Charters depart from New Smyrna Beach, the favorite place for fishing charters in the Daytona Beach area!  MAP

Redfish are hands-down one of the most exciting fish we target on these flats. They typically run 18-27 inches around Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach, with those distinctive black spots near their tails and copper-red backs. Look for them tailing in 1-4 feet of water around oyster bars, grass flats, and mangrove shorelines. They’re year-round residents, but fall and spring offer the best action when they school up. What makes reds special is their power – pound for pound, they’re some of the strongest fighters in shallow water. Plus, they make excellent eating with mild, sweet meat. You’ll often see their backs out of water as they root around for crabs and shrimp in the shallows. The sight-fishing opportunities are fantastic. My go-to technique: use a gold spoon or soft plastic jig, and when you spot a tailing red, cast well ahead and let your lure sink before starting a slow retrieve. They spook easy in skinny water.

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Charters depart from New Smyrna Beach, the favorite place for fishing charters in the Daytona Beach area!  MAP

Snook are one of our most prized gamefish here in the backcountry waters around New Smyrna Beach and Daytona Beach. These sleek, golden-colored fish typically run 18-30 inches, with that distinctive black lateral line running down their side. You’ll find them hugging mangrove shorelines, around docks, and near any structure in 2-6 feet of water. They’re ambush predators that love to hide in the shadows and explode on bait. Spring through fall gives you the best action, especially around dawn and dusk. What makes snook special is their fight – they’ll jump, run, and use every trick to throw your hook. The meat is firm and flaky, some of the best eating you’ll find. Pro tip: when you hook one near structure, keep steady pressure and try to turn their head away from cover quickly, or they’ll wrap you up in the mangroves.

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Charters depart from New Smyrna Beach, the favorite place for fishing charters in the Daytona Beach area!  MAP

Tarpon are the ultimate gamefish – there’s nothing quite like watching a 100-pound silver king launch itself 6 feet out of the water. These prehistoric fish average 80-150 pounds in our waters, though we see smaller “poons” in the 20-40 pound range too. They cruise our flats, channels, and around inlet mouths in 6-20 feet of water. May through September is prime time, especially on the warmer days when they’re rolling on the surface. What makes tarpon fishing special isn’t the eating – we release them all – it’s the pure adrenaline rush. They’ll jump, tail-walk, and put up a fight that’ll leave your arms burning. Most battles last 30-45 minutes. Here’s the key: when they jump, bow to the fish by dropping your rod tip toward them. It keeps slack out of the line and prevents them from throwing the hook.

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Charters depart from New Smyrna Beach, the favorite place for fishing charters in the Daytona Beach area!  MAP

Sea trout, or speckled trout, are one of our most consistent fish in the grass flats and shallow bays around New Smyrna Beach and near Daytona Beach. These spotted beauties typically run 14-20 inches and put up a solid fight on light tackle. You’ll find them over grass beds and sandy bottoms in 2-8 feet of water, especially during cooler months when they school up. They bite best during moving tides, particularly early morning and evening. Guests love trout fishing because they’re great eating – tender, white meat that’s perfect for the dinner table. They’re also ideal for beginners since they’re not too picky about bait. The fun part is they’ll hit topwater plugs and make some noise when they strike. Best tip I can share: fish soft plastic shrimp under a popping cork. The sound draws them in, and the natural presentation gets them to bite.

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Charters depart from New Smyrna Beach, the favorite place for fishing charters in the Daytona Beach area!  MAP

Grey snapper, also called mangrove snapper, are smart fish that’ll test your skills. These copper-red beauties typically run 12-18 inches around our docks and structure, though we occasionally hook into 3-4 pounders that’ll surprise you. They love hanging around pilings, rocks, and mangrove edges in 4-15 feet of water. Best fishing happens during moving tides, especially early morning and late afternoon. What guests love about grey snapper is they’re excellent table fare – white, flaky meat that’s hard to beat. They’re also great for kids and beginners since they bite consistently. The challenge is they’re line-shy and will inspect your bait closely. My go-to trick: use a small 4/0 hook with live shrimp, let it sink to the bottom, then lift it up just a foot. Keep it still – too much movement spooks them.

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More Species found in inshore waters near Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach

Depending on the season and our proximity to Ponce Inlet and the Atlantic Ocean, you may also encounter Flounder, Sheepshead, Black Drum, Spanish Mackerel, Pompano, various species of Snapper and Grouper and even Sharks, King Mackerels and Barracudas on an inshore fishing trip with Captain Doug!