Northeast Florida is rolling into summer with kingfish setting up on the nearshore reefs and the marsh fishing staying strong for redfish. Add mangrove snapper at the jetties and a few tarpon showing along the beaches and the St. Johns, and there is a lot to like before the afternoon storms build over the First Coast.
What’s Hitting
Kingfish have moved onto the nearshore reefs and wrecks and are the offshore highlight. Redfish are working the marsh grass and oyster bars on the higher tides, and mangrove snapper have stacked the jetties and nearshore structure. Spotted seatrout are on the creek mouths and flats, and tarpon are starting to show along the beaches and around the St. Johns River mouth.
Where to Find Them
Fish the nearshore reefs and wrecks in 40 to 90 feet for kings and snapper. The jetties at the St. Johns mouth hold snapper, reds, and flounder on the tide. For redfish, work the marsh grass and oyster bars of the Intracoastal and the back creeks on the flooding tide. Trout are at the creek mouths and on the flats early. Tarpon are showing on the beaches and the river mouth.
Tides & Conditions
Marsh redfish fishing is tide-driven — the flood pushes fish up onto the grass and bars. Kings bite through the morning before the sea breeze and storms. Water clarity nearshore has been decent, and temps are in the low-to-mid 80s. Plan the offshore run early; afternoon thunderstorms are a daily First Coast feature this time of year. The St. Johns River mouth runs hard on the falling tide, flushing bait to the jetties and beaches where the kings and tarpon set up to ambush it.
Tackle & Tactics
Slow-troll live menhaden (pogies) on stinger rigs for kings; cast-net a livewell full at the beach first. Reds eat cut mullet, live shrimp, and gold spoons worked along the grass and bars. Snapper want light fluoro and live shrimp at the jetties. For trout, popping corks and soft plastics on the creek mouths produce early before the heat shuts them down.
This Week’s Tip
Bait is everything for the king bite right now. Spend the first part of your morning finding and netting a livewell of fresh pogies on the beach before you ever head to the reef. Frisky, fresh-netted baits on a slow troll will draw strikes that frozen or tired bait simply won’t — the live, swimming pogie is what turns a follow into a bite.