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

September 24, 2020

The past few weeks have been nothing short of amazing. We’ve caught hundreds of big bull redfish over 20 pounds, a bunch of big snook, and over the past week have caught several tarpon in the 50-100 pound range. About to put a wrap on September and start the fall transition. Redfish spawning season will be wrapping up by next month, cold fronts will trigger the tarpon to start migrating out of the area, and snook will begin their retreat to their winter hide outs. If you missed out on some of the catching we’ve been having, don’t worry…you’ve got about a month left before we start to change up our daily targets in November.

It’s been a ridiculous bite for redfish around the Ponce Inlet area and down through New Smyrna Beach. Nearly every trip over the past month has averaged 10+ giant redfish landed with lots more opportunities for more. A few charters got extremely lucky with days of 20+ big redfish. Those giant redfish are getting ready to spawn in and around Ponce Inlet, so we catch and release in a timely manner is critical. We usually can have one caught, landed, photo’d and released in less than five minutes. All these fish are 20-40 pounds which is a trophy by anyone’s standards. It’s pretty much been a live bait affair using crabs, pinfish, mullet, etc. Got another 4-6 weeks left before they are done for the year and we shift gears back to smaller redfish in the shallows.

Fishing for Snook around Ponce Inlet and New Smyrna Beach has been our other main target over the past month. We’ve caught a bunch of big ones since September 1st. We had a few measure 34 inches, and multiple other fish in the 26-33 inch range. They have pretty much wrapped up spawning, so now they are focused on eating as much as they can before the colder weather approaches. Our snook population is maybe the best it’s ever been. Live bait is best, but plenty of snook are caught around New Smyrna Beach throwing plugs and soft plastics.

Last week while fishing in New Smyrna Beach we had some of the best tarpon numbers and action in weeks. We found an area holding hundreds of tarpon after a storm passed by and they were quite eager to eat. Had a few days where we had multiple bites, landing several in the 50-75 pound range. We’re dealing with some pretty high water right now and big seas so it could certainly change things up this week and next. But typically over the next few weeks, tarpon will be focused on the mullet run which generally can lead to some great action on live bait, lures and plugs. Soon as the cold fronts start dropping in though it’s gonna end pretty fast as they quickly migrate out of the area.

Finishing up the busiest September I’ve ever had and things look to stay busy for October. Take advantage of the best redfish fishing of the year over the next month. I take short notice trips if I have time available. Text me or call me at 386-212-4931 or even 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…