FISHING GUIDE · CENTRAL FLORIDA EAST COAST

Mosquito Lagoon and the Northern Indian River Lagoon Fishing Guide

Mosquito Lagoon is a shallow, clear, high-salinity lagoon known around the country for sight fishing to redfish, including on fly. Most of the flats are only a few feet deep or less, so anglers pole, paddle or wade to find tailing reds, black drum and trout. Much of the lagoon is protected inside Canaveral National Seashore and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

📍 Volusia and Brevard counties. Towns: New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater, Oak Hill, Titusville. Landmarks: Canaveral National Seashore, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Haulover Canal, Kennedy Space Center.

📅 Florida Fishing Calendar — best months, closed seasons, bait & rigs →

Map: spots, ramps and marinas

★ Fishing hot spot · ● Boat ramp · ● Marina · ▭ Protected area (solid red = no fishing, dashed = fishing with rules)

Open the full Florida Atlantic Coast map →

Quick facts

Mosquito Lagoon is part of the Indian River Lagoon system, running from Ponce de Leon Inlet south to north of Cape Canaveral, and connects to the Indian River through Haulover Canal.
The National Park Service says Mosquito Lagoon is the only known estuary where red drum and weakfish spend their entire life cycle.
Merritt Island NWR has two marked pole/troll zones in Mosquito Lagoon where gas motors must be off and boats drafting more than 12 inches may not enter.
Redfish are catch-and-release only in FWC's Indian River Lagoon region, which includes Mosquito Lagoon.
Anglers in Merritt Island NWR waters must carry a free, self-issued, signed Refuge Sport Fishing Permit.

What you can catch

Redfish
The star fish here; catch-and-release only in this region.
Black drum
One of the most productive species in the lagoon.
Spotted seatrout
Caught year-round; harvest closed Nov 1 - Dec 31.
Snook
Best in late summer and early fall; Atlantic slot 28-32 inches.
Tarpon
Best in June; catch-and-release.
Sheepshead
Around structure and docks.
Mangrove snapper
Found around structure and docks.

Month by month

January	Trout harvest reopens Jan 1; live shrimp works well in cool water.
February	Snook harvest open from Feb 1; reds and trout on clear flats.
March	Water warming; redfish and trout active on the flats.
April	Good sight fishing for reds; snook harvest open.
May	Reds, trout and black drum; snook open through May 31.
June	Best month for tarpon; snook harvest closed June 1 - Aug 31.
July	Fish early; afternoon storms are common.
August	Reds active late summer; snook start to show late in the month.
September	Good snook month; snook harvest reopens Sept 1.
October	Fall redfish; last month to keep trout this year.
November	Trout harvest closed Nov 1 - Dec 31; reds still biting.
December	Snook harvest closed Dec 15 - Jan 31; trout closed to harvest.

Tips

In the Mosquito Lagoon pole/troll zones, shut off gas motors except in posted channels, and use a push pole, paddle or electric trolling motor; boats drafting over 12 inches may not enter.
Carry a signed Merritt Island NWR Refuge Sport Fishing Permit when fishing refuge waters.
Airboats, hovercraft and personal watercraft are not allowed on the refuge; Haulover Canal is slow speed/minimum wake.
Night fishing is allowed only from a boat (not from the bank) in refuge waters; only Bairs Cove and Beacon 42 ramps are open at night.
Stay off shallow seagrass with your motor, and watch for afternoon thunderstorms in summer; the NASA restricted area expands before rocket launches.

Rules and license

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) · Official rules page ↗

A Florida saltwater fishing license is required (children under 16 do not need one), plus a snook permit to keep snook.
FWC's Indian River Lagoon region starts at Lytle Avenue/South Causeway in New Smyrna Beach and runs south, so it covers Mosquito Lagoon and the Indian River at Titusville.
Redfish (Indian River Lagoon region): catch-and-release only.
Spotted seatrout (Indian River Lagoon region): 15-19 inch slot, 2 per person per day, no fish over 19 inches may be kept, closed Nov 1 - Dec 31.
Snook (Atlantic): 28-32 inch slot, 1 per person per day; closed Dec 15 - Jan 31 and June 1 - Aug 31.
Tarpon are catch-and-release only; fish over 40 inches must stay in the water unless you hold a tarpon tag.
Merritt Island NWR: signed Refuge Sport Fishing Permit required; pole/troll zones; posted No-Motor Zone in the Banana River; no fishing near the Manatee Viewing Deck; no fish cleaning on refuge property.
Canaveral National Seashore: follows Florida fishing law; no fishing from motor road bridges, swimming beaches or public boat docks except where allowed; no digging for bait; no dumping bait buckets.

Rules change. Always check the official page before you fish.

Boat ramps and marinas

The map above shows 7 boat ramps and 2 marinas from OpenStreetMap. Tap any dot for directions.

Boat ramp near Blind Spruce Creek
Boat ramp near Gallinipper Basin
New Smyrna Marina
Sea Love Marina
Turtle Mound Ramp

Sources

Checked October 2026. BigJoe does not invent facts: every number on this page comes from the sources listed above.