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Fishing Indian River: what the data says
215,352-acre lagoon near Melbourne. The water tops out around 48 ft. The depth chart is built from real NOAA hydrographic survey soundings (depths referenced to low tide), so the channels, holes and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Red Drum (Redfish) fishing at Indian River
In spring, red drum (redfish) run shallow here, mostly 1 to 8 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 2 to 12 ft, and winter fish settle into 3 to 15 ft. Eau Gallie River inflow is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for fall red drum (redfish). Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a weedless gold spoon or a paddletail swimbait and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Gold weedless spoon, Paddletail on 1/4 oz jighead |
| Summer | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Weedless gold spoon, Paddletail swimbait |
| Fall | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & midday | 1/2 oz spoon (schools), Big paddletail |
| Winter | 3 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Scented soft plastic on 1/8 oz head, Slow-rolled paddletail |
Spotted Seatrout fishing at Indian River
Start shallow in spring: spotted seatrout sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 4 to 15 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 20 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for spotted seatrout in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a popping cork + shrimp or a 1/4 oz jighead + paddletail (deep grass edge) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Topwater walker, Suspending twitchbait |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn | Popping cork + shrimp, 1/4 oz jighead + paddletail (deep grass edge) |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft | dawn | Popping cork rig, Soft plastic jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 20 ft | midday & dusk | Suspending twitchbait (long pauses), Scented plastic crawled on bottom |
Snook fishing at Indian River
Spring snook on Indian River hold shallow, usually 2 to 12 ft. They move out to 3 to 15 ft in summer and finish the year down in 4 to 15 ft. The spot to know is Eau Gallie River inflow, a inflow / creek mouth in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for snook in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a flair hawk jig (passes, night) or a big swimbait in the current gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Paddletail on 1/4 oz head, Suspending twitchbait |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Flair hawk jig (passes, night), Big swimbait in the current |
| Fall | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Big paddletail (mullet run), Topwater walker |
| Winter | 4 to 15 ft | midday | Slow-rolled paddletail, Scented jerkbait crawled in canals |
Sheepshead fishing at Indian River
Start shallow in spring: sheepshead sit in 5 to 25 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 3 to 15 ft, and winter fish hold in 10 to 30 ft. The spot to know is Marina / dock area, a dock line in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for sheepshead in summer. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Tie on a small jig + crab piece and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | 1/4 oz jighead + fiddler, Sheepshead jig + shrimp piece |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dawn | Small jig + crab piece |
| Fall | 5 to 20 ft | midday | Jighead + shrimp, Small crab jig |
| Winter | 10 to 30 ft | midday | Heavier jig + crab (deep pilings) |
Southern Flounder fishing at Indian River
In spring, southern flounder run shallow here, mostly 2 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 3 to 18 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 40 ft. Old creek channel is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for spring southern flounder. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Summer baits: a jighead + gulp swimming mullet or a bucktail tipped with shrimp gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn | 1/4 oz jighead + paddletail (white/chartreuse), Bucktail + Gulp shrimp |
| Summer | 3 to 18 ft | dawn | Jighead + Gulp swimming mullet, Bucktail tipped with shrimp |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | midday | 3/8 oz bucktail + Gulp (passes), Big paddletail on the jetty edge |
| Winter | 15 to 40 ft | midday | Slow jig + scented grub in the holes |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 18 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 7 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 6 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 5 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 5 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 5 ft
- Weed flat: weed flat, around 5 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 4 ft
- Shallow flat: weed flat, around 4 ft
- Eau Gallie River inflow: inflow / creek mouth, around 3 ft
- Old creek channel: creek channel, around 3 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 3 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 3 ft
- Weed flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
Common questions
How deep is Indian River?
Indian River is about 48 ft at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real NOAA hydrographic surveys (charted soundings referenced to low tide), so the contours reflect measured depths.
What fish are in Indian River?
Anglers target red drum (redfish), spotted seatrout, southern flounder, sheepshead, snook on Indian River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Indian River?
Eau Gallie River inflow is the top-rated area: a inflow / creek mouth in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for red drum (redfish) in fall. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Indian River?
For red drum (redfish), the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Lake Marian · East Lake Tohopekaliga · Lake Kissimmee · Lake Tohopekaliga · Lake Jesup · Lake Hatchineha
See how Indian River stacks up: best red drum (redfish) lakes in Florida · best spotted seatrout lakes in Florida · best southern flounder lakes in Florida · best sheepshead lakes in Florida
Browse all Florida fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA Office of Coast Survey (ENC soundings, MLLW datum). How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.