Best Times & Seasons to Fish Near Daytona Beach (Full Guide)

Daytona Beach is an often overlooked fishing destination, but it can actually offer some of the best fishing in Florida throughout the year. Knowing the best time of year to fish these rich waters can make a huge difference.

The best time to fish near Daytona Beach is from September through December for tarpon, tuna, grouper, seatrout, and king mackerel. The best time for mahi mahi and sailfish is spring into summer.

Fish Species	Best Times to Fish Near Daytona Beach
Sailfish	Year-round availability; Rolldown offers the best local sailfish opportunity.
Tarpon	Tarpon are available year-round; September & October is peak season.
Tuna	Year-round availability; spring & fall are the best seasons.
Redfish	Redfish are available year-round; September through December is peak season.
Mahi Mahi	April through August offers the best mahi fishing in Daytona Beach.
Grouper	December through May offers the best grouper fishing in Daytona Beach.
Spotted Seatrout	October through December offers the best seatrout fishing in Daytona Beach.
King Mackerel (Kingfish)	2 major mackerel seasons: April through May & October through December.
Largemouth Bass	Bass are available year-round; December through March is best for big bass.

Daytona Beach attracts anglers from different parts of the world and provides them with fantastic fishing opportunities. Fishing is one of the most popular beach activities in the area. It’s a great idea to enjoy fishing during your vacations.  

Daytona Beach offers plenty of fishing spots. You can fish in both inshore and offshore waters. There are many beaches, piers, and marinas where anglers can enjoy fishing any time of the year.  

Best Time to Fish Daytona Beach

Fishing adventures require meticulous planning. That’s why anglers should always begin to do deep research and plan their fishing trips in advance. It’s incredibly important for fishermen to go fishing at the right time. 

When planning a fishing trip to Daytona Beach, you have to take into account weather conditions as well as bite times for the species of fish that you are going to target.

Go fishing when the vast majority of fish species are the most active in Daytona Beach. On top of that, you need to know when fish migrate and go through the area.    

Actually, anglers can fish in Daytona Beach all year round. However, fishing is the most productive during the spring and fall months.

The reality is, many fish species migrate and go through the area in these seasons. So, fishermen can achieve the best results during this time of the year. And of course, it’s the ideal time to enjoy fishing.

Fish migrate south and go through Daytona Beach between September and October. After that, fish come back in summer. Fish migrate north between January and March. These are the best months for fishing in the area.      

Daytona Beach Species Breakdown: Best Time

Daytona Beach impresses anglers with its abundance of fish. Here, fishing opportunities are excellent. It’s possible to catch many different types of fish in the region. Now, we’ll describe briefly the most common species of fish that you can target in the area.   

Kingfish

Oftentimes, fishermen catch kingfish in Daytona Beach and its surrounding areas. It’s possible to fish kingfish both inshore and offshore. The season to catch kingfish is between April – May and between October – December.

The fish actively feeds during these months. It makes sense to try king mackerel fishing on beaches and on piers. For example, the chances to catch kingfish are high on the Daytona Pier. Kingfish bites well before dusk.    

Largemouth bass

Freshwater anglers have a chance to catch largemouth bass during their fishing trip to Daytona Beach. Largemouth bass can be found in the local lakes and rivers. St. Johns River Campground is a good fishing spot to catch largemouth bass in the Daytona Beach area.

The fish is the most active all year round. However, you should go fishing between January and February if you would like to catch trophy fish. Largemouth bass are the most active in the early morning and late afternoon.    

Mahi Mahi

Mahi mahi is also known as dorado and dolphin fish. Anglers, who give a preference to deep-sea fishing, have a chance to catch mahi mahi during their fishing trips.

This is the ideal place to catch mahi mahi in the Daytona Beach area. It’s recommended to fish for mahi mahi during the spring and summer months. The fish is active early in the morning and between afternoon and late evening.    

Pompano

Would you like to try surf fishing in Daytona Beach? If so, you can catch pompano during your fishing trip. Pompano is a seasonal fish that migrates in winter.

The best time of the year to catch pompano is between January and March and between September and October. Pompano bites well during the early morning hours.  

Redfish

Redfish is one of the most common fish species to catch in Daytona Beach and its surrounding areas. Anglers can target redfish in Daytona Beach any time of the year.

Redfish are often found near bridges and structures. Sometimes, anglers catch large fish in the area. It would be great to target redfish in the waters of the Atlantic coast.  

Spotted seatrout

Spotted seatrout is another fish that you can fish for in Daytona Beach all year round. Spotted seatrout is the most active in the late fall.

Those anglers, who would like to enjoy fishing spotted seatrout, usually go to the place where the Halifax River meets with the Atlantic Ocean. The fish actively feeds during the evening hours.   

