Mid winter has brought us cooler water temps and a change in the focus of our targeted fishing. Cooler water means clear water and that gives us some of the best sight fishing opportunities of the year.
Mosquito Lagoon has been a lot of fun lately leading to some great days with clients. Sight fishing in shallow water with spin or fly tackle is one of the most exciting ways there is to catch fish. Redfish, black drum and sea trout are all possible catches on any given day. We still target the big bull reds and larger black drum around Ponce Inlet, Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach this time of year on the days we aren’t fishing in the shallow water. Nearshore fishing still won’t be much of an option until we get warmer water temperatures that typically start arriving in March and bring cobia with them. Capt. Billy Rotne Ponce Inlet Fishing Charters
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Another warm winter week has passed, hinting at the possibility of a continued mild winter for Florida. This certainly has made the weather very pleasant for fishing!
Winter fishing is generally focused on the species that are cold tolerant, namely big bull redfish and big black drum. Around Ponce Inlet and New Smyrna Beach, the big redfish bite should continue to be good through winter. Migratory black drum are down from as far away as Chesapeake bay with the largest ones of the year starting to show up. Some of these fish can be as big as 60lbs! Nearshore fishing in winter is fairly limited to triple tail, and on the calm days we have been able to look for them off Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach. Mosquito Lagoon is fairly clear with good visibility for sight fishing redfish, trout and black drum on fly or light spin tackle. As we approach the edge of the winter season, it’s time to get excited for the new opportunities we will be presented. Clearer water and new species of fish are the theme of the coming 3 months.
Around Ponce Inlet, big redfish and giant black drum will fall into their winter patterns and some of the larger fish we catch all year will be landed. Tarpon and snook will slow way down to survive the cold of winter but hopefully will have another non eventful season for their safety. It’s tough to get off the beach this time of year for nearshore fishing off New Smyrna Beach and Daytona Beach due to the weather on most days, but we will have some opportunities on the calmer days. Inshore fishing in Mosquito Lagoon will enter its peak season with clear water and good sight fishing shots at reds and trout on fly and light spin tackle. The water has already started to clear up and it’s always fun to spend time in the back country of the lagoon chasing shallow water fish. Capt. Billy Rotne Cooler temperatures are knocking on the door as we head into the latter part of fall, bringing another change in the seasonal fishing patterns. Warmer water species hunker down while new species arrive from the north.
In the Ponce Inlet, New Smyrna Beach and Mosquito Lagoon area, redfish and big black drum will be the mainstays of the early winter season. These species tolerate cooler temperatures well and give us great targets even on the cooler days. Snook are still around, but become considerably less active as the days get colder. Nearshore fishing off Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach gives us the opportunity at another species, triple tail. These fish are accessible on the better weather days when ocean conditions allow us to spend time along the beach. Most of the other nearshore species aren’t around during the winter so we generally spilt time between inshore and nearshore on the days we target them. Mosquito Lagoon is already getting clearer with the first couple fronts past us. Hopefully we will have a great sight fishing season through spring this year. Large schools of black drum will be arriving in the coming weeks, giving us some great flats fishing opportunities. As with the others seasons, east central Florida has great fishing at all times of the year. Don’t miss out on the opportunities at hand! Capt. Billy Rotne Ponce Inlet Fishing Charters Mid fall fishing is going just as expected with great catches on every trip lately. Lots of action on every type of bait from numerous species and nice low humidity weather to enjoy.
Redfish have been the main attraction around Ponce Inlet and New Smyrna Beach recently with double digit catches on many trips. Medium and large sized fish have been frequenting quite a few areas and they’ve been pretty chewy. Snook action has also been very good with lots of fish moving into their fall patterns. We’ve landed some big ones as large as 35” that are great fun to catch. On the days that are calm enough, if we have the right opportunities we still have chances at tarpon off Daytona Beach as well as New Smyrna Beach. There are some fish present inshore as well and if you catch them on the right feed they make great targets. Capt. Billy Rotne Ponce Inlet Fishing Charters As the full impact of the fall seasonal change sets in, the excitement of fall fishing is before us. Huge schools of mullet getting blasted by tarpon, snook, jacks and redfish. Large numbers of big fish of multiple species ready to attack whatever is on the end of a rod. It’s a special time of year!
