New Smyrna Beach, FL

New Smyrna Beach is a city in Central Florida, south of Daytona Beach. It’s a beach town conveniently located near Orlando for anyone visiting Disney World and Universal Studios.

New Smyrna Beach, Florida, has plenty to offer people of all preferences with its delicious food options, kids’ areas, art galleries, and history museums. However, it’s best known for its beaches and incredible fishing. New Smyrna Beach is one of the best fishing locations in the country because of the richness of its waters and the diversity of the fish you can catch. New Smyrna Beach, FL, has fishing charters for every situation, whether you want to fish inshore, offshore, or inland for bass.

The best thing about New Smyrna Beach is that you do not have to be a long-time fisherman to appreciate the diversity of the Florida waters. Although it’s a delight for fishing experts, newbies will have a blast too and soon be just as hooked as the rest of us. Whether you prefer saltwater or freshwater fishes, fishing in the New Smyrna Beach area has you covered.

New Smyrna Beach Fishing

Locals claim that fishing in New Smyrna Beach near Central Florida is every angler’s playground and paradise. The New Smyrna Beach area is renowned for its rich fishing heritage, dating back hundreds of years, and today’s waters remain as plentiful and popular, whether you prefer fly fishing or bait fishing.

The rich waters of New Smyrna Beach are situated on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River and are part of the 3,000-mile Intracoastal Waterway system.

The Ponce de Leon Inlet, or Ponce Inlet, is a sportfishing haven with numerous fishing spots at the north end of the island. It offers deep-water access, attracting a variety of species, and boasts a 35-mile shoreline along the Atlantic Ocean. The granite rock jetty just south of Ponce Inlet is a great spot for surf fishing, with soft sand on either side.

Famous New Smyrna Beach Fishing Attractions

A few miles northeast of the Ponce Inlet, the WWII Liberty Ship, remembered historically as USS Mindanao, was scuttled to form an artificial reef in 1980. This 446-foot vessel has significantly contributed to the flourishing of aquatic species in New Smyrna Beach, which many enjoy today. 

In early 2018, the county sank two additional ships, making bottom fishing and diving even more plentiful. Thanks to the sunken vessels, the area now produces sizable catches and plenty of crustacean species.

The Indian River Lagoon is a brackish body of water that makes New Smyrna Beach a barrier island and is also considered a fishing mecca. According to local guides, using fast, shallow-water flats boats for hunting a variety of fish is the best way to explore the area.  A fisherman who is fly fishing, bait fishing, or using artificial lures will all thrive in New Smyrna Beach, with its various fishing spots.

Indian River, Mosquito Lagoon, and Ponce Inlet

Inshore fishing is prevalent in New Smyrna Beach and Daytona Beach. Inshore fishing charters in New Smyrna are fast-paced and active, always leaving anglers wanting more. Some of the best coastal fishing in the state is done in New Smyrna Beach, Ponce Inlet, Mosquito Lagoon, and Indian River. Fishing charters on a nearshore Intracoastal waterway are ideal for every skill level and age. 

Some of the species you will come across on New Smyrna Beach inshore fishing charters are Redfish, Snook, Tarpon, Black Drum, Trout, Snapper, Sheepshead, and Sharks.

Because of its closeness to the Gulf Stream and deep in the Ponce Inlet, New Smyrna is considered one of the best places in the world to fish for bull Redfish. Some of the best trophy redfish fishing is done in Mosquito Lagoon and the Indian River. Nothing compares to the thrill of sight fishing schools of redfish. This area is especially popular for fly fishing and sight casting redfish. Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River are also home to giant speckled trout over 10 pounds, with the average trout being between 1-4 pounds.

Top Targeted Fish Species

Deepsea

Fishing the East Coast waters offshore of New Smyrna Beach is a thrill, knowing you have the chance to catch fish that are bigger than you. Some of the species found offshore of New Smyrna Beach include Mahi Mahi, dolphinfish, Grouper, Swordfish, Sailfish, Marlin, Cobia, King Mackerel, Wahoo, Blackfin Tuna, Amberjack, and Snapper. Fishing the reefs and wrecks in the deeper waters here is action-packed. Local fishing charters in New Smyrna Beach allow you to go straight to the ocean’s productive spots.

Freshwater Fishing

New Smyrna, Florida, is situated near the renowned St. Johns River, one of the premier largemouth bass and crappie fisheries in the state. Bass, crappie, and bullhead catfish can be a little tricky to catch, so you will need to have the right rod and reel for them. The St. Johns River is the longest in Florida and opens up to several productive lakes. This river’s massive size and extreme variations along the way make it difficult to navigate. St John’s also has strict restrictions on who can boat in the river. For these reasons, fishing with a professional guide on a fishing charter is the best way to experience this famous river.

