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Spring is wrapping up and summer is just around the corner as we speed through the 2025 year. Summer brings a slew of new fishing opportunities in the Ponce Inlet, New Smyrna Beach and Daytona Beach area as the water warms up and new species of fish become available to target.
Summertime fishing has two components; inshore and nearshore fishing. Inshore fishing brings us opportunities at snook, big redfish and tarpon. In addition to that, we can then go nearshore to find more tarpon, jack crevalle and false albacore tuna. The fishing for both these areas is priority over the next few months through the main part of summer. Mosquito Lagoon has summer opportunities as well with some tailing redfish in the mornings and other shots throughout the day at trout and reds, but most days we are so focused on the bigger fish that we are spending more time in the bay boat. This time of year is exciting as we target some of the largest fish we catch with the tarpon often exceeding 100lbs. With the right tackle and technique, we land them quickly and safely. This is a great time of year to target the trophy sized fish if that is your thing. Capt. Billy Rotne Ponce Inlet Charters (386) 290-9897
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Ponce Inlet Heating Up: Spring Migration Brings Opportunities for Snook, Tarpon, and More!3/26/2025 As we head through the first part of 2025, we get closer to the warmer parts of the year which the gamefish we target prefer. The warmer temperatures that are sure to arrive in late April and early May will herald the arrival of many warm water migratory species. Baits begin to move again and the fishery comes to life.
During the winter and spring we spend most of our time fishing just to the south of Ponce Inlet in the Mosquito Lagoon area. With the second half of spring on the horizon, we start getting ready to switch gears and begin targeting our big gamefish like snook, tarpon, jack crevalle, false albacore tuna and redfish. It’s always fun to enter a new season and change our fishing area and techniques to keep the days interesting. Tarpon fishing is one of the most exciting parts of the warm water fishing season and they will be high on our to do list when they arrive. Don’t miss out on this season as peak dates book well in advance! As we venture into the first part of 2025, the waters around Ponce Inlet are beginning their annual transformation. The cold, quiet days of winter are giving way to warmer temperatures, and with this change comes the return of the spectacular gamefish that make our region a world-class fishing destination.
During winter and early spring, most of our charters focus on the protected waters just south of Ponce Inlet in the renowned Mosquito Lagoon area. This productive fishery provides excellent opportunities even during cooler months, but as late April and May approach, something magical happens. The water temperature begins its steady climb, triggering one of nature's most exciting spectacles for anglers. Baitfish schools return in abundance, and with them come the predators that make our hearts race and rods bend. Spring signals the arrival of our region's most sought-after gamefish: Tarpon - The "Silver King" returns to our waters, providing heart-pounding action with spectacular aerial displays. There's nothing quite like watching a 100+ pound tarpon launch itself completely out of the water while connected to your line. Snook - These ambush predators move into the inlet and backwaters, offering both challenging and rewarding fishing experiences. Their explosive strikes and powerful runs make them a favorite among sport fishermen. Jack Crevalle - Pound-for-pound one of the hardest fighting fish you'll encounter. When jacks blast through a school of bait, the surface eruption is something you won't forget. False Albacore Tuna - These speedsters provide some of the fastest runs you'll experience in inshore waters. When they're around, light tackle and fly fishermen are in for a real treat. Redfish - While available year-round, spring sees larger schools forming and feeding more aggressively. From tailing fish in shallow flats to bruiser bulls in deeper water, redfish offer diverse fishing opportunities. The maze of mangrove shorelines, oyster bars, and grass flats that make up our backcountry waters provides the perfect habitat for these gamefish. As your guide, I'll take you through hidden creeks and secluded coves that many anglers never discover. These pristine environments not only offer exceptional fishing but also showcase the natural beauty and wildlife that make our ecosystem so special. What separates a good fishing trip from an unforgettable one is knowledge, passion, and local experience. As a Florida native born and raised on these waters, I bring over 25 years of experience to every charter. My journey began in Port Orange, where I grew up in a house on the water and received my first boat at age 10. While other kids were playing video games, I was exploring the waterways, learning the patterns of fish movement, and developing the skills that would later become my livelihood. When I was old enough to drive, every free moment was spent on Mosquito Lagoon, Ponce Inlet, and the Indian River Lagoon. This wasn't just recreation—it was an education that can't be taught, only lived. I developed a particular passion for fly fishing, honing techniques that challenge even experienced anglers. Today, I still live on the water and fish daily. This isn't just my job; it's my lifestyle. When you book with Ponce Inlet Fishing Charters, you're not just getting a guide—you're getting a lifetime of local knowledge and a genuine enthusiasm for sharing these special waters with others. Peak spring fishing dates book quickly, especially for prime tarpon season. Whether you're an experienced angler looking to check a bucket-list fish off your list or a family wanting to experience the thrill of Florida's inshore fishing, now is the time to secure your spot. Contact Ponce Inlet Fishing Charters today, and let's make this spring fishing season one you'll never forget. Capt. Billy Rotne Ponce Inlet Fishing Charters When it comes to world-class inshore fishing destinations in Florida, Ponce Inlet stands head and shoulders above the rest. Located where the Halifax River meets the Atlantic Ocean, Ponce Inlet offers anglers an incredible variety of fishing opportunities throughout the year. Our Ponce Inlet fishing charter specializes in navigating these productive waters and putting clients on fish consistently, no matter the season.
