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Inshore Fishing

Inshore Fishing in New Smyrna Beach

Inshore fishing here means poling shallow grass flats and mangrove shorelines, reading water for tailing fish rather than running offshore.

The Mosquito Lagoon is a shallow, grass-bottomed estuary that runs along New Smyrna Beach's western edge, protected from the Atlantic by a barrier island. Average depth across most of the fishable flats is under three feet, which is exactly what makes it a sight-fishing fishery — on a calm day with decent light, you can watch a redfish tail before you ever cast to it.

Most trips here are run with a push pole rather than a trolling motor. Quiet water means spooky fish, and the difference between a boat that poles in and one that motors in is often the difference between a shot at a fish and a wake disappearing across the flat.

How the trip runs

We start by checking the tide stage against the spots that fish best on that movement — a falling tide pulls bait off the flats into creek mouths, a rising tide pushes fish up onto the grass. The whole day is planned around that, not a fixed route. See more on the Mosquito Lagoon itself and the specific spots we fish.

What to expect

Light spinning tackle, mostly sight-casting in water often under two feet deep. Some days it's fly-fishing-clear; others it's reading nervous water and mud. Both are part of fishing this lagoon.

Target Species

What you're fishing for

Redfish caught while inshore fishing the Mosquito Lagoon near New Smyrna Beach
Year-Round

Redfish

The signature species of the Mosquito Lagoon — tailing on shallow flats at low water, especially in winter months when the water is clearest.

Snook caught while inshore fishing the Mosquito Lagoon near New Smyrna Beach
Warmer Months

Snook

A structure-oriented fighter that holds tight to mangroves and dock pilings — most active as water warms through spring and summer, and closely regulated by Florida's slot limits and closed seasons.

Full species guide →
Trout caught while inshore fishing the Mosquito Lagoon near New Smyrna Beach
Year-Round

Trout

Spotted seatrout over grass flats fill in the action between redfish and snook windows, and are usually the most reliable bite on a tough day.

Updated 2026-10-16

Is now a good time to fish?

What's typically biting right now near New Smyrna Beach and the Mosquito Lagoon.

Redfish

Good

October is a solid month for Redfish near New Smyrna Beach — good odds of a productive day.

Snook

Good

October is a solid month for Snook near New Smyrna Beach — good odds of a productive day.

Trout

Good

October is a solid month for Trout near New Smyrna Beach — good odds of a productive day.

See the full-year fishing calendar
Redfish
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOct (current month)NovDec
Snook
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOct (current month)NovDec
Trout
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOct (current month)NovDec
Peak season Good, worth targeting Slower, still catchable Current month

This is a general guide based on typical seasonal patterns, not a guarantee — wind, tide, and water temperature on a given day matter as much as the calendar. Snook harvest is subject to Florida FWC slot limits and closed seasons that change; see our snook fishing guide or check FWC directly before keeping one.

Ready to book a day on the flats?

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