Big bull redfish have been around as usual with a larger push of ocean fish ready to arrive at Ponce Inlet and New Smyrna Beach any time now. The next 4-6 weeks will be some of the best fishing for these fish all year. Tarpon are around but somewhat difficult to target consistently as they are following the mullet and looking for opportunities to strike just about anywhere. At the right times and places though, some of the coming days of fall will offer some serious action for these fish. Snook fishing will also reach its peak soon as the fish provide great opportunities at all hours of the day on the right tides. Jack crevalle are gathering as well to massacre the mullet schools in feeding frenzies from New Smyrna Beach through Daytona Beach that have to be what mullets nightmares are about. These fish fight hard and the eats alone are often worth targeting them! Mosquito Lagoon has been surprisingly clear for the later summer/early fall time frame and the fishing has been good on many days with the right weather. The coming months should be fun for both spin and fly fishing looking to sight fish. Fall fishing is not to be missed, let’s get out there! Capt. Billy Rotne Ponce Inlet Fishing Charters Fall fishing has arrived in full and with the drop in humidity, you can literally feel it. Comfortable temperatures, much less rain chances, and great fishing are what fall in central Florida is about.
Bull reds are the highlight of fall fishing. Large numbers of oceanic fish gather in accessible areas and provide some of the best fishing of the year. Snook fishing is also at some of its best quality of the year, and the mullet run also gives us intense fishing for ravenous large jack crevalle. Nearshore, on the days without northeast winds, we still have some chances at tarpon. October is typically our last consistent tarpon month of the year, but when opportunities present themselves, we are quick to take them! False albacore tuna and sharks are also a target when conditions allow. Sight fishing in Mosquito Lagoon is generally at it’s toughest during fall due to water clarity, but after the first few cold fronts, it can clear up and give us shots at fish on fly and spin. Capt. Billy Rotne Ponce Inlet Charters (386) 290-9897 While summer is ending, both the fishing and the weather are still hot! The past week has produced some of the best tarpon fishing we have had all year, along with great bull red fishing and some snook.
Nearshore off New Smyrna Beach, Ponce Inlet and Daytona Beach, the tarpon have been happy. As long as conditions are favorable, we have had some great opportunities on almost every trip. We have also had shots at mega jack crevalle in the 20-30lb class, and our usual light tackle false albacore tuna. Tons of catchable sharks as well in the same areas we are finding the other fish. Inshore, we have been catching some huge reds and having really successful days. This time of year produces some of the best fishing for bull reds we see in our year round fishery. Snook have also been an option when conditions and pressure from other anglers allows us to target them. Mosquito Lagoon has continued to provide fun fly fishing and spin fishing opportunities for those interested in sight fishing. Moderately clear water has allowed us to see the redfish and snook we have been catching. Capt. Billy Rotne Ponce Inlet Fishing Charters As we enter the last days of summer and begin to knock on falls door, we begin one of the best fishing seasons of the year. Warm temperatures and excellent opportunities truly make fall a special time to fish.
Around Ponce inlet and nearshore off Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach, tarpon, snook, and bull redfish are all potentially at some of the best fishing each species offers throughout the year on any given fall day. Inshore we have other opportunities at snook, reds and tarpon as well big jack crevalle that feed on migrating mullet. Sight fishing with fly and spin tackle have remained good in Mosquito Lagoon and the Indian River Lagoon. Don’t miss out on this great fishing period, reserve your trip while some dates are still available! Capt. Billy Rotne Ponce Inlet Fishing Charters Another great summer week has passed with some really fun days with clients. The usual suspects were around and gave us a great bite.
Inshore around Ponce Inlet, New Smyrna Beach and Mosquito Lagoon we have had some great fishing for bull redfish, snook and a few tarpon. Inshore fishing is only getting better as we head into fall. Nearshore off Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach, we have had fun opportunities at tarpon, sharks, false albacore tuna, and a few big jack crevalle. Flats fishing in Mosquito Lagoon for fly clients has also be productive with fishable water clarity and some good fish activity. Don’t miss out on some of the best fishing of the year that’s to come over the next few months, reserve your dates now! |
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