MOSQUITO LAGOON FISHING
TROUT, REDFISH, AND MORE
The Mosquito Lagoon is a part of Central Florida’s world-famous Indian River Lagoon system, extending from Volusia to Brevard County. The waters of the lagoon’s are renowned for the speckled sea trout and redfish that stalk the flats in great numbers.
MOSQUITO LAGOON FISHING REPORTS

Banner Days Fishing
This past holiday week has been some banner fishing from Daytona Beach south into New Smyrna Beach and Mosquito Lagoon. It has definitely been some summer conditions with warm days and afternoon showers to cool things off for the evening. The bait has been plentiful both north around the oyster beds in New Smyrna area and south across the shallow grass flats of Mosquito Lagoon. Look for the redfish and trout to be holding in and around the scattered bait. Plugs, soft plastics and spoons have all been working well for an artificial bite. If live bait is more your style look to pinfish, shrimp or finger mullet for a consistent bite.
It looks as though we will be heading into this week with the summer time pattern of afternoon storms which will only increase the bite by cooling the water temps down a bit.
by Capt. Patrick Rood
Spot N Tail Charters | (386) 566-1394

Summer is HERE
I definitely believe summer is here in the Central Florida area with the past few days in the mid to upper 90s. Although it’s been a bit toasty the weather hast been the only thing that’s been hot. We have had a good bite from Daytona Beach south into New Smyrna Beach and Mosquito Lagoon, boating some nice trout, redfish and snook along with the occasional large Jack. Targeting the oyster beds and shorelines though out the backwaters of New Smyrna Beach area has been working well with live bait and artificials both doing the trick. The grass flats of Mosquito Lagoon have been alive with life like mullet and pinfish, which both have been working well to trigger a bite.
It looks as though clear skies are in store into this week with a high pressure sitting over Florida keeping the rain away. The bite should continue into next week as not much looks to be in for change
by Capt. Patrick Rood
Spot N Tail Charters | (386) 566-1394

Dealing with Drought
We have been dealing with a lack of rain over the last few months on the East Coast of Florida from Daytona Beach south to New Smyrna Beach and including the Mosquito Lagoon area. This past weekend I believe has made up for lost time with several inches of rain coming down over a few days. We have been focusing on the bait pods along the deeper grass flat edges in Mosquito Lagoon and along the oyster edges up near New Smyrna. Top water plugs and spoons have been working well early then moving to live finger mullet and pinfish later in the day. It looks as though our summer time pattern is trying to set in as the forecast is calling for afternoon storms into next week.
by Capt. Patrick Rood
Spot N Tail Charters | (386) 566-1394

Dirty Water in North IRL
The lack of rain and shifting winds from the south has brought a little dirty water into the north end of Mosquito Lagoon and the backwaters of New Smyrna Beach. The fish are still there and seem to be mixed in with the pods of bait that are scattered over the shallow grass flats of the Lagoon and oyster flats to the north.
It looks as though this upcoming week is calling for afternoon showers in the New Smyrna Beach area stretching south through Mosquito Lagoon into Titusville. The change in wind direction with the approaching afternoon storms should move a lot of the dirty water out bringing in cleaner water. They have been chewing both artificials and live bait this past week. Plugs, soft plastics and spoons have all been producing bites along with live finger mullet, shrimp and cut bait.
It looks as though we are getting into our summer time pattern with the weatherman calling for afternoon storms the rest of the week into next week.
by Capt. Patrick Rood
Spot N Tail Charters | (386) 566-1394

Dry Spell
The weather conditions continue to be high and dry across Central Florida. With the lack of rain Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach and Mosquito lagoon are starting to feel the effects. With some west and south west winds blowing and no rain fall the water levels have been lower than usual from Hew Smyrna south through Mosquito Lagoon.
The bite has started to get better but the last week or so them fish have been making us work for it. Not sure if it’s the lack of rain bringing salinity levels up or warm temps transitioning them into a summer time pattern but they have seemed a little lethargic. Whatever it may have been, hopefully they are over it and we can get back to catching some happy fish 😂.
I have figured out that plugs and soft plastics have been working well for trout throughout mosquito Lagoon and mullet, shrimp and cut bait have gathered the attention of both snook and redfish further north into New Smyrna. The forecast is still showing no rain in the future until the later part of next week so this pattern should hold through the weekend.
by Capt. Patrick Rood
Spot N Tail Charters | (386) 566-1394

