Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Trip Types, Prices and Target Species

Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon Guided Fishing Rates

We offer several types of guided fishing trips, some of them year-round and others seasonal. Pricing is based on two anglers. Please add $100 for a third angler.

All trips are suitable for anglers of every skill level. We love taking kids and beginners fishing! There’s nothing better than being part of the excitement of hooking and fighting that first drag-pulling saltwater gamefish!

Got a larger group? We frequently work together with other well-regarded lagoon guides to accommodate larger groups on multiple skiffs. Please give us a call to discuss your trip.

Morning half-day trips last 5 hours and are available year-round. Departure times vary seasonally. Target species also vary, depending on conditions and guest preference. $450
These 7-hour trips are offered October through May. Fishing will be similar to 5-hour trips, but the additional hours give us more opportunity to try different techniques and areas or spend some time exploring the lagoons. $525
From Nov. 1 through April 30, we offer 5-hour afternoon trips, typically leaving the dock around 1 p.m. During the winter, fishing is sometimes better in the afternoon, after the sun warms the shallow water on the flats. $450
From approximately March through June, we offer trips targeting snook, trophy redfish, tarpon and other coastal migrators — mostly with live bait — around the jetties and along beaches of Port Canaveral. Starting at $600
Guests booking two days of fishing back-to-back get a discounted rate of $350/day for a minimum of 6 hours of fishing each day. Lodging is not included, but we can recommend lodging in the area. $750
One of the best (and definitely least crowded) places to watch a rocket launch is from a skiff in the southern reaches of Mosquito Lagoon. We offer customized viewing trips by the hour for up to three people. Trips start no less than an hour and a half before scheduled liftoff due to traffic and boat ramp congestion. Please understand that we have no control over whether launches happen at the planned time, or even on the planned day. In the event of a delay, though, we can always wet line while we’re waiting! $125/hr (3 hour minimum)
We require a $100 deposit to reserve your trip. Trips may be rescheduled or cancelled at no cost up to three days before the trip date. Trips rescheduled or cancelled inside three days will forfeit the $100 deposit. If a trip has to be cancelled or rescheduled by the captain due to unsafe conditions or other unforeseen circumstances, the deposit will be refunded unless you choose to put it toward a trip on a new date.
Gratuities are greatly appreciated. Tip amounts for charter captains are similar to those for servers — 15 to 20% is customary and 25% recognizes exceptional service.

Central Florida Fishing Seasons and Target Species

With little to no tidal influence or inlets in the northern areas of the Indian River system, resident schools of redfish and black drum can be caught throughout the year. Other possible catches include speckled trout and, during the warmer months, snook and tarpon.

The vast majority of our fishing takes place in less than six feet of water. Approaches range from technical sight-casting with artificial lures to fishing cut bait on the bottom to free-lining live bait. The bite — along with your preferences and abilities — will dictate the methods used.

Redfish

Redfish are caught year round in our lagoons and are the primary target on most trips. Reds can often be spotted cruising on the shallow flats or feeding with their tails out of the water (“tailing”), providing exciting sight-fishing. Typical lagoon redfish range from about 16” to 30” and 2 to 10 lbs., but much larger fish, occasionally in excess of 50” and 40 lbs., can be caught in deeper channels and, during later summer and fall spawning season, sight-fished with light tackle on the flats.

Speckled Trout

Technically known as “spotted seatrout” but more commonly referred to simply as “trout” or “specks,” these beautiful fish aren’t trout at all, but rather members of the croaker family. Our lagoons are known for trophy-size “gator” trout upwards of 25” and 5 lbs. or so. Smaller fish provide fast action perfect for kids, and fish within the 15” to 20” slot limit are great eating. Spring and early summer typically provide the best trout fishing, but we catch them year-round. Trout seem to love chilly, windy weather.

Black Drum

Closely related to redfish, black drum are less willing then their cousins to bite artificial lures and flies but will readily take live or dead shrimp. Under 25” or so, they’re handsome fish with wide silver and black bars on their sides and make great table fare. Larger specimens lose their bars and are sometimes referred to by the unfortunate nickname “big uglies.” Nonetheless, they’re powerful, dogged fighters than can push 40 lbs. in the lagoons. Most that we catch run 5 to 15 lbs.

Snook

Snook fishing in the Indian River and Mosquito Lagoons is seasonal, peaking in the heat of summer. Snook numbers and size also vary year to year. We are near the northern end of snook’s range on the Atlantic coast, so cold winters can kill large numbers of fish and/or push them farther south. Several warm winters in a row mean great snook fishing — which we experienced in 2021! We also target larger snook around the jetties of Port Canaveral on our Inlet Fishing trips.

What’s Included and What to Bring on Your Fishing Trip

Please use the following as a basic guideline. Feel free to contact us before your trip regarding more specific questions.

Every fishing trip includes:

Fishing licenses for duration of trip
All fishing equipment
Bait and artificial lures
Bottled water
Use of a cooler filled with ice
Fish cleaning*

*We don’t encourage harvesting redfish unless they cannot be revived. Our guests often choose to keep speckled trout, black drum, snook, flounder, sheepshead and other species for the table in accordance with Florida bag limits and size regulations.

Anglers should bring:

A baseball cap or wide-brimmed hat
Good-quality polarized sunglasses
Sunscreen (please no aerosols, which can leave a slippery residue on decks)
An extra shirt (in case of rain, spray or fish-sliming)
Non-marking shoes or sandals (please no hiking boots or running shoes with soft, dark-colored soles)
Any lunch, snacks or drinks you’d like (iced cooler for storage and bottled water included)

Clothing considerations:

Summers are typically hot and humid, even early in the morning. Lightweight long pants and long sleeve shirts are best for the morning, since no-see-ums and mosquitos are commonly encountered. Shorts are fine after full daylight. Rain is uncommon before early afternoon, but it’s always a good idea to throw in a light rain jacket.
Winters mornings can be surprisingly chilly while running to that first spot. Wear layers, including something to break the wind, and plan to remove them as the day warms up.

Meeting Locations

Where we launch and fish depends on seasons, weather and recent fishing conditions. We’ll coordinate location and time with you as your trip date approaches. Meeting spots include:

Marina Park
1510 Marina Rd.
Titusville, FL 32796

Beacon 42 Boat Ramp
On the western shore of Mosquito Lagoon north of Haulover Canal

Freddie Patrick Park Boat Ramp
280 Jetty Park Rd
Port Canaveral, FL 32920

Bair’s Cove Boat Ramp
On Haulover Canal in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Biolab Boat Ramp
On the western shore of Mosquito Lagoon south of Haulover Canal

Charter Fishing Trip Types, Rates and Details

Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon Guided Fishing Rates

Morning Half-Day Lagoon Fishing

3/4-day Lagoon Fishing

Afternoon Half-Day Lagoon Fishing

Port Canaveral Inlet Fishing

2-day Discounted Lagoon Fishing

Rocket Launch Viewing

Deposits and Cancellations

Gratuities

Central Florida Fishing Seasons and Target Species

What’s Included and What to Bring on Your Fishing Trip

Meeting Locations