Sailfish

Are you a big fan of offshore trolling? If so, you can try to catch sailfish during your fishing adventures in Daytona Beach. Sailfish is active all year round, so you can target it any time of the year. Go to Daytona Beach to enjoy deep sea fishing and catch sailfish. 

Tarpon

Tarpon fishing is very popular in Daytona Beach. Fishing for tarpon gives anglers a lot of excitement. It’s hard to fight with tarpon.

You must be prepared for big battles if you are planning to catch tarpon during Daytona Beach fishing trips. It’s possible to fish for tarpon throughout the year.

However, it would be better to go fishing between September – October if you want to catch a trophy fish. Try to catch tarpon in the Halifax River.    

Tuna

Daytona Beach is the ideal place to enjoy tuna fishing. It’s possible to catch blackfin and yellowfin tuna during fishing trips. You can catch tuna all year round. If you are interested in catching tuna, then you should visit Daytona Beach.  

Grouper

When fishing Daytona Beach, anglers can also target grouper. The season to fish for grouper starts in the early winter and lasts till the late spring.

Party Grounds is one of the best fishing spots to target grouper. It’s recommended to fish for grouper in the early morning or late afternoon.

I recommend this Penn Pursuit Spinning Rod & Reel combo (available on Amazon) for inshore and nearshore fishing. It can handle everything from redfish to snapper and king mackerel. The Penn Battalion Series Spinning Rod and the Penn Battle Spinning Reel are fantastic to create your combo.

Recommended Fishing Charters near Daytona Beach

These Daytona Beach-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.

Recommended Fishing Charters	Type of Fishing Offered
Daytona Beach Charters	Inshore & Nearshore
Who Cares Fishing Charters	Inshore, Offshore & Billfish
Reel Compulsive Fishing Charters	Inshore, Offshore & Billfish
Sudden Strike Offshore Adventures	Inshore, Offshore & Billfish
Try N’ Hooker Fishing Charters	Offshore & Billfish

Best Time of Day to Fish Daytona Beach

Anglers need to decide when the best time of day to go fishing in Daytona Beach is – morning, afternoon, evening, or night. Actually, you can go fishing anytime you want.

Depending on the time of the year and the species of fish you are willing to target, you have to select the best time of day to go fishing. 

Early mornings are the best time of the day to go fishing in summer. If the weather is hot, water will cool down in the morning. And of course, this will have a positive impact on the activity of fish.

Many species of fish start feeding actively in the morning. So, anglers find it easy to catch them. Fishermen in Daytona Beach get the best results in the morning during the summer months.   

Late evening is a good time of day to fish in the fall, spring, and winter. The water is cold in the morning, but it’s getting warmer in the evening.

The warming of the ocean water has a positive impact on fish activity. That’s why fish bite well in the evening. So, it would be better to go fishing in the late evening during the cold months.  

For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Cocoa Beach, please check out this helpful article. For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Cape Coral, please check out this helpful article.

Daytona Beach Fishing & Tidal Impacts 

Tides have an impact on fish. The movement of water changes the behavior of fish. That’s why bite times depend a lot on tide times. So, it’s incredibly important for anglers to study tide times carefully before a fishing trip. 

It’s also important to note that water that enters the area is oxygen-rich. More oxygen in water causes an increase in the activity of fish. It’s widely known that fish bite well during incoming tides. 

According to the opinions of many anglers in Daytona Beach, the best time to go fishing in the area is either an hour before the high tide or an hour after the high tide.      

Storms & Daytona Beach Fishing

Fishing before and during storms should be avoided. The reality is, storms pose a risk to anglers. It’s also important to note that fish are usually inactive during storms. 

However, fishing is very productive after storms. Tides are high after storms and this creates great opportunities for anglers. It makes a lot of sense to fish from shore in the areas which are close to inlets, underwater structures, etc.  

Is Winter Fishing Bad or Good in Daytona Beach?

Winter is a great time of the year to catch many fish species. Anglers can target cobia, grouper, kingfish, sailfish as well as tuna and wahoo during the winter months. These species of fish get active in the winter.  

Night Fishing in Daytona Beach

It’s possible to fish on Daytona Beach at night. There are many night fishing spots in the area. A lot of anglers choose to fish for flounder with lanterns. You can also catch pompano, snook, tarpon, and other species of fish during night fishing trips.     

Shore/Surf Fishing: Best Times & Seasons

Daytona Beach offers a lot of space for anglers, who prefer to fish from shore. The length of the sandy landscape is 23 miles. So, you will not find it difficult to pick the perfect fishing spot. 

When fishing from shore anglers choose to target bluefish, flounder, and pompano. You can enjoy fishing any time of the year.