Ponce Inlet fishing charters provide access to a unique ecosystem where fresh and saltwater mix, creating the perfect environment for numerous gamefish species to thrive. The inlet itself serves as a highway for migratory fish, while the surrounding backwaters, flats, and channels each offer their own distinct fishing experiences. What makes Ponce Inlet fishing charters so popular is the diversity of catches available within a short distance. On any given day, our Ponce Inlet fishing charter might target redfish prowling the shallow flats, snook lurking around structure, spotted seatrout over grass beds, or tarpon cruising the deeper channels. The fishing opportunities in Ponce Inlet change with tides, seasons, and weather conditions, making every trip a unique adventure. Spring and summer are particularly exciting times for Ponce Inlet fishing charters. As water temperatures rise, the inlet comes alive with activity. Baitfish pour into the area, followed closely by predators like tarpon, jack crevalle, and snook. During these months, our Ponce Inlet fishing charter clients often experience non-stop action with multiple species in a single outing. Fall brings its own rewards to Ponce Inlet fishing. The famous "fall mullet run" transforms the waters around Ponce Inlet into a feeding frenzy. During this time, booking a Ponce Inlet fishing charter gives you front-row seats to one of nature's most impressive spectacles as gamefish gorge themselves on the migrating baitfish. Even winter offers excellent opportunities for Ponce Inlet fishing charters. While many northern fishing destinations shut down during colder months, our Ponce Inlet waters remain productive year-round. Redfish, black drum, and sheepshead become primary targets during winter, providing steady action when other fisheries slow down. What sets our Ponce Inlet fishing charter apart is our intimate knowledge of these waters. Having spent thousands of hours exploring every creek, flat, and channel in and around Ponce Inlet, we know exactly where to find fish as conditions change. Our Ponce Inlet fishing charter captains monitor tides, weather patterns, and seasonal migrations to ensure clients experience the best fishing possible. The equipment provided on our Ponce Inlet fishing charter is always top-notch and specifically chosen for the type of fishing we'll be doing. Whether we're sight fishing for redfish with light tackle or targeting larger species around Ponce Inlet's jetties, we provide the perfect tools for the job. Conservation is also a priority for our Ponce Inlet fishing charter. We practice catch and release for many species, ensuring that Ponce Inlet's fishery remains healthy for future generations. Our captains are happy to photograph your catches before carefully releasing them back into Ponce Inlet's waters. Families are always welcome on our Ponce Inlet fishing charters. There's nothing more rewarding than introducing young anglers to the thrill of fishing in Ponce Inlet. Capt. Billy creates a fun, educational environment that kids and parents alike will remember for years to come. Whether you're a seasoned angler looking to check species off your bucket list or a novice wanting to experience the thrill of inshore fishing, a Ponce Inlet fishing charter delivers unforgettable experiences. The waters of Ponce Inlet hold countless fishing stories waiting to be created — book your Ponce Inlet fishing charter today and start writing yours. Don't miss out on experiencing some of Florida's finest inshore fishing. Contact us now to reserve your Ponce Inlet fishing charter and discover why locals and visitors alike consider Ponce Inlet a true angler's paradise. It’s mid winter in the Ponce Inlet area and that brings some opportunities in the adjacent backwaters of the inlet. Many of the warm water species like snook, jacks and tarpon are hunkered down or migrated away during these coldest months of the year but that doesn’t mean the fishing isn’t still great for other species like redfish, sea trout and black drum.
During the winter we spend our days fishing to the south of the inlet in the backcountry area called Mosquito Lagoon. The inlet is the headwaters of this area and it’s one of the most unique and undeveloped estuary areas of Florida. Protected by NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, this area has no development and beautiful scenery. Miles and miles of shallow sea grass flats with crystal clear water make the lagoon a mecca of flats fishing for fly and spin anglers. During the winter months, redfish, sea trout and black drum are all active species that we target with sight fishing. Using spin or light fly tackle, we target these fish in sometimes just inches of water. Whether it’s windy, cloudy, or sunny and calm, I have methods and techniques that make our days usually quite successful. The winter can offer some of the best flats fishing of the year and it’s a great way to mix up our routine and do something different than the deeper water fishing we do around the inlet area in the warmer months of the year. The winter season of fishing is upon us. Some species are more active and some species are less active, the typical setup for any fishing season. Snook and tarpon have migrated away or are seeking thermal basins to stay safe and warmer through the winter while other species like black drum, redfish and sea trout are active all through winter. During this cooler period of the year, we tend to fish more in the back country areas adjacent to the inlet to find the most active fish.