Top Species to Catch in New Smyrna Beach

The fish population in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, is exceptionally diverse. With over 30 miles of fishable shoreline, access to the Gulf Stream, and plenty of fishing piers to cast a line.

Redfish

The Red Drum, commonly known as redfish, is a regular, strong-fighting catch in New Smyrna Beach. Because of this, the place is hailed as the “Redfish Capital of the World.” The Indian River Lagoon is an ideal habitat for redfish, and their population is thriving. A bull redfish is a mature redfish over 27 inches.

Spotted Seatrout

The next most typical fish in New Smyrna Beach is the Spotted Seatrout. These fish are a satisfying catch, but they are particular about lures and bait. Spotted Seatrout are also very easily spooked.

The best thing about these trout is that they don’t migrate, no matter the season. You can go fishing at New Smyrna Beach anytime and expect to catch them all year long.

Sharks

New Smyrna Beach hosts one of the country’s largest shark populations. You don’t have to go far offshore to find and catch one. The best way to get into shark fishing is to hop aboard an inshore fishing charter and have professional anglers show you the ropes.

Tarpon

Tarpons are very common and found all over Florida year-round, but the best time to hook up a tarpon here is in the summer. 

In the summer, you’ll see tarpons that weigh as much as 100 pounds. You’ll find more juvenile tarpons that weigh between 10-40 pounds during the winter months. 

Mahi Mahi

A trip to New Smyrna Beach is not complete without trying deep-sea fishing. Travel 20 miles from the shore, and you are looking at hooking into a range of pelagic fish, including Mahi Mahi, Kingfish, Cobia, and Barracuda. With underwater shipwrecks and reefs, there are more than enough unique fish to draw you here.

Largemouth Bass

Daytona area is close to some of the best bass fisheries. Largemouth bass, also known as black bass in this area, are a hard-fighting gamefish. The St. Johns River is known as the “Bass Fishing Paradise” as they are so prevalent here, especially in the Upper and Middle Basins.

Crappie

Crappie, commonly referred to as “Specks” in this Northern Florida area, are abundant throughout St Johns. This tasty crappie fish, along with other panfish such as Bluegill and Perch, is available year-round.

Local New Smyrna Beach Fishing Guides

Meet the team of Daytona Beach Fishing Guides. We know the best spots, baits, and techniques to give you the most incredible fishing experience in the New Smyrna Beach area.

Fishing with a Guide

New Smyrna Beach fishing charters are available for inshore, offshore, and freshwater fishing. The variety of species and fishing opportunities in New Smyrna Beach means you do not need to travel far to catch the different species on your list. Fishing with a local expert is the best way to get the whole New Smyrna Beach experience in the shortest amount of time.

Fishing charters ensure you reach the best spots most safely, as most of the waters in this area are not only vast but also challenging to navigate. Daytona Beach fishing charters make for a great family activity or an excellent solo trip. Fishing charters are a surefire way to experience the world-famous New Smyrna Beach fishing. The best part about fishing charters is that the guide will have all the necessary equipment for optimal results; you just show up ready to catch fish.

Additional Methods to Fish New Smyrna Beach

With so many different areas to explore and fish to target, New Smyrna Beach fishing offers plenty of ways to cast your line and catch various fish. The most popular and productive way to fish in New Smyrna Beach is through fishing charters, but there are a few other great options for people to catch fish here.

Pier Fishing

With two causeway bridges to choose from, Pier fishing can yield various catches, including Snook, Trout, and Black Drum. It is best to head out early in the morning or after dusk, before the tide changes.

Surf Fishing

New Smyrna Beach is one of only a few locations in Florida that allows for beach driving. This means you can just pick a spot and start casting. But make sure to bring heavier sinkers because surf fishing can get you Pompano, Redfish, Bluefish, Flounder, and Sharks.

Kayak Fishing

If you want to explore the Mosquito Lagoon, kayak fishing is a great way to go. It is an especially popular choice at the sight-fishing paradise where you can hook into plenty of Redfish and Seatrout. But to succeed, you need stealth in these shallow waters.

Area things to do

Between New Smyrna Beach and Titusville is the Canaveral National Seashore Park, located on a barrier island. The Canaveral National Seashore Park is a popular attraction among tourists and locals for swimming, fishing, surfing, shell hunting, hiking the trail, and boating. Other popular attractions in the New Smyrna Beach area include New Smyrna Beach Dog Park, Sugar Mill Ruins, Turtle Mound National Historic Site, Marine Discovery Center, Atlantic Center for the Arts, and New Smyrna Speedway.

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