Right now: 71 for tarpon, worth the trip · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours
Tarpon, hour by hour
Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.
713 am
71
48
456 am
35
62
389 am
35
35
3512 pm
39
42
353 pm
35
35
356 pm
39
58
589 pm
61
61
61Tue
65
65
613 am
61
61
616 am
61
61
659 am
61
61
3812 pm
38
42
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out
Right now · best window
Water
No reading
Tarpon range 74–90°
Wind
15 mph
From the northeast
Light
Dark
Sunrise 7:31 am
Sky
Slight Chance Rain Showers
15% chance of rain
Air
72°F
NWS hourly forecast
Barometer
Falling
Measured, last 3 hours
Moon
100% lit
Full
What’s biting
Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Florida regulations for these waters.
No water reading here right now. Tarpon bite in 74–90° water, best near 80°.
Why
Tarpon prefers incoming tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Tarpon feeds aggressively under full moon. Holds 3–30 ft down.
Keep
no harvest
Catch and release only today. Catch-and-release only. Tarpon over 40" must stay in the water unless you hold a tarpon tag (one per person a year), bought before fishing, in pursuit of a Florida state or world record.
No water reading here right now. Red drum bite in 65–85° water, best near 75°.
Why
Red drum prefers incoming tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–20 ft down.
Keep
18" minimum · 27" maximum · 1 a day
Catch and release only today. 18–27" slot, 1 per person a day; vessel limit 4 in the Northeast Region and 2 in the Southeast Region. Harvest is prohibited in federal waters.
No water reading here right now. Spotted seatrout bite in 60–85° water, best near 72°.
Why
Spotted seatrout prefers incoming tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–15 ft down.
Keep
15" minimum · 19" maximum · 3 a day
Open. Keep fish within the limits. Northeast Region: 15–19" slot; no fish over 19" may be kept. 3 per person a day, open year-round.
No water reading here right now. Common snook bite in 68–88° water, best near 78°.
Why
Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Common snook prefers outgoing tide. Holds 2–20 ft down.
Keep
28" minimum · 32" maximum · 1 a day
Open. Keep fish within the limits. Atlantic: 28–32" slot, 1/day, snook permit required. Harvest open Feb 1–May 31 and Sep 1–Dec 14; catch-and-release the rest of the year.
Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works
Fishing report
No current report covers these waters.
We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Florida FWC has the state’s fishing pages.
Surf beach running south from Ponce de Leon Inlet, where FWC's Northeast and Indian River Lagoon management regions meet. Volusia County's FWC calendar has tarpon in early spring and from fall into early winter, seatrout from winter into early summer, southern flounder (closed Oct 15–Nov 30) from winter into spring, and sheepshead year-round; bluefish reach this coast in winter. Redfish are catch-and-release only from the region line south.
Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.
3 am
6 am
9 am
12 pm
3 pm
6 pm
9 pm
Tue
3 am
6 am
9 am
12 pm
Daytona Beach14 mi · FloridaBest tomorrow 12 am–9 amHigh Surf AdvisoryCoastal Flood WarningRip Current StatementWind Advisory
75Worth the trip
Mosquito Lagoon (Titusville)20 mi · FloridaNo window clears the barGale WarningSmall Craft Advisory
34Sit it out
Questions people ask
Do I need a fishing license to fish at New Smyrna Beach?
Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at New Smyrna Beach you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website
What fish are commonly targeted at New Smyrna Beach?
New Smyrna Beach is listed on this site for 7 commonly-targeted species: Common Snook, Tarpon, Red Drum, Spotted Seatrout, and 3 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.
When is the best time to fish at New Smyrna Beach?
It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at New Smyrna Beach against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.
What kind of access does New Smyrna Beach have?
New Smyrna Beach has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.
Which state's fishing regulations apply at New Smyrna Beach?
state agency regulations apply at New Smyrna Beach. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.
Is New Smyrna Beach tidal water?
Yes. New Smyrna Beach sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.
Press / anywhere to search. Towns list the closest spots.
