Inshore Fishing
Fishing Inshore with Captain John
Floating Time Charters offers inshore fishing trips along the beautiful Halifax River to Ponce Inlet, prime habitat for coastal saltwater species. Everything you need to fish is included!
Inshore Fishing Rates
Inshore Fishing Trips
4 hours $400
Price is for 2 people
$50 for each additional person
Maximum 6 people
6 & 8 Hour Inshore Trips are available.
Please call for rates.
Everything You Need to Fish is
Included on all Fishing Charters
Fishing licenses, tackle, bait, ice, fish cleaning, etc.
A gratuity of 15 – 20% is customary on fishing charters and is very much appreciated!
Captain John specializes in inshore, backcountry fishing trips near Daytona Beach, Florida.
We fish for saltwater species that thrive in the Halifax River basin and the coastal mangrove marshes! The areas he fishes includes the Halifax River, the Intracoastal Waterway, Ponce Inlet, Spruce Creek and New Smyrna Creek. These inshore fishing hotspots are all just south of Daytona Beach. The ride from downtown Daytona Beach to any of Captain John’s favorite launch locations is about 10 to 20 minutes. Captain John will meet you at a convenient public boat ramp near Daytona Beach with plenty of parking available. The public boat ramps he uses are all between 6 and 14 miles from Daytona Beach.
See Boat Launch Locations
Floating Time Charters is a Family Friendly Adventure!
Children and beginners of all ages are always welcome!
The Fish
The brackish waters of the lower Halifax River basin and the coastal marshes near Ponce Inlet and New Smyrna Beach are home to a huge variety of species. These fishing grounds are home base for Captain John and Floating Time Charters!
The species we target on our inshore fishing charters include:
Redfish, Snook, Pompano, Mangrove Snapper, Spotted Sea Trout, Flounder, Sheepshead and Black Drum.
Because of the proximity to Ponce Inlet and the Atlantic Ocean, you may also encounter saltwater species that are usually associated with nearshore or offshore fishing including: Sharks, Barracudas, Tarpon, King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel and several species of Grouper and Snapper.
A Wildlife Paradise!
On your inshore fishing trip along the Halifax River with Captain John you may encounter dolphins or even a manatee. The Halifax River is a dedicated Manatee Sanctuary and home to a large population of dolphins.
The Halifax River
The Halifax is a coastal river running north to south parallel with the Atlantic Ocean. The river begins in the northeast corner of Volusia County (where Daytona Beach is located) and flows slowly southwardly for 25 miles until it empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Ponce Inlet. The narrow land between the Halifax River and the Atlantic Ocean is a virtual barrier island. This is where the beaches are located.
The Halifax River is only 25 miles long yet it runs through some of the most pristine wetlands in Central Florida. The central portion of the river including Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach and Port Orange are largely developed but the northern and southern sections of the Halifax River are largely untouched natural wetlands, estuaries and streams that feed the Halifax.
The Halifax River is part of the east coast Intracoastal Waterway system. The mouth of the Halifax River is at Ponce Inlet where it runs directly into the Atlantic Ocean. However, the Intracoastal Waterway continues on south of Ponce Inlet to the town New Smyrna Beach and down along the coast. The rich wetlands and estuaries also continue past Ponce Inlet to the town of New Smyrna Beach. Here, adjacent to the Intracoastal Waterway are pristine mangrove marshes and streams such as New Smyrna Creek.
Where We Fish. Captain John’s inshore fishing charters take anglers fishing in the pristine southern section of the Halifax River basin south of Daytona Beach and along the Intracoastal Waterway and the adjoining marshes between Ponce Inlet and New Smyrna Beach.
Fishing on the Halifax River is a journey back through time.
From the modern condominiums that line the banks of the Halifax River at Daytona Beach to the primeaval subtropical creeks that are its tributaries, the Halifax River showcases the best of both modern development in Florida and untouched nature.
The Halifax River is one of the first rivers in the country to be explored by European explorers. The Halifax River area had been settled by native americans for nearly 7,000 years when the first Spanish explorers arrived in 1569. Led by Captain Antonio de Prado, the Spanish found the Halifax River pristine and virtually untouched by humans. They found dolphins and manatees swimming in the same beautiful waters that the local tribes, such as the Timucua Indians, used for fishing.
To many of the early Spanish explorers, such as Ponce de Leon, the lush, subtropical wilderness of this part of Florida had convinced them that they had found the long lost Paradise of the Bible! (referring to Florida as ‘Paradise’ goes back a long way!). For nearly 300 years, the Halifax River and the rest of Florida would remain much as it was when the Timucua Indians and the Spanish explorers first arrived, unspoiled and home to endless exotic flora and wildlife (and great fishing!).
The Halifax River Today
Today, many portions of the Halifax River and its wetlands are still untouched and look much like they did when the Spanish first arrived and the Timucua Indians were the only inhabitants fishing the local waters. The same fish species that the Timucua Indians were fishing for centuries ago still thrive in the Halifax River. The redfish, seatrout, snook and tarpon are plentiful enough today to make the Daytona Beach area a major center for fishing charters in Florida. The dolphins and manatees are abundant enough in the Halifax River to make boat tours of the Halifax thrilling for anyone seeking the ‘Real Florida’.
The Halifax River at Daytona Beach is the most developed portion of the river. The shores of the Halifax River at Daytona Beach are lined with landscaped homes and condominiums. Even with development, the miles of green shorelines and numerous docks provide habitat for many fish species. Dolphins and the fish that support them are still abundant here and can be seen from the bridges over the Halifax River at Daytona Beach.
A Fisherman’s Paradise!
Beyond Ormond Beach to the north of Daytona Beach and beyond Port Orange to the south, the developed shorelines of the Halifax River soon give way to the natural beauty of Redfish are commonly caught on our inshore fishing chartersuntouched Florida wetlands! The northern portion of the Halifax River, towards its source north of Ormond Beach, consists of aquatic preserves including the Tomoka Marsh Aquatic Preserve and three Florida State Parks. The Halifax River begins here at the confluence of the Tomoka River, Bulow Creek and Halifax Creek, three lush subtropical streams. The state parks surround and protect the area from development. The fishing is good here and the area is home to a large manatee population.
The southern portion of the Halifax River, towards its mouth at Ponce Inlet south of Port Orange, also encompasses a large region of untouched Florida wetlands. Here, the wild marshes, streams and estuaries of the Halifax River Basin extend south even beyond the mouth of the Halifax at Ponce Inlet to New Smyrna Beach. South of the Halifax River the Intracoastal Waterway also continues to New Smyrna Beach and beyond. The Intracoastal Waterway gives Daytona Beach fishing charter captains like Captain John further access to these unspoiled wetlands that extend to New Smyrna Beach. The fishing is great here with an enormous variety of saltwater species. Dolphins and manatees are plentiful!
Inshore Fishing in Daytona Beach is a fun adventure for the entire family!
When you’re ready to have fun fishing in Daytona Beach, contact Captain John of Floating Time Charters.
For Plenty More Fishing Pictures from Floating Time Charters with Captain John Schmidt visit our Photo Gallery