One of those areas lies just to the south of the inlet called Mosquito Lagoon. We fish this area during the summer as well but it really shines during the winter months with crystal clear shallow water and active fish. This provides us some great fishing even on the days we are dealing with windy and wintry weather. On the calmer and more sunny days, we focus on sight fishing which is one of the most fun ways to catch fish. It requires spotting the fish in the water, making an accurate cast, and showing the fish the fly, lure or bait without spooking it. It can be quite addictive once the technique is mastered! Many people escape the winter weather of the northern parts of the country by spending time in Florida. Don’t miss out on the year round quality fishing we have in this area while you’re here! Winter is here and with fall and most of 2024 in the review window, it’s time to look forward to what 2025 will bring with all the seasons of exciting fishing ahead of us. The coming year is sure to have many days of exciting fishing for us and I’m looking forward to all of them!
Winter season fishing changes the metrics around the inlet and nearshore area. Many of the warm water species like snook, jacks and tarpon have migrated or slowed down their activity significantly. We switch gears to spending more time fishing inshore in the backwaters and lagoon just to the south of the inlet which is the headwaters of these areas. Winter fishing in these areas is highly productive with some of the best fishing of the year for our temperate weather tolerant species like sea trout, redfish and black drum. The flats and back country fishing for these species is a great way to spend the winter months and an exciting change from our summer weather tactics of fishing closer to the ocean. Sight fishing is the name of the game and when we have the right conditions, we spend our days spotting these fish in the water to target with fly rods and light spinning gear. If conditions don’t allow sight fishing, we use other techniques to stay on the fish. Winter fishing is yet another fun option and allows us to have a year round fishery with great fishing in every season. Don’t miss out on the opportunities that we have in what’s considered an off season for many other fisheries. As we push though the middle of our fall season in the Ponce Inlet, New Smyrna and Daytona Beach area of Florida, the typical events of the season are happening. Good fishing for snook, redfish, jacks and on some days, shots at tarpon. On the weather side of things, cooler temperatures and lower humidity make our days on the water very pleasant. We had a couple recent brushes with hurricanes but the impact to this area was not detrimental to the fishing and the bite after the storms has been good.
The fall season brings large numbers of redfish and snook to the area and gives us some of the most fun action of the year. Lots of bait movement happens as many baitfish species that were born in the spring are now mature and are making their way to the ocean to complete their life cycle. The big predatory fish know this and make the most of the opportunity. They are packing on the calories for the coming winter season and are eager to feed on most days. Mullet are continuing their “run” and it’s always exciting to see big schools of jacks and tarpon making schools of mullet shower as they get demolished by the onslaught of predators. This will continue through mid November as we progressively get cooler temperatures before the arrival of winter in December which brings another fun season of fishing. The fishing stays strong all through the fall season so make some time to enjoy the great fishing and air conditioning like temperatures! September can be a great month for fishing, and so far it’s starting out strong. Snook and redfish are the main targets this month but we also have opportunities at large jack crevalle and occasionally tarpon as the mullet run continues.
Redfish in the 10-40lb range are in the Ponce Inlet area in full force this month. Large schools of fish can make for excellent fishing opportunities with 5-10 fish days a common occurrence, sometimes even more. This can make for an incredible day of fishing for anglers of any skill level. When the bait like mullet are around, we can get shots at large tarpon around Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach, and as the month progresses we get opportunities at big 8-12lb jack crevalle as well, which are extremely exciting and powerful, often taking topwater plugs or crushing a live bait just feet from the boat in the ambush areas they use to feed. The end of summer/beginning of fall offers more comfortable temperatures and excellent fishing on many days, don’t miss out on some of the better fishing of the entire year! The last part of summer is wrapping up but the fishing is only getting better. Fall is a special time of year with unmatched fishing opportunities as the fish do many things from spawning to migrating during this time of year. The mullet run has already started and will continue through the first cold fronts of the year.
The fishing for redfish and snook can be “as good as it gets” over the next couple months. Large numbers of fish will gather and provide us with many opportunities. Many of these fish are quite large and really make for some fun fishing. Countless anglers have caught their personal best fish with me during the late summer and fall months over the years. Nearshore fishing is wrapping up with sea conditions changing from the calm days of early summer to the bumpier conditions that come with passing hurricanes and eventually cold fronts. It’s not big deal though because the inshore fishing is so good this time of year that we rarely have a need to fish elsewhere. |
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