New Smyrna Beach Area - Indian River Lagoon - Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report

May 15, 2022

We are back in the peak busy season! Calendar is filling up fast for the summer…May is full and I am down to limited availability in June and July. Don’t wait till last minute, book as far in advance as possible!

Been catching lots of redfish, snook and trout lately in the Mosquito Lagoon area and towards New Smyrna Beach and Ponce Inlet. Now that we’ve gotten into a summer pattern, things won’t change much between now through the end of October. Fishing mostly live bait the next several months which means there’s something for everyone of any skill or ability.  Some opportunities here and there for fly fishing and casting lures.

Redfish close to Ponce Inlet and New Smyrna Beach are taking center stage for the summer months. Giant bull reds over 25 pounds are gathering into pre-spawn schools and moving all around the deeper waters. We’ve been catching several each trip lately and things usually only get better as we go through the summer and out into the fall. There are usually multiple days during the summer and fall where we will catch 10-15 giant redfish per day. Smaller redfish under 30 inches on shallow flats in Mosquito Lagoon are scattered on shorelines and flats with sparse sections of grass. Maybe we've turned a corner and grass will begin to regrow?!?! Typically we sight cast these fish this time of year with live bait, lures or flies but catching can be kind of limited compared to everything else available during the summer. Redfish in the Indian River Lagoon system have now been designated by the State of Florida as mandatory catch and release. This changes nothing for me in daily life as I haven’t allowed any redfish to be kept on my boat since 2014. But it's nice to know with the nearly statewide redfish population decline that everyone else fishing here now will as well.

Fishing for snook in the New Smyrna Beach and Ponce Inlet area has picked up a lot lately as these fish transition to a summer pattern. Mix of sizes over the past month with some large ones over 30 inches and many more in the 20-25 inch range. We have a year round snook fishery in our waters and it will remain pretty steady from now into September. We catch them in a variety of areas…flats, creeks, docks, ICW and Ponce Inlet on live bait and lures.  They've become a staple of our fishing day in the NSB and Lagoon backwaters. Reminder snook season closes on May 31, so it’s catch and release all summer till September during their spawning season.

Been great speckled trout fishing this past week in the upper half of Mosquito Lagoon. We are in the best two months of the year for a chance at a 10 pound gator trout in the Indian River Lagoon system. Not many of those around that size now days; but did get one last fall and a few 7-8 lbs within the last month. Bait fish are flooding the backwaters and the trout are fat and happy! Catching bunches in the 18-25 inch range with some larger ones approaching 30 inches. Strictly fishing live bait for speckled trout the next few months.

Tarpon are starting to show up in the deeper waters around New Smyrna Beach and down into Mosquito Lagoon. Mainly tarpon in the 20-40 pound range but some larger ones over 50 pounds starting to migrate back into the area. Haven’t caught any recently, but haven’t seen any numbers really worth spending the time to specifically try. I fish tarpon when we come across them in good numbers and really only give them an hour to do something otherwise I'll move it along. Not into wasting either of our times for one bite in 3-4 hours. We have limited tarpon here, our tarpon fishery is not like some of the south and west parts of Florida.  But we do catch them every year!

Sorry, May is full and no open dates. Limited dates remaining for June. July filling fast. The next three months are the busiest of the calendar year. Lots of summer vacation visitors. Don’t wait till last minute to try and book something…I turn away 15-20 clients each of these month because I’m already full. Text message or call me at 386-212-4931 or send me 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.