Best Times & Seasons to Fish near Port Orange, FL (A Guide)
Port Orange 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 Port Orange 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 Port Orange |
| Sailfish | Year-round availability; May-August offers the best 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. |
| Grouper | December through May offers the best grouper fishing. |
| Spotted Seatrout | October through December offers the best seatrout fishing. |
| 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. |
This Atlantic-facing city on Florida’s eastern coast has access to a variety of seas. Explore the Halifax River for a variety of inshore species or head out into the ocean for huge pelagic fish. Freshwater fish can also be found in the St. Johns River, which is only a short drive inland.
Port Orange Monthly Breakdown
January
Fishing for striped bass, sunshine bass, and catfish is good whereas crappie and snook are exceptional to fish for this time of year near Port Orange.
February
Fishing for largemouth bass, sunshine bass, and catfish can be very good in February. Crappie and snook fishing is excellent near Port Orange.
March
Striped bass, sunshine bass, bluegill, and catfish fishing can be good Largemouth bass and snook hauls are normally great in March.
April
Striped bass, sunshine bass, bluegill, catfish fishing is above average in Port Orange now. Largemouth and snook can be great to target now as well.
May
Striped bass, sunshine bass, and catfish are abundant. Largemouth, bluegill, and snook fishing can also be excellent in May in the waters of Port Orange.
June
Bluegill and redear are the very best in June. Striped bass, sunshine bass, catfish, largemouth, and snook are ripe for the taking as well.
July
July in Port Orange is great for largemouth bass, striped bass, flounder, redfish, and even bluefish. Offshore you can find good numbers of wahoo and grouper.
August
Largemouth bass, bluegill, striped bass, and seatrout will bite well during these late summer days. Mahi-mahi can be caught offshore around floating weeds.
September
September can be good for largemouth bass, snook, redfish, sunfish, and catfish in the water around Port Orange.
October
Awesome for sunfish and catfish but pretty good for largemouth, striped, and sunshine bass, crappie too. The snooks are still hard to catch now.
November
Largemouth bass fishing normally tapers off but striped bass are around.
December
Great month for striped bass and snook. Largemouth fishing is still slow, but sunshine, bluegill, crappie, sunfish, and redear are going strong.
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 if you want to create your combo.
Recommended Fishing Charters in Port Orange
These Port Orange-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 |
| Nauti Diver Charters | River, Inshore, Nearshore, Offshore, Reef & Wreck |
| Try N’ Hooker Fishing Charters | Nearshore, Reef, Offshore & Wreck |
| Pole Dancer Fishin’ Charters | River, Inshore, Nearshore, Offshore, Reef & Wreck |
| Strippin Lips Offshore Charters | Reef, Offshore & Wreck |
| Com’N’Getit Fishing Charters | Backcontry, Inshore, Nearshore, Flats, Reef & Wreck |
| Sudden Strike Offshore Adventures | Nearshore, Reef, Offshore & Wreck |
| Daytona Beach Charters | Backcontry, Inshore, Flats & River |
| Who Cares Fishing Charters LLC | Inshore, Nearshore, Offshore, Reef & Wreck |
Port Orange Fishing (Best Times)
Port Orange’s fish stock is a real mixed bag. You can catch big fish in both inshore and offshore waters. All you’ll need to decide is where you want to go.
Pompano
If you’re a surf angler, there’s probably no fish you’d rather see than Pompano. It not only tastes great, but it also fights hard and makes you work for your dinner. These flat, silvery fish have strong swimming ability and weigh roughly four pounds, though they can grow to be over eight pounds.
Pompano makes two annual runs, which differ in length depending on water temperature. These fish migrate south in the winter, arriving inPort Orange between January and March. They migrate north in the summer, so September and October are the best months to visit.
Largemouth Bass
The coast isn’t the only place to go fishing in Port Orange. If you head inland to the St. Johns River or George Lake, you can try your hand at catching Florida’s state freshwater fish, the Largemouth Bass. Eelgrass is a favorite food of these fish, so you’ll find lots of it along the river and lake’s grassy flats.
