Florida Sightfishing with Capt. Nathaniel Lemmon
Fishing Charters for the Ponce Inlet area, Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River Lagoon
Some of the world's best inshore fishing is located in East-Central Florida...just minutes from Daytona Beach, Orlando, New Smyrna Beach, Cocoa Beach, Disney World, and the Kennedy Space Center. Nestled along the Indian and Halifax Rivers, and the boundaries of Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore, these inshore waters and lagoons are really national estuaries of significance. In fact, one is the most diverse estuary in North America.
Capt. Nathaniel Lemmon is a professional, full-time, angler who spends nearly 250 days per year fishing and guiding clients from around the world. He guides clients on all inshore waters from Ponce Inlet to Cocoa Beach, covering nearly all Volusia and Brevard Counties in Central Florida. To learn more about these local water's that Capt. Nathaniel fishes, click one of the following: Mosquito Lagoon, New Smyrna Beach, Indian River Lagoon. You can also click to view an aerial map that details much that area.
Redfish are year-round residents and what make the Mosquito Lagoon and the Indian River Lagoon world famous, bringing visitors from across the globe. World class Redfish roam these inshore saltwater flats, providing anglers with numerous sight fishing opportunities in clear waters that average 1-3 feet deep. In addition to the numerous singles, pairs and schools of juvenile redfish…schools of GIANT redfish lurk on the deeper flats waiting to test anglers who dare do battle with light tackle. These “Bulls” grow upwards of 50lbs and reach lengths over 4 feet.
Another glamour species of the area is the Spotted Sea Trout. If a trout of epic proportions is on your mind, you've come to the right place, as most world records have been set in the local area. Throughout the area, GIANT "gator" trout weighing upwards of 15 pounds prowl the flats perfectly camouflaged in the sea grass. While our sea trout are the ultimate test in sight fishing, the reward could be the catch of a lifetime.
Another year round fishing opportunity is for Snook. The local area is on the northern habitat boundary for these powerful fish. With each passing winter where we don't experience freezing temperatures for extended periods of time, snook populations continue to increase. Average snook in the area range from 2-10lbs, with occassional 15-30lbs linesiders a distinct possibility.
During the summer months, Tarpon become a favorite target in our local waters. While smaller juvenile fish in the 5-40lb range are generally here year round, migrating adult tarpon from 60-200lbs move in through the inlets Inlet and onto the nearshore beaches during the summer months. While it's clearly not the same as what you find in the Keys, it's a unique opportunity to do battle with the “silver king” in Central Florida.
While those are our prized target species, flounder, black drum, jack crevalle, ladyfish, sharks, triple tail, mangrove snapper, bluefish and more are also found in the local area and at various times during the year. Regardless of what we pursue during the day, fly and light tackle opportunities are world-class.
The Fishery...
While game fish bring visitors from great distances, the fishery itself is a star of it's own. Here in this mix of fresh and saltwater, are more than 4,300 species of plants and animals, including 35 that are listed as threatened or endangered...more than any other estuary in North America. The Lagoons (click for a map) have evolved into a nursery for young sea creatures...oysters, clams, shrimp, crabs, and hundreds of species of fish that thrive in the warm shallow waters. Mangroves border the east and west margins of the lagoons...generally this is the most northern range of the mangrove, a plant vital to the health of the estuary and its inhabitants. Beyond the mangrove fringe are freshwater swamps, hardwood hammocks, and upland forests that characterize interior Florida. It's routine to see manatees, alligators, raccoons, dolphin, wading birds, waterfowl, and more on a daily basis...with occasional bobcats and otters as an added bonus. It's protected paradise!
