Daytona Beach Saltwater Fishing Charters

Saltwater fishing near Daytona Beach is a year round activity. The temperate climate that made this location famous allows for great fishing twelve months a year. Located about one third of the way down Florida's east coast, Daytona Beach became well known for NASCAR racing and spring break beaches. Whether you are visiting the Daytona 500, Firecracker 400, or just in the area for some surf, fun, and sun, consider taking an inshore saltwater fishing trip as well. This is the best saltwater fishing near the Daytona 500. Daytona Beach is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Halifax River to the west. Just to the south is the Ponce de Leon inlet. The inlet drains the Halifax River to the north and the Mosquito Lagoon which reaches 22 miles to the south. The Mosquito Lagoon offers the best inshore fishing near Daytona Beach. Near and to the south of the inlet are a maze of backcountry mangrove islands intersected by saltwater creeks and cuts which hold a variety of fish. In these northern regions of Mosquito Lagoon live seatrout, redfish, drum, ladyfish, bluefish, tarpon, snapper, flounder, grouper, and more. Trips in this area are perfect for kids and anglers who want to catch lots of fish. Farther to the south, the Mosquito Lagoon opens up into expansive grass flats well known for their redfish and seatrout.

Daytona Beach Saltwater Fishing Trips

I offer several types of saltwater fishing trips near Daytona Beach. Trips can be modified up to the morning of the charter to adapt to the weather conditions, highest chance of success, or specific desires of anglers. I have fishing charters available for kids as young as 4 to fully experienced anglers. The waters around Daytona Beach hold a wide variety of fish with many different methods to catch them.

Saltwater Sight Fishing

The Central and southern parts of Mosquito Lagoon offers shallow water sight fishing for redfish, trout, and drum, all year round. Anglers can cast to fish they see in less than two feet of water using spinning or fly tackle. Those with the best casting skills generally catch the most fish as quick accurate casts and required for sight fishing. On cloudy or poor weather days, you can also blind cast lures for these fish and catch them using natural baits. This trip is not recommended for kids due to the casting skills required.

Live Bait variety Trips

This trip is fun for all anglers but especially those with kids or limited fishing experience. We fish the many creeks, channels and island passes in the tidal water south of Ponce Inlet and catch a wide variety of fish. Using live baits like shrimp or mullet it is not uncommon to catch 10 or more different species of fish and total numbers exceeding 30 in just 4 hours. These waters always offer shelter during high winds. Kids of any age enjoy not only catching fish but seeing the dolphins, manatee, and other marine life close to the boat. Fishing is close to the ramp and there are no long boat rides or waves to cause sea sickness.

Tarpon Fishing Trips

In the summer and fall months, anglers can target tarpon near Daytona Beach. The fish can arrive as early as May and will usually stay through October. They are almost alwyas found in deeper water and are best targeted with spinning tackle using live bait or lures. Fish may range from 10 to over 100 pounds. Snook may also be targeted during the same time frame. It is not uncommon to catch sharks while targeting the tarpon. Most years, the best months are July, August, September, and October. Call or email for the latest fishing report.

Ponce Inlet Fishing

The Ponce de Leon Inlet is the closest access to the Atlantic Ocean from Daytona Beach. Giant redfish, tarpon, and other species reside in the inlet itself but fishing in the passage is best done with larger boats. The shallow and narrow inlet means there is little room to escape the wakes of large fishing boats and other vessels. The most effective technique is to drift with the tide using a live bait near the bottom. Just south of the inlet are several bridges which will hold various kinds of fish. tarpon, snook, redfish, drum, and goliath grouper can be found there. Other anglers enjoy catching sheephead and snapper near the bridge pilings.

Surf and Nearshore Fishing in Daytona Beach

During the spring, summer, and fall, nearshore fishing along Daytona beach is popular for tarpon, sharks, jack crevalle, false albacore, cobia, and king mackerel. This type of fishing can be done out of small boats on calm weather days and is often from right in the surf to several hundred yards out. Anglers without access to boats can fish in the surf year round. Bluefish, mackerel, whiting, pompano, drum, redfish,sharks, and more are caught by shorebound surf anglers.