You’ve come to the correct place if you’re looking for a trophy-sized Bass weighing more than 10 pounds. Pair light tackle with shiners or a fly for the best results. Best of all, these fisheries are active all year. However, the greatest time to go for trophy fish is soon after spawning season, between January and February.
Tarpon
Tarpon fishing is synonymous with Florida, and Port Orange fishing is no exception. The “Silver King,” widely regarded as the ultimate inshore game fish, will put your patience to the test. In the Halifax River, you can catch immature Tarpon all year, but in September and October, Florida’s eastern coast becomes a hotspot for trophy-sized fish.
You’ll need to arm yourself with either spinning tackle or fly gear to prepare for the struggle ahead. Gator Spoons are a wonderful alternative if you’re using fake bait.
These fish love live bait. To contrast, the bottom of the fly, choose vibrant colors. Tarpon have amazing vision, so going out during low light to trick a big tarpon into munching down on your tackle is a good idea.
Tuna
Tunas are, without a doubt, the toughest and most determined brawlers in the world of fish. Even billfishes, their closest competitors, can’t equal them in pulling power pound-for-pound because those long-nosed showboats squander too much energy jumping and thrashing.
A tuna, on the other hand, simply flexes his immense muscle and implements the one approach in his playbook, which is Full Speed Ahead (or, more frighteningly, Full Speed Down).
Redfish
What this truly signifies is that the fish is extremely huge. Bull redfish in the Port Orange area can weigh anything from 20 to 50 pounds. Going into the waters in late October with your heavy tackle is your best hope for these monsters. Just keep in mind that these fish are easily frightened.
This species can be found in a wide range of habitats, but they are particularly fond of constructions like bridges. Success is almost guaranteed if you go to the south end of the Halifax River, where it starts to drain into the Atlantic.
SeaTrout
During the spring, summer, and fall, spotted sea trout spawn numerous times. The arrival of water temperatures of 70 degrees marks the start of the spawning season. Spotted sea trout reach sexual maturity between the ages of 1-2 years (12-16 inches long). Males reach sexual maturity earlier in life and are smaller in stature.
Large “sow” females spawn more frequently and release millions more eggs than their younger counterparts, emphasizing the importance of catch-and-release in maintaining healthy populations. Because sea trout spend their entire lives in one location, angling pressure and breeding success play a big role in their population levels.
Snook
Snook is one of Florida’s most popular fish species. These fish attract the interest of both novice and experienced angler from Jupiter to the Florida Keys, then northwards to Naples and further up to Destin.
While snook are available year-round near Port Orange, the best times to fish for them is September to March. This is when the biggest snook enter these coastal waterways.
As a general guideline, search for fast-moving waters near passes and inlets where large fish can easily forage for food. Snook may appear shy, but don’t be fooled by their eerie appearance. These fish are voracious feeders, and a 12-inch mullet will be devoured by a huge Snook.
Catfish
The best times to fish for catfish near Port Orange are summer and early fall. Use strong-smelling baits such as chicken liver or gizzards, shrimp, chopped mullet, and commercial stink baits to take advantage of this.
Other baits, such as earthworms and freshwater clams, work well as well. Many catfish become active shortly before dusk and at night, and these are the greatest times to fish for them. Fish with a heavy split shot sinker and a strong #2 to #4 hook on the bottom.
Bluegill
Bluegills are little sunfish that can be found in almost every freshwater environment. Bluegill are a lot of fun to catch, and they cook up well. In Port Orange, catching a swarm of huge bluegill is usual in the late spring, early summer, and early fall.
Crappie
Aka Perch, Don’t let the name fool you, these fish are delicious. Many speckled perch anglers target their quarry on or near deeper, submerged structures that show up on electronic fish finders throughout the summer months. The crappie near Port Orange are best fished from April through September.
Where to Fish in the Port Orange Area
Where Can You Go Fishing in Port Orange? It’s difficult to choose just one wonderful fishing site in Daytona Beach because there are so many! To get you started on organizing your fishing trip, we’ve selected a few famous piers, marinas, and offshore places.
