Ormond Beach Fishing Charters & Guides

Ormond Beach Fishing Charters

Central Florida has plenty of notable cities that attract visitors. We know you’ve heard of Orlando and Daytona Beach; tourists travel to these cities with their cameras, sunscreen, and selfie sticks. Which is why many locals will visit nearby cities that offer many of the same attractions, without the crowds. One such city is the beautiful Ormond Beach. It has the same sandy beaches made popular by Daytona, and instead of a theme park named Disney World, how about a beautiful state park filled with wildlife? Tomoka State Park is 2,000 acre nature park filled with walking trails, rivers, and access to the intracoastal waterways. Visitors enjoy walking the half-mile trail catching glimpses of wild birds, kayaking on the Tomoka River, or camping next to the beautiful Halifax River. The Halifax River runs south 25 miles from the Tomoka River, Bulow Creek and Halifax Creek to Spruce Creek and Mosquito Lagoon before connecting to the Atlantic Ocean by way of the Ponce de Leon Inlet. It’s part of the intracoastal waterway that connects Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach, and Port Orange. The Halifax River is a wonderful fishery filled with trout, flounder, black drum, mangrove snapper, redfish and more. The many bridges across the river provide habitat for sheepshead, another favorite species found in Ormond Beach.

Ormond Beach Inshore Fishing

Sheepshead are identified by the black and white vertical stripes down its body, as well as its stubby teeth. It eats on the oysters and clams found near the bottom of bridges and piers, which is why it’s a very popular fish along the Halifax River. In Ormond Beach, head to Granada Boulevard Bridge that crosses the Halifax River and check near the bridge posts for oyster bars, you’re sure to find a few sheepshead hanging around looking for food. If you’re looking to fish the Halifax from the shore in Ormond Beach, visit Granada Pier at Cassen Park. This 3+ acre park is a favorite spot for anglers looking to pier fish the Halifax River and grab their own inshore fish species. There is a bait shop if you happen to need any gear. Admission and parking is free at the park, and you’re sure to land a delicious meal before too long. Sheepshead, spotted seatrout, and redfish are among the various fish species caught at Granada Pier. Redfish, or red drum, are part of the drum family. They are bronze or tan color with a distinct black dot or dots at the start of their tail. They can grow quite large, with bull reds being females more than 27 inches. Redfish enjoying swimming shallow waters and anglers can sometimes see their backs or tails run across the top water. Drift shrimp or crab cut or live bait in the current and they are sure to bite. Make sure you wear polarized sunglasses as this helps with sight fishing for reds. The polarized lenses will cut out the reflections of the sun off the water.

Ormond Beach Offshore Fishing

Keep those polarized glasses for offshore charters in Ormond Beach as well. Especially if you’re fishing mahi mahi, a top water dwelling species. Mahi Mahi are also called dolphin and dorado, and typically have a yellow body with green along the back. They are delicious eating and usually charters are able to land several at a time. That’s because mahi are a schooling fish, when you find one there’s more around. Captains will keep the first hooked mahi in the water so that other anglers can continue to target the group. Before long you’ll have a nice haul that will supply several meals in the near future. Ormond Beach offshore charters are fishing 12 months of the year, usually trolling the Gulf Stream found about 20-40 miles from the shore. Not to be confused with the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf Stream is a river of current in the Atlantic Ocean. It starts near the Florida Keys and works its way north towards Iceland. Several fish species will travel the Gulf Stream during their migration season, and Ormond Beach captains will take advantage of its proximity for an action packed day of fishing. Fish caught in the Gulf Stream include mahi mahi, king mackerel, snapper, grouper, wahoo, amberjack, cobia, and barracuda. Barracuda are known for their fearsome look, with a long slender body and sharp, fang-like teeth. Use heavy tackle when fishing for barracuda, those teeth are known to cut through most lines. ‘Cuda are top water fish, similar to the mahi, and are rarely caught deeper than 100 feet. Downriggers will help you get your bait to the right depth and in range of the ‘cuda. Use silvery bait or lures like mackerel, small bonita or sardines; something that will attract their keen eye and lure them in. Once hooked up, get ready for a good fight - barracuda are very fast and strong fighters.

Book An Ormond Beach Fishing Charter

Whether you’re a Florida local or a visitor of the Sunshine State, check out Ormond Beach and all it has to offer. Local charter captains are ready to guide you to the fish for a successful day on the water. You can fish for sheepshead in the Halifax River or mahi mahi in the Atlantic Ocean, either way you’re sure to have a fun and memorable day. Find a local Ormond Beach charter today and get the adventure started!