What's the best time of year to fish St. Augustine & Northeast Florida?

Peak fishing in St. Augustine & Northeast Florida varies by species. See our complete seasonal fishing calendar for St. Augustine & Northeast Florida for a month-by-month breakdown of what's hitting, where to go, and what tactics work best.

What fish can you catch in St. Augustine & Northeast Florida?

The St. Augustine & Northeast Florida fishery hosts a mix of inshore, nearshore, and offshore species. See the full species list and seasonal calendar above for the complete picture.

Do I need a fishing license in St. Augustine & Northeast Florida?

Yes — anglers age 16 and older need a state fishing license to fish in St. Augustine & Northeast Florida (some exemptions apply for residents fishing from licensed piers). Check state Fish and Wildlife regulations for current rules and limits.

When is the best fishing report for St. Augustine & Northeast Florida updated?

fishing.digital publishes a fresh weekly St. Augustine & Northeast Florida fishing report every Thursday with the latest intel from the past week — what's hitting, conditions, and tactics that are working.

St. Augustine & Northeast Florida Fishing Guide — Inshore & Offshore

St. Augustine — America’s oldest city — sits on a productive stretch of Northeast Florida coastline running from Jacksonville’s St. Johns River south past Matanzas Inlet. Two productive inlets (St. Augustine and Matanzas), the long Tolomato and Matanzas River systems behind the barrier islands, and Gulf Stream access 25-30 miles offshore create a fishery that runs the full spectrum from tailing redfish on the Tolomato to sailfish at the Stream edge.

Why St. Augustine?

Northeast Florida is overshadowed by South Florida’s bigger names — but the fishery is genuinely world-class and far less pressured. Two productive inlets, miles of clean estuary water in the Tolomato and Matanzas Rivers, productive offshore artificial reefs and natural bottom, and Gulf Stream access within 30 miles of the dock. St. Augustine also offers one of Florida’s best fall flounder fisheries when migration schools stack up at the inlet.

Top Target Species

Redfish

The Tolomato River, Salt Run, Matanzas River, and the marshes south of St. Augustine hold slot reds (18-27″) year-round and bull reds (30″+) in fall. Sight-fishing tailing reds on flood tides in summer is a Lowcountry-style fishery here.

Speckled Trout

The deep grass flats of the Matanzas and Tolomato, the back bays, and the channel edges hold quality trout year-round. Winter and spring produce the biggest fish.

Flounder — Fall Migration

St. Augustine Inlet is one of the East Coast’s best fall flounder spots. Migration schools stack at the inlet in October-November before pushing out to spawn. Bucktails with Gulp! trailers, live mud minnows.

Snook

St. Augustine sits on the northern edge of Florida’s Atlantic snook range. The inlet jetty, Matanzas Inlet, and the deeper ICW holes hold linesiders year-round, with summer producing best.

Tarpon

Summer tarpon at the inlets, surf zone, and beaches. Peak May through July. Live bait at the inlet jetty produces.

Sheepshead

The inlet jetty, the Bridge of Lions, Vilano Bridge, and marina pilings all hold sheepshead — peak during winter/spring spawn (Feb-April).

Offshore — Kingfish, Mahi, Sailfish

The Nine Mile Reef, FL-D Reef, and Gulf Stream edge (25-30 miles offshore) hold kingfish (year-round), mahi (peak May-September), and sailfish (peak in spring and fall).

Best Fishing Spots

The Tolomato River

St. Augustine’s premier inshore river — runs from Jacksonville south to the St. Augustine area. Redfish on the flats, trout in the channels, productive year-round.

St. Augustine Inlet

The main outlet to the Atlantic — jetty fishing for snook, tarpon, sheepshead, and big game on outgoing tide.

Salt Run

A protected inshore lagoon south of the St. Augustine Lighthouse — easy access for kayak anglers; redfish, trout, sheepshead.

Matanzas Inlet

South of St. Augustine — historic, less-pressured inlet. Productive for snook, flounder, redfish, and tarpon.

Nine Mile Reef

Offshore artificial reef — kingfish, snapper, the entry-level offshore fishery.

The Stream Edge

25-30 miles offshore — sailfish, mahi, wahoo. Pursue on calm-weather windows.

When to Fish — Seasonal Breakdown

January–February: Winter inshore — trout in deeper holes, redfish in warmer water; sheepshead spawn at structure.

March–April: Sheepshead peak; cobia migration through the area; spring transition.

May–June: Tarpon arriving; snook moving onto flats; mahi and sailfish offshore.

July–August: Peak tarpon at inlets; afternoon storm pattern; snook active; offshore peak.

September–October: Snook season reopens (verify FWC zone rules); mullet run; offshore sailfish picks up.

November: PEAK FLOUNDER — fall migration stacks fish at St. Augustine Inlet.

December: Winter pattern; trout and reds in deeper holes; sheepshead returning.

Charters & Resources

Charter range: $450–$700 inshore (Tolomato/Matanzas); $700–$1,100 nearshore/inlet; $1,000–$1,800 offshore (sailfish, kings, snapper).

Bait & Tackle: Avid Angler (St. Augustine, 904-797-8500); Strike Zone (Jacksonville — close by); Capt. Mike’s Crab Trap (Vilano); North Florida Tackle (Jacksonville Beach).

Public Boat Ramps: Lighthouse Park (Salt Run access), Vilano Beach Ramp, North Beach Park, Devil’s Elbow Fish Camp (Matanzas), Marineland ramp, Fish Island Boat Ramp.

Regulations

Florida saltwater regulations apply — verify current FWC rules. Snook 28-33″ slot, one per day, with seasonal closures (Dec 15-Jan 31 + Jun 1-Aug 31 on Atlantic). Redfish 18-27″ slot. Flounder 14″ minimum, 5 per day. Snook stamp required for snook harvest.