Remember the reef system we mentioned earlier?
Party Grounds
Take a trip out to the Party Grounds, which is around 25 miles away, and take advantage of what’s on offer. Snapper, grouper, and amberjack are some of the most stunning fish you’ll ever catch.
Rolldown
If you want to hook into a large game fish, here is the place to go. This natural ledge system is located 45–55 miles offshore and is a hotspot for tuna, sailfish, and mahi-mahi.
Ponce De Leon Inlet
Ponce De Leon Inlet: Travel about 10 miles south to Ponce Inlet for the best chance for bull redfish and gator trout. The Halifax River flows into the Atlantic, forming a thriving inshore estuary.
The St. Johns River Campground
The St. Johns River Campground is arguably one of the best places in the country to start catching largemouth bass. Whether you visit the St. Johns River or Lake George, you will not be disappointed.
Sunglow Pier
Sunglow Pier: Sunglow is one of Florida’s last remaining wooden piers, and it’s where you’ll find Pompano, Flounder, and Redfish.
The Halifax Harbor Marina
The Halifax Harbor Marina, which has a public pier as well as a 550-slip marina, is a terrific place for fishermen who want to explore the Halifax River by boat or from shore. The vast ocean and infinite offshore options are also only a short ride away.
Ways to Fish Port Orange (Best Times)
There are plenty of places to fish in Port Orange. Whether you’re targeting species in the backwaters or going far offshore, there’s a boat, beach, or pier with your name on it!
Charter Boat
Charters can be booked year-round in Port Orange depending heavily on the species of fish you wish to target. The most popular charter season is May through September. Charter boat fishing in Port Orange is the perfect option if you want the flexibility of changing locations or splitting your time between species.
Your captain will give you one-on-one attention while also providing you with fishing equipment and licenses. Hook up with one of the several offshore charter operators in the Port Orange region if you’re looking for Atlantic-dwelling pelagic and reef fish.
If you’re inshore fishing for game fish like tarpon or bull redfish, the same rules apply. In this scenario, being on a boat provides you with an undeniable edge.
Party Boat Fishing
Just like charter boats, party boats are available year-round but are the most popular in the summer and early fall months. Port Orange is the perfect place to try your hand at party boat fishing. This city attracts a rowdy population, so if you want to meet new people while casting for big fish, this is the place to go.
You’ll be able to target species that are difficult to catch from the shore, and you won’t have to bother about fishing licenses or equipment. While your captain won’t be able to devote 100% of his time to your trip, you’ll still get a taste of local near-shore and reef fishing.
Pier Fishing
Pier fishing near Port Orange is great year-round. A lot of anglers have their best success fishing from September through March. The last two wooden fishing piers in Florida are in Port Orange area. It’s your choice whether to fish on the Daytona Pier’s east end or the equally productive Sunglow Pier. Pompano, Sheepshead, Flounder, Redfish, and Trout are common catches from these piers, as well as many others in the Port Orange vicinity.
Without breaking the bank, fishing from the piers is a terrific way to get a feel for the local waterways. There is no need to get a fishing license to fish from Sunglow Pier. Adults only have to pay a $7 entrance fee.
Shore Fishing
Setting up on the beach is one of the most convenient methods to throw a line in Port Orange. With miles of sandy landscape to select from and beach driving permitted, all you have to do now is locate the ideal location.
You won’t have to worry about rubbing elbows with other angler or bothering swimmers and sunbathers because there’s so much room. If you’re going out with a group that has a variety of interests and ages, fishing from the beach is a terrific option.
Everyone can find something to do. Anglers will hook into Pompano, Flounder, and Bluefish. If you wish to avoid being dragged in by the river, use a stronger pole and 15–20 lb fishing line. The best time to surf cast in Port Orange is in the winter months for great numbers of pompano just beyond the surf.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Daytona Beach, please checkout this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Stuart, please checkout this helpful guide.