Water Clearing Up After Big Winds
The water is starting to clean up some after the big winds last week. Snook have been eating large shrimp or mullet in the 3-to-5-inch range properly placed on a dock or a deep edge. Tarpon are showing up along the beach. The spring mullet run is starting to kick off. It should really get the top water and soft plastic action going in the flats. I have days open in May and June. If you want to get that bucket list tarpon or get out and fish the flats, give me a call or go right to my website.
by Capt. Mike Mann
Fat Fish Guide Service | (386) 295-5991

Who Left the Fan On?
It seems as though someone has forgot to turn off the fan here in the New Smyrna Beach area with gusty winds the last five days. The winds have definitely not made it easy especially trying to sight fish in the Mosquito Lagoon but we have ground through it and caught fish. Looking at the forecast it looks as though we are going to continue with some wind over the next few days. We have been focusing on points and bars located on the wind ward side. Soft plastics and live bait have been working well. A little further north into the Daytona Beach area the structure has been the key, live shrimp and pinfish tossed around the docks and bridges have been producing some good bites .
by Capt. Patrick Rood
Spot N Tail Charters | (386) 566-1394

Good Fishing Ahead Despite Cool Front
The fishing continues to be hot across the waters of New Smyrna Beach and Mosquito Lagoon. The weather has been cooperating for the most part this past week making for some great sight fishing in the shallows. We also continue to have a good bite further north into Daytona Beach area with a lot of fish holding in and around the structures of docks and bridges. Looking at the long forecast into next week it looks as though winter is not quite through with us here in Central FL, as a late season cool front will dip down for a couple of days. The temperatures should not affect the fish as the temps should only hang around a day or so.
The bait is starting to show back up around the backwaters of New Smyrna Beach and on the flats of Mosquito Lagoon. We have been boating a variety of species like redfish, trout, black drum and snook. They have been chewing well on shrimp and mullet but spoons and soft plastics can entice a bite as well.
by Capt. Patrick Rood
Spot N Tail Charters | (386) 566-1394

Redfish & Trout in the Shallow Flats
The fishing has been good from Daytona Beach south to New Smyrna Beach and Mosquito Lagoon. The redfish and trout have been up on the shallow flats mixed in with the bait pods. We have also had some large pods of black drum scattered throughout Mosquito Lagoon as well. Lets not leave the snook out they have been in good numbers in and around structure throughout the waters of Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach. With the recent shrimp run it seems as all the species have been focused on the shrimp but artificial’s have been working well also. It looks as though we are going to have some possible showers first part of next week but after that the weather looks to be great.
by Capt. Patrick Rood
Spot N Tail Charters | (386) 566-1394

Great Fishing During the New Moon
We’ve had some great fishing with the new moon targeting schools of redfish and black drum. With the water warming up we’re starting to get some reports of tarpon showing up. The numbers should increase over the next couple of weeks. The spring mullet run is getting underway, which will turn the top water bite on, especially in the early mornings and on overcast days. We still have some rays with cobia along the beach, I’m expecting that to last for another week or two.
It’s a great time to get out and fish East Central Florida. I have dates available in April and May if you want to get on the tarpon. The first run in late April and May can be very rewarding! You can call me at 386-295-5991 or go right to my website.
by Capt. Mike Mann
Fat Fish Guide Service | (386) 295-5991

Strong Black Drum Bite
The black drum bite continues to be very strong. We’re starting to see cobia on the beach, and hopefully the tarpon won’t be far behind with the forecast of warmer weather for the next couple weeks. Redfish are still schooled up and willing to eat on sunny days with good site fishing conditions.
I have days available in April if you wanna call me at 386-295-5991 or go right to my website FatFishGuideService.com.
by Capt. Mike Mann
Fat Fish Guide Service | (386) 295-5991

Spring is Upon Us
Spring is definitely upon us here in New Smyrna Beach and Mosquito Lagoon. The bite has been turning up and the flats have been alive. We have had clean and clear water conditions from Daytona Beach south through Mosquito Lagoon making for some great sight fishing. The weather looks to be stable moving into the weekend which should only reassure the bite. Shrimp, mullet and cut bait have been working well along with spoons and soft plastics. Look for the bait holding on the flats and the fish can be found mixed throughout them whether it’s redfish, trout or even black drum all have been found scattered through the bait. As the water temps warm into the week the bite will only continue to get better.
by Capt. Patrick Rood
Spot N Tail Charters | (386) 566-1394