW and heading to Ponce Inlet to spawn at the end of summer. August through October is usually prime time to catch trophy size bull redfish over 20 pounds. Snook are also being found this year around oyster beds in New Smyrna Beach, as well as their normal hangouts like docks and shorelines closer to Ponce Inlet. Snook can be a little more hit or miss this time of the year since they are so scattered. The season is closed for snook so they are catch and release for the summer. Live bait is again the top producer for both species. Soft plastics, spoons, and plugs will also work to varying degrees.
There’s a fair number of tarpon hanging around the deeper creeks, channels and ICW. Also starting to see some bigger tarpon over 50 pounds migrating into the area. We haven’t spent any time fishing for them though, instead opting for getting a good bite and catching fish. Tarpon can be wildly inconsistent and getting a bite or two can be a tall task some mornings. Usually I start fishing for them a little more frequently at the end of this month and August. They will stick around till the first cold fronts show up in October.
Only 5 days open for July. August is already half way booked as well. It’s the end of the summer before kids go back to school so it’s usually pretty busy so don’t wait to schedule trips till the last minute. I take short notice trips if I have availability. Text me, call me at 386-212-4931 or even send an email to secure a date. Read my fishing charter page to view the top reasons why you should book your trip with me today. I look forward to fishing with you soon…