Report & Images by: Patrick “Tupat” Eichstaedt | @TheRealTupat
Summertime and living’s easy! It’s hard to beat the fun in the sun here in New Smyrna Beach! Surf, beach, fishing, and many other outdoor activities keep the stoke level high!
The fishing has been epic both in the river and in the ocean. Red snapper season was a success, and we saw everyone and their brother posting some beautiful fish. My buddy John Patterson from Deland, Florida, comes down every summer and rents a beachfront home just down the street. He loves to fish off the beach and catch as many sharks as he can. If I’m correct, he caught about 25 sharks in the first week he was here, including a beautiful nurse shark he landed and safely released.
My brother Hopper has been in town all month, and his daughter Frieda went out with our good friend and neighbor Nils Schweizer for a late afternoon mission. They scored a 31-inch gator trout on an oversized live mullet! A few weeks later, we took the cousins out, and my daughter caught a baby bull shark and a beautiful backwater trout on chunk bait. The fishing really never stops here!
Moving forward into August, look for the same potential of big trout, plenty of redfish, and larger-sized snook. The excitement continues, and there’s no better place to enjoy it than New Smyrna Beach. Tight lines, everyone!
Until next time.
Cast ‘em, hook ‘em, and catch ‘em!
Some tips to help you make the most of your fishing adventures:
1. Target Early Morning and Late Evening: The heat of the day can slow down fish activity. Plan your fishing trips for early morning or late evening when the temperatures are cooler, and fish are more active.
2. Focus on the Inlets and Piers: Ponce Inlet and the piers in New Smyrna Beach and Daytona Beach are hotspots. These areas attract a variety of species, including redfish, snook, and tarpon.
3. Use Live Bait: Live bait is highly effective during the summer months. Shrimp, mullet, and pinfish are excellent choices for attracting bigger fish like snook and redfish.
4. Fish the Grass Flats: The grass flats in the Indian River Lagoon are teeming with life in August. Target these areas for speckled trout and redfish. Use topwater lures early in the morning for explosive strikes.
5. Look for Structure: Fish love structure, so focus on areas with docks, oyster beds, and submerged vegetation. These spots provide shelter and feeding grounds for various species.
6. Mind the Tides: Pay attention to the tide charts. Fishing around high tide can be particularly productive, as fish move into the shallows to feed. Conversely, low tide can concentrate fish in deeper channels.
7. Practice Catch and Release: Sustainability is key to keeping our fisheries healthy. Practice catch and release whenever possible, especially for larger breeding fish.
BEST DAYS TO FISH IN AUGUST:
1-7, 11-13, 18-21, 24-25, 30-31
Ponce Inlet August 2024 Tide Chart
