Gear & Tackle

Saltwater & Coast

Spin, Cast & Bait

Ponce de Leon Inlet Fishing Guide

Florida

The inlet between Ponce Inlet and New Smyrna Beach, a jumping-off point for offshore trips, with red drum, seatrout, flounder, and sheepshead in the nearby estuary.

Trip at a Glance

Anglers come to Ponce de Leon Inlet for redfish, speckled trout, flounder and sheepshead. In October, redfish, speckled trout and flounder are in season, and Walking Topwater, Paddle-Tail Swimbait and Bucktail Jig are a good place to start. There are 12 shops within 25 miles; the closest is Rainbow Sport Fishing in Ponce Inlet, about 2 mi away. Mosquito Lagoon is about 16 mi away if you want to make a trip of it.

Season at a Glance

Redfish
Speckled Trout
Flounder
Sheepshead
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What You'll Catch

Ponce de Leon Inlet Species

Redfish

Redfish

Prime Now
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F
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A
M
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O
N
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Best: Mar to May, Sep to Nov

Speckled Trout

Speckled Trout

Prime Now
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F
M
A
M
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J
A
S
O
N
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Best: Mar to May, Oct to Dec

Flounder

Flounder

Prime Now
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F
M
A
M
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J
A
S
O
N
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Best: Apr to May, Sep to Nov

Sheepshead

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Best: Dec to Apr

Images: Duane Raver, USFWS; NOAA Fisheries. Public domain.

Plan by Month

What to Use

Month
Fish

9 picks for October. marks species in season in October.

  • Paddle-Tail Swimbait 3 to 5 in

    Lure

    Soft Plastic · Flounder, Speckled Trout, Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Walking Topwater 4 to 5 in

    Lure

    Topwater · Speckled Trout, Redfish · Big trout at dawn.

    Shop This Lure

  • Popping Cork Rig 18 to 30 in leader

    Lure

    Rig · Speckled Trout, Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Bucktail Jig 1/4 to 2 oz

    Lure

    Jig · Flounder

    Shop This Lure

  • Weedless Gold Spoon 1/4 to 1/2 oz

    Lure

    Spoon · Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Live Shrimp 2 to 4 in

    Bait

    Live Bait · Sheepshead, Speckled Trout, Redfish

  • Live Minnows 1 to 3 in

    Bait

    Live Bait · Flounder · Mud minnows or finger mullet.

  • Sand Fleas Small

    Bait

    Live Bait · Redfish · Surf.

  • Cut Mullet Chunk or strip

    Bait

    Natural Bait · Redfish · Surf and passes.

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Rod & Reel

Recommended Setups

Redfish

Fly 9 ft 8 wt rod, floating redfish line, 16 to 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium spinning rod, 3000 reel, 15 lb braid with a 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Speckled Trout

Fly 9 ft 7 wt rod, floating or intermediate line, 15 lb leader, Clousers and shrimp flies.

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-light spinning rod, 2500 reel, 10 lb braid with a 15 to 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Flounder

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-light spinning rod, 3000 reel, 15 lb braid, Carolina rig or bucktail.

Sheepshead

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium spinning rod with a sensitive tip, 3000 reel, 20 lb braid, fiddler crabs on a small strong hook.

Matched to These Species

Gear for Ponce de Leon Inlet

Floats & Rigs

Cajun Thunder Popping Cork

The clacking cork that calls trout and reds to shrimp or a soft plastic.

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Reels

Penn Battle III Spinning Reel

A metal-bodied reel built to survive saltwater and big runs.

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Jigs

Spro Bucktail Jigs

Durable hair jigs for stripers, fluke, and anything that eats baitfish.

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Rods

Penn Battalion II Inshore Spinning Rod

A medium inshore rod for jigs, popping corks, and live bait.

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Line

PowerPro Spectra Braided Line

Thin, strong braid for long casts, sensitivity, and pulling fish from cover.

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Soft Plastics

Berkley Gulp! Shrimp

Scented shrimp that out-fish plain plastics on a jighead or under a cork.

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Soft Plastics

Z-Man DieZel MinnowZ

A tough, stretchy paddle tail that survives toothy fish.

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Sunglasses

Costa Polarized Fishing Sunglasses

Polarized lenses cut glare so you can see fish, structure, and flats.

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Within 25 Miles

Shops Near Ponce de Leon Inlet

Within 25 Miles

Guides and Charters Near Ponce de Leon Inlet

Make It a Trip

Nearby Water

Saltwater & Coast · Florida · About 16 mi

Mosquito Lagoon

A shallow, clear lagoon famous for sight-fishing to tailing and schooling redfish.

Redfish · Speckled Trout

Rivers & Streams · Florida

St. Johns River

Florida's longest river. Bass from Lake Monroe to Welaka, reds and occasional snook near the mouth.

Largemouth Bass · Redfish

Saltwater & Coast · Florida · About 49 mi

Matanzas Inlet

The inlet south of St. Augustine at Fort Matanzas National Monument, where shore anglers catch redfish, sheepshead, seatrout, bluefish, and flounder.

Redfish · Sheepshead · Speckled Trout

Saltwater & Coast · Florida · About 53 mi

Banana River

The arm of the Indian River Lagoon between Merritt Island and Cocoa Beach, with boat ramps and kayak launches and redfish, snook, and tarpon.

Redfish · Snook · Tarpon

Lakes & Reservoirs · Florida · About 62 mi

Rodman Reservoir

A stump-filled impoundment of the Ocklawaha River known for giant bass.

Largemouth Bass · Crappie · Bluegill

Lakes & Reservoirs · Florida · About 64 mi

Lake Tohopekaliga

A Kissimmee Chain lake near Orlando with grass flats and trophy largemouth.

Largemouth Bass · Crappie