Jacksonville fishing report for the week of October 15, 2026. Fall is the best stretch of the year on the First Coast, with cooling water pushing flounder toward the jetties and redfish stacking in the marsh creeks.
What’s Hitting
Redfish are schooled in the marsh creeks around the St. Johns and Nassau Sound, with bigger bull reds showing at the jetties and nearshore. Flounder are staging near the inlets and the creek mouths on their way to the fall run, and whiting and pompano are working the surf. Speckled trout are on the grass flats, and sheepshead are around the docks and bridge pilings.
Looking ahead, the fall flounder run should build over the next few weeks as water temperatures drop, and the jetties at Mayport should become the focus. Redfish will stay in the marsh through the fall, with bigger fish gathering near the inlet.
Where to Find Them
Fish the marsh creeks on the falling tide, where redfish gather at the mouths and drop-offs. Work the jetties at Mayport on the outgoing tide for flounder, and fish the surf from Jacksonville Beach and Little Talbot for whiting and pompano. Trout hold along the grass edges in the Intracoastal, and sheepshead stay close to pilings.
Tides & Conditions
With the moon building toward first quarter, tides are easing from the new-moon push. The falling tide in the creeks and at the jetties remains the most productive window for reds and flounder, with early morning the best light. Check a current tide chart before you go.
Tackle & Tactics
Live mud minnows and finger mullet on a Carolina rig or light jighead are the standard flounder offering, and a bounced soft plastic works too. For redfish, cut mullet, live finger mullet or a gold spoon do the job. Surf anglers should use small pieces of shrimp or Fishbites on a pompano rig for whiting.
For flounder, keep your bait close to the bottom and slow down. Fish the edges of drop-offs at the creek mouths where flounder ambush bait. For redfish, work the oyster bars and flats on the falling tide, and bring a small net for flounder and a pair of pliers for the jetty rocks.
Local Intel This Week
Public access includes Sisters Creek, the Mayport area ramps, and Dames Point for the lower St. Johns, along with the Jacksonville Beach pier for surf anglers. Fish are concentrating at the jetties, the creek mouths and the inlet drop-offs. Check current FWC regulations and seasons before keeping any fish, especially redfish and flounder.
This Week’s Tip
Go slow with flounder. Let a jig sit on the bottom and drag it a few inches at a time, and set the hook only after the fish has turned the bait.
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