fishing for tarpon around new smyrna beach

New Smyrna Beach Area, Indian River Lagoon, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report

May 6, 2011

Enter in May, and before you know it 2011 will be half way over. We are smack dab on the peak of the spring bait run in the coastal waters of Central Florida. Mullet, pinfish, and other assorted baitfish have flooded the waters. Water temperatures are hovering around 80 degrees. Water levels have fluctuated rapidly around weak frontal systems. Tarpon are showing and returning in abundance, we’ve been finding them for a few weeks now. The redfish bite remains solid with scattered fish in the shallows and schooling bull redfish over 20lbs on the deeper flats and edges. The trout bite is very strong and stay great as we move into the summer baitfish season casting pigfish and croakers. Easy pickings on 10-20” trout with a good chance at a 6-12lb trout on most days. Everyone always asks what’s my favorite months of the year to fish...well this is it, May and June. Everything is available and the bites for each going strong.

The Speckled Trout bite during this and the coming summer months will be one of the better targets. May and June are typically the two best months of the year for a chance at a 6-12lb trout. In the process of trying we will weed through dozens of 10-20” trout. Live bait will garner most of our attention and produce oustanding catch results and big trophy fish; live mullet is a standard, but pigfish and croakers are like candy. Casting jigs and plugs will catch many trout too for those that like to use artificials. Warmer temperatures moves the best action for trout out of the shallows and into the deeper water. Follow the bait schools and let their activity level guage where the best chances are. Finnicky and jumpy baitfish will pinpoint where the trout are feeding best. April was a great month for catching big trout, we caught several fish in the 7-9lb range, with dozens more in the 3-5lb range and that should continue during May.

There is never a slow time for Redfish, we just change how and where we target them on a month to month basis. This is the time of year where the schools of 3-10lb redfish disperse. The shallow grass flats, oyster bars, mangroves, and creek edges will have singles and pairs roaming and tailing. The Mosquito Lagoon and the North Indian River Lagoon are great summertime hot spots for big bull redfish. It’s the prime time of year to target these giant trophies over 20lbs on the deeper flats as they school in anticipation of a summer spawn. Average catch numbers lately have been anywhere from 5-12 redfish to the boat. Our best success lately has come on a variety of lures and live bait. Topwater and suspending plugs, spoons, swimbaits, and soft plastic jerkbaits are all top producers, as well as mullet, pinfish and shrimp for live bait. Fly anglers have had a tougher bite over the past month. When the do bite a fly, it’s been a spoon fly, seaducer, or shrimp pattern.

There are Tarpon around Ponce Inlet, the ICW, Mosquito Lagoon, and in the North Indian River Lagoon. These fish all range in size from 10-50lbs. Numbers are getting better each week and the bite windows are growing each day. I’ve already jumped a couple in the 30-50lb range, so we're off to an early start as things are just getting started. Jigs, swimbaits, and soft plastic shrimp have gotten interest. Some larger adult tarpon are moving up the coast and will soon make their way inshore, we’ll find a lot more bigger ones in late June and July.

May is nearly booked solid, I only have 5 dates left open. June is nearly half way booked up, with some scattered dates left available. Give me a call now to check my availability and reserve/book a date. Read my fishing charter page to view the top reasons why you should book your trip with me today. I look forward to fishing with you soon…386-212-4931.

Some client catches from the past month...







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