The North Florida summer pattern is taking hold around Jacksonville this week. King mackerel are moving in on the nearshore reefs and the beaches, redfish are working the marsh and creeks, and the first tarpon are beginning to show along the beaches and at the river mouth. Here is what’s happening from the St. Johns to the nearshore wrecks.
What’s Biting
Kingfish are the story offshore and nearshore — the early-summer run has fish stacking on the reefs, ledges, and around the bait pods just off the beaches. Inshore, redfish are reliable in the marsh creeks and around the oyster bars, with mangrove snapper and flounder filling out the catch around structure and the jetties. Tarpon are beginning to appear along the beaches and at the mouth of the St. Johns, and Spanish mackerel are blitzing bait along the beachfront.
Where to Find Them
Run to the nearshore reefs and ledges, or simply find the bait pods off the beach, for kingfish. The jetties at the St. Johns mouth hold flounder, snapper, and redfish. Work the marsh creeks, feeder creeks, and oyster bars of the Intracoastal for reds on the moving tide. The beachfront and river mouth are the spots to look for early tarpon and cruising mackerel.
Tides & Conditions
The inshore bite keys on tidal movement — the marsh fishes best on the last of the falling and the early incoming when bait gets pinned to the bars. Nearshore, calm mornings before the sea breeze and afternoon storms are the window for slow-trolling and chunking the reefs.
Tackle & Tactics
Slow-troll live menhaden on stinger rigs for kingfish, or anchor up and chunk over the reefs. For redfish, a gold spoon, a soft-plastic on a jighead, or a live mud minnow worked along the bars produces. Use light fluorocarbon and small hooks for the jetty snapper and flounder, and keep a spinning rod rigged with a spoon ready for the mackerel and any tarpon that show.
This Week’s Tip
For the early tarpon at the river mouth, watch the bait — when the menhaden pods get nervous and start showering, there are predators underneath. Drift a live pogo on a circle hook nearby and be ready; the June tarpon bite at the St. Johns mouth only builds from here.