Indian River Fishing Charters & Guides

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Charters Near Indian River
Bottoms Up Fishing Charters
Vero Beach, FL
(5.0, 17 Reviews)
Kaptain Hook Outdoors Bowfishing- Sebastian
Vero Beach, FL
(5.0, 1 Review)
Surfrider Fishing Charters
Sebastian, FL
(4.6, 14 Reviews)
Aquaholics Aknotymous
Sebastian, FL
(5.0, 6 Reviews)
  • The average cost for a four hour trip in Indian River is $621, while the average cost for an 8 hour trip is $1035. Prices can vary based on trip duration, boat size and amenities, and the type of fishing your group is looking to do. View all Indian River Charters here.

  • The following boats offer shared trips in Indian River:

    Brevard County Tours
    Lip’N Lees Charters
  • The most common charter boat types in Indian River are:

    Center Console

    Flats Boat Or Skiff

  • The average charter boat size in Indian River is 26 feet.

About Fishing in Indian River

Indian River Fishing Charters

At 121 miles from beginning to end, the Indian River in Florida is a legendary location for fishing. The river produces plenty of gator trout and bull reds and lots of other trophy fish. You can fish the Indian River from the beaches and banks, wade in, kayak and from traditional fishing boats. Indian River charter guides can match your trip to your fishing requests and abilities. Before you head out, check the regulations to see what is in season and how many you can keep.

Fishing the Indian River

Speckled trout are one of the top four targets for fishermen in the Indian River. Why? Gator trout cruise these waters. Speckled trout are fairly easy to catch as they readily hit jigs, grubs and all manner of crankbaits. For explosive action, throw topwater plugs. Trout also fall victim to flies. Streamers, Wooly Buggers, crab and shrimp patterns are deadly. The most effective way to put trout in the boat is with live bait. Shrimp, menhaden, fingerling mullet, small pinfish, bull and glass minnows will draw strikes from the most lock-jawed trout. These baits can be fished under a popping cork when the water is murky, under a plain cork in clear water or no cork at all. If you find a place where they are schooling, just enough weight to keep the bait from moving too far is all you need. If you are looking for fish, free line the bait. Cut bait, done the same way, is also effective. Redfish are thick in the Indian River because the conditions are ideal for their prey. Shallow waters, oyster bars and channels through grassy banks that are partly submerged at high tide are a redfish's idea of heaven. Reds like to school in shallow waters, nosing around to scare lunch out of hiding. The fish here also get big. All Indian River Fishing Guides have their preferred technique for catching reds. Some mainstays for the artificial lure crowd are baitfish and shrimp imitators. The jigs and grubs can be fished under a popping cork for sounds that will draw the fish when the water is muddied. As noted above, redfish are also caught with a fly when cast by someone who knows how to fish this way. Crab and shrimp patterns are the best. Snook, pronounced like hook, are a schooling fish; they are also temperamental. In channels and cuts, snook feed with the tide. If the tide is wrong, they pretty much shut down. The only way to interest one in a strike when the tide is wrong is live bait like fingerling mullet, bull minnows or menhaden. If the bite is on, they hit just about anything. In addition to tried and true saltwater pattern lures, snook will also hit the same lures as largemouth bass. Topwater poppers will draw a strike that looks like a grenade exploded.

More Options For Fishing The Indian River

When it comes to fish for the table, snapper is always a top contender. Mangrove snapper are plentiful and easy to catch. Shrimp-like jigs cast around structure will draw them out. Live shrimp make excellent bait as well. Sheepshead are found around pilings, oyster bars and other places with barnacles. These fish specialize in eating hard-shelled creatures. The best bait is barnacles chipped off structure. Fiddler crabs, gathered at low tide on the bars, are another top producer. Fish for sheepshead like you would for giant freshwater panfish. The black drum is an often overlooked fish by the visiting recreational angler. Black drum swim in schools , sometimes as many as 500 fish. Be careful and cast to the edge of the school. You can catch a limit and wear yourself out in short order. Shrimp-imitating lures, live shrimp and cut bait are the top ways to get these in the boat. The margate is often called a snapper, but it is actually in the grunt family. Few anglers outside the Florida fishing community know about this fish, which is a shame. It is excellent table fare, comparable to true snappers. The fish has a small mouth compared to the body size and rarely gets over a few pounds. A five-pounder is a trophy fish. They are bottom feeders. Look for them in the sandy patches scattered in the grass flats. Your best chance to catch one is with shrimp and cut bait with Bonita strips a favorite.

Book An Indian River Fishing Charter

Indian River fishing guides offer a variety of trips for your group. You can spend a full day fishing or a half-day, but either way you're sure to have a fun and memorable day. Check out local Indian River guides here.

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