Florida Inshore Fishing Charters

About your Trip.

All of my inshore and nearshore guided fishing tours are done out of a new 2022 21 foot Pathfinder TRS boat, with a Yamaha outboard. Outfitted with professional grade saltwater fly fishing and light tackle Shimano St Croix spinning gear, high end Garmin Side View/Down Scan electronics package. Fishing this unaltered estuary among the shallow back country grass flats allows you to make casts at fish you are able to see and stalk. Plenty of room for up six anglers at times. We now have a backcountry micro skiff for shallow water flats fishing and sight flats fishing trips.

Whether you want to sight fish tailing redfish, drum or trout on the north Indian River lagoon at Ponce Inlet. See the explosion of tarpon hitting bait pods as they roll in the morning coastal surf. Target backcountry tarpon and snook at Sebastian Inlet and Palm Bay flats. Fishing for cobia underneath manta rays along the beaches. Or perhaps would just like to see the marvels this wildlife refuge has to offer, then this is the charter for you. I also offer largemouth bass, shad and crappie charters in the cooler months on the St. Johns River and private lakes.

The area is like no other sport fishing charter destinations. Numerous world records have been established here on light tackle throughout all of the lagoon systems and Ponce Inlet. Targeting giant bull redfish that roam these waters year round. Mosquito Lagoon red drum in excess of the 30 plus pound class! Saltwater trophy sport fishing at its best. Earning it the title of the redfish capital of the world.

About Your Captain

Captain Drew Cavanaugh is a full time Mosquito Lagoon flats fishing guide and New Smyrna Beach Ponce Inlet tarpon fishing charter guide offering light tackle saltwater fishing charters near Orlando. Backcountry flats fishing at Ponce Inlet and the Indian River. I also offer nearshore light tackle reef-wreck charters, tarpon, snook and cobia fishing charters along with sight fishing the flats on the Mosquito Lagoon, Indian River, Port Canaveral, Ponce Inlet and Sebastian Inlet. We do both saltwater spin fishing and saltwater fly fishing for redfish, tarpon, cobia, snapper, big jacks, shark, triple tail, snook, seatrout and black drum.

Some FAQ's

What type of tackle will we be using?
It is all light tackle both fly and spin. Whether you wish to use conventional rod and reel, also known as spinning tackle or would like to go fly fishing or try both. Live bait and artificial is used based on preference, time of year, experience levels and targeted species. All of the tackle I use is of professional grade. We use DOA fishing lures, Ross fly reels and St. Croix rods.

What boat ramp or location will we be meeting at the day of the charter?
We use a few different boat ramps that are located throughout the entire Halifax River, Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon systems. Depending upon where the fish are that particular day, we tend to launch as close to them as possible to cut back on long boat rides. These ramps are located in the Titusville, Oak Hill, Edgewater, Cocoa Beach , Ponce Inlet, Port Canaveral, New Smyrna Beach, Canaveral National Seashore and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

What does the charter rate include?
All of the rates include years of professional knowledge and experience, all necessary licenses, HD camera/photos/video, tackle, St. Croix rods, Shimano reels, bottled water, ice, bait, flies, fuel, cooler, bug spray if needed and much more. Please feel free to call us for details or questions.

What type of bait and lures will we be using?
I use a few different methods while fishing the flats and bait while sight fishing here. A mixture of live baits from live blue crabs, live shrimp, live mullet, live pin fish and live pig fish are always available. Several choices of D.O.A. artificial fishing lures and plastics are mostly used and depends on the season fished, angler skill level, feeding habits, target species and the area we are fishing. We also use a wide selection of flies as well for the fly fisherman. If you have a preference I will be happy to try and accommodate your needs.

What should I bring?
Depending on the time of year of course dress appropriately with non skid and non marking shoes. A good pair of polarized sunglasses with either a copper or amber lens color. Costa Del Mar makes an excellent selection of sunglasses for sight fishing and flats fishing to help with the glare. You may also want to bring sunscreen, hat, camera, snacks/lunch depending on the length of the charter you choose.

Are kids allowed on board?
Most definitely kids and children are allowed on board. I started fishing when I was a kid with my grandfather so there is no better time to start than that of a child's age. Kids of all ages will have a spectacular time and it is a great learning experience as well. Take a kid fishing today and it will make memories that will last a lifetime.

When is the best time to go fishing?
The fishing here in central Florida is a year round event. In other words the best questions to ask is what time of year do you want to go and what type of weather do you like. The summer fishing offers great shots at seasonal tarpon and snook along with redfish, trout and black drum. The cooler months offer outstanding sight fishing conditions for red fish, trout and black drum. Overall the great weather here in central Florida makes for excellent days of fishing no matter what time of year it is. Please look at the fishing patterns page and this will give you better idea of what is going on and when.