St. Augustine fishing report for the week of October 1, 2026. October is when Northeast Florida gets good, and St. Augustine is right in the middle of it. The mullet run is pushing down the beaches, the water is cooling off, and the flounder are starting to stage at the inlets for their fall migration. Pick a calm morning and there is something to catch everywhere you look.
What’s Hitting
This week, flounder are the story. They are moving toward St. Augustine Inlet and Matanzas Inlet and stacking up on the rocks, the drop-offs, and the creek mouths. Bull redfish are in the surf along Vilano Beach and Crescent Beach, chasing mullet. Inside, speckled trout are moving into the creeks along the Tolomato and Matanzas rivers, and slot redfish are on the oyster bars. Along the beach, there are bluefish, Spanish mackerel, and jacks in the bait schools.
Where to Find Them
For flounder, fish the rocks at St. Augustine Inlet and the Matanzas Inlet, along with the creek mouths and docks inside both inlets. For bull reds, the surf at Vilano Beach and Crescent Beach, especially near the inlets. For trout, the creeks off the Tolomato River north of town and along the Matanzas River to the south. Slot reds are on the oyster bars around the Guana Tolomato Matanzas reserve area on the falling tide.
Tides & Conditions
Tides are moderating with the last quarter moon. The inlets move a lot of water, so time your fishing for the slack and the first part of the falling tide. Water temperatures are in the upper 70s and dropping. Northeast winds become more frequent in October and can make the surf rough, but they also push bait in tight to the beach.
Tackle & Tactics
For flounder, a mud minnow or finger mullet on a Carolina rig with a 1/2-ounce egg sinker and a 2/0 hook. A 1/4-ounce jig with a Gulp tail is also effective. For bull reds in the surf, a fish-finder rig with a 4- to 6-ounce pyramid sinker, a 7/0 circle hook, and a chunk of fresh mullet. For trout, a popping cork with a live shrimp or a soft plastic.
Local Intel This Week
Public launches include the Vilano Beach Boat Ramp, the Lighthouse Park ramp on Anastasia Island, and the Devil’s Elbow area near Matanzas. Shore anglers have good access at the St. Johns County Ocean Pier, the Vilano Beach Fishing Pier, and the Matanzas Inlet beach. Fish are concentrated at the inlets for flounder and in the surf for reds. Bull reds must be released; check current FWC regulations and seasons before keeping fish, including flounder limits.
This Week’s Tip
Flounder are ambush feeders, so they sit still and wait for food to come to them. Work your bait slowly along the bottom, and when you feel the bite, give the fish a few seconds before you set the hook. Setting too early is the most common way to lose a good flounder.
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