However, make sure that you don’t disturb swimmers and people who want to have a rest on a sandy beach. Anglers can try surf fishing from the piers such as the Daytona Pier and the Sunglow Pier.

Top 5 Fishing Spots Near Daytona Beach

There is no shortage of fishing spots in Daytona Beach and its surrounding areas. Here, you can fish for freshwater and saltwater species of fish. So, you’ll not find it hard to decide where to go fishing.

We have decided to make it easy for you to plan your fishing adventures. That’s why we have reviewed some of the best fishing spots in the area. We’ll tell you about the seasons to fish and species of fish you can catch during your trips.

Sunglow Pier

Sunglow Pier is a wooden pier where anglers can enjoy fishing during the year. Crabby Joe’s Deck & Grill is located near the pier. Here, you can ask chefs to fry fish that you have caught and very friendly restaurant staff will do this for you with a big pleasure.

Among the species of fish that you can catch here are: flounder, redfish, pompano, and some others. Fishing on Sunglow Pier is the most productive during the summer months.  

Ponce De Leon Inlet

Ponce De Leon Inlet is the place where the Halifax River meets with the Atlantic Ocean. Here, fishing opportunities are excellent.

The most common species of fish that can be found near Ponce De Leon Inlet are trout as well as redfish. The early spring is the best time of the year to fish Ponce De Leon Inlet.

St. Johns River Campground

St. Johns River Campground is a fishing spot that attracts anglers, who prefer to target largemouth bass. It’s worth noting that largemouth bass can be found either in the St. Johns River or Lake George.

It’s possible to catch largemouth bass here all year round. Fishing is the most productive around dawn and dusk.

Rolldown

This fishing spot is best-known for its system of natural ledges. It’s the place where anglers can target different species of fish such as mahi mahi, tuna, and sailfish.

It’s worth noting that these species of fish are active throughout the year. So, you can enjoy fishing in this place any time of the year.

Party Grounds

Party Grounds has a lot to offer to anglers in Daytona Beach. The fishing spot makes it possible for anglers to catch amberjack, grouper, snapper, and many other species of fish.

Here, you can enjoy fishing any time of the year. However, the chances to catch grouper are good between January and June. So, fishing is the most productive during these months.      

Booking Charters in Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach is the right place to go if you want to book a charter boat fishing trip. There are a lot of options for anglers, who are interested in a charter boat fishing in the area.

Captains provide fishermen with all the necessary gear and help them get a license. So, anglers have everything that’s needed to enjoy fishing in the area.   

Best season to go

Traditionally, summer is the busiest season in Daytona Beach. A lot of anglers come to the area to enjoy fishing during the summer months.

Warm summer days create comfortable conditions for fishermen. That’s why the demand for fishing increases and prices for charters go up. So, fishing can be very too expensive during this time of the year.

Nevertheless, it makes sense to visit the area between January and March and between October and September. The demand is lower and prices are cheaper. But most importantly, fishing opportunities are still excellent during these months. As we have already mentioned, fish migrates through Daytona Beach and that’s why anglers have good chances.      

Morning vs. afternoon

Anglers can book a fishing trip either in the morning or afternoon. Both morning and afternoon fishing trips are available for anglers. Each time of day has its pros and cons for fishermen. 

When selecting between morning and afternoon, anglers should take into account the time of the year as well as the species of fish that they are planning to target.   

Mornings are the perfect time of day to fish Daytona Beach in summer. Many species of fish are active during the summertime. That’s why morning fishing trips are usually very productive. However, not everyone wants to wake up early in the morning. Also, you can go on a charter in the afternoon. In this case, you must be prepared for possible rains.    

1/2 day, full-day, multi-day charters

Different types of fishing trips are available for anglers in Daytona Beach and its surrounding areas. Fishermen can book half-day, full-day, or multi-day charters. Each type of trip has its pros and cons. 

With a half-day trip, you will have limited time to fish Daytona Beach. Such a trip lasts 4 hours. If you choose to book a half-day charter, you’ll manage to enjoy fishing in the morning, afternoon, or evening. On the other hand, a 1/2 day fishing trip is the cheapest option. 

Full-day trips give anglers more fishing time. Such trips allow you to fish all day long. Nevertheless, full-day fishing trips are more expensive compared to half-day ones. 

Multi-day charters are a good choice for anglers, who want to spend several days fishing in Daytona Beach. Such trips allow anglers to get the most out of fishing adventures. However, you must be prepared that it’s the most expensive option.     

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Naples, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Jacksonville, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to catch mahi mahi in Florida, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to catch tarpon in Florida, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to catch redfish in Florida, please check out this helpful article I wrote.

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Pensacola, please check out this helpful article. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Port Canaveral, please check out this helpful article. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Port Orange, please check out this helpful article.