St. Augustine fishes twelve months a year, but the species rotate hard with the water temperature and the mullet run. Use this calendar to time a trip around the fish you actually want to catch.
Related: St. Augustine Fishing Guide · St. Augustine Weekly Fishing Reports
| Month | Top Species | Peak Technique | Conditions & Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Redfish, Sheepshead, Trout | Live shrimp and fiddlers on structure | Coldest water of the year; reds school in the Tolomato |
| February | Sheepshead, Redfish, Black Drum | Fiddler crabs, cut bait | Sheepshead spawn peak on the jetties and bridge pilings |
| March | Sheepshead, Redfish, Whiting | Fiddlers, surf rigs | Water warming; whiting return to the beach troughs |
| April | Cobia, Redfish, Trout | Sight-casting, jigs | Cobia migrate north past the beaches |
| May | Cobia, Trout, Redfish | Sight-casting, popping corks | Cobia peak; trout spread through the creeks |
| June | Tarpon, Redfish, King Mackerel | Live pogies, slow-trolling | First tarpon at the inlet; kings arrive nearshore |
| July | Tarpon, Kings, Mangrove Snapper | Live bait, bottom rigs | Peak heat; snapper stack on the nearshore ledges |
| August | Tarpon, Kings, Redfish | Live mullet, slow-trolling | Tarpon best at the inlet; first finger mullet appear |
| September | Redfish, Tarpon, Flounder | Mullet-run baits, Carolina rigs | Mullet run peaks; bull reds gather at the inlet mouth |
| October | Redfish, Flounder, Trout | Cut mullet, mud minnows | Best inshore month; flounder run through the inlet |
| November | Redfish, Trout, Sheepshead | Jigs, live shrimp | Water cooling; big reds still working the jetties |
| December | Redfish, Trout, Sheepshead | Live shrimp, jigs | Winter pattern sets in; fish the deeper creek holes |
Best Months to Visit St. Augustine
Redfish: September–November, during and after the mullet run. Tarpon: June–August at the inlet. Sheepshead: February–March on the jetties. Flounder: September–October as they stage through the inlet.