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

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Water Clearing Up After Big Winds
April 14, 2025

Water Clearing Up After Big Winds

mosquito lagoon red
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

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Who Left the Fan On?
April 7, 2025

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

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Good Fishing Ahead Despite Cool Front
April 2, 2025

Good Fishing Ahead Despite Cool Front

mosquito lagoon redfish

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

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Redfish & Trout in the Shallow Flats
March 31, 2025

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

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Great Fishing During the New Moon
March 31, 2025

Great Fishing During the New Moon

black drum

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

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Strong Black Drum Bite
March 24, 2025

Strong Black Drum Bite

black drum

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

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Spring is Upon Us
March 18, 2025

Spring is Upon Us

seatrout

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

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Good Schools of Drum
March 17, 2025

Good Schools of Drum

  • black drum

We continue to have good schools of both redfish and black drum readily eating shrimp tipped jig heads. The trout have been more consistent eating soft plastics. We are targeting these fish in the 3 to 4 foot water range with grass bottoms. The water has warmed up and we’re expecting to start seeing a cobia migration coming up the East Coast. Also we should start seeing some tarpon feeding on schools of bait moving through the Indian River and along the beaches in the next few weeks.

I have days available in April and May. Please give me a call at 386-295-5991 or book directly from my website.

by Capt. Mike Mann
Fat Fish Guide Service | (386) 295-5991

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Good Drum Fishing Despite Wind
March 10, 2025

Good Drum Fishing Despite Wind

double up on drum

Despite having a very windy week, the fishing has been very good with lots of double hook ups of redfish and black drum. Soon we should have cobia starting to migrate up the beach with the water temperatures rising. We still have very clear water in the lagoon and on sunny days, the site fishing can be very rewarding. I have dates available in April so don’t forget your spring break trip, book them now before it fills up.

by Capt. Mike Mann
Fat Fish Guide Service | (386) 295-5991

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Weather Behaving
March 10, 2025

Weather Behaving

mosquito lagoon trout

The weather finally started to behave here in the Central Florida area this past week. The wind had subsided making the backwaters of New Smyrna Beach and Mosquito Lagoon slick out for a few days. With those low winds and clear skies we proceeded to get some great sight fishing in for redfish and black drum and a few nice trout to boot. Shrimp, finger mullet and cut bait have been working well along with soft plastics and spoons for artificial. It looks as the winds are going to pick up just for a couple days this week and then will be lowing towards the latter part making for some great conditions for spring time fishing in the shallows.

by Capt. Patrick Rood
Spot N Tail Charters | (386) 566-1394

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Weather Making Fishing Difficult
March 6, 2025

Weather Making Fishing Difficult

This past weekend has been a tad bit windy here in the New Smyrna Beach and Daytona Beach area, making fishing a little difficult at times. The water clarity is still great throughout the Mosquito Lagoon which has been making for some great sight fishing on the clear skies kinda days. Shrimp, mullet and cut bait have been working well along with soft plastics and spoons. It looks as though mother nature has not gave up fully on winter yet as we have another small front visiting us which will drop the air temps for a few days. I believe the bite will continue to be good after this front passes heading into next week .

by Capt. Patrick Rood
Spot N Tail Charters | (386) 566-1394

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Coming Up on Spring!
February 25, 2025

Coming Up on Spring!

As we approach March it seems as though the weather is starting to figure out that we are coming up on Spring. The extended forecast for the up coming week looks good to be put on the water. The fish have been chewing well, even after this little front that has just passed. The backwaters of New Smyrna Beach and Daytona Beach have been holding great numbers of redfish, trout and snook. The water clarity throughout Mosquito Lagoon has been at a ten making for some great sight fishing over the shallow grass flats. They have been receptive to several different baits like shrimp, mullet, cut bait along with artificials. Spring is approaching and if it stays on track it should be a good one!

by Capt. Patrick Rood
Spot N Tail Charters | (386) 566-1394

MOSQUITO LAGOON CATCH PHOTOS

CAUGHT ON CAMERA AT THE MOSQUITO LAGOON