Northeast Florida is in the heart of spring. Water temps are pushing into the mid-70s, the cobia run is at its absolute peak, and inshore species are getting active by the day.
Cobia — Peak Run
Cobia are running thick at the Jacksonville sea buoy and along the beaches from Mayport south to St. Augustine. Sight-casting with bucktails (1.5–2 oz, white or chartreuse) is the go-to when you spot fish. Live eels and pinfish on the chum bag at anchor will also produce. Numbers should peak this week and start tapering by month-end, so don’t wait.
Flounder and Sheepshead
Flounder are building in the St. Johns River and around the jetties. Live mud minnows or finger mullet bounced along the bottom near structure is the proven approach. The fish are still small on average — most in the 14–17 inch range — but numbers are climbing. Sheepshead are still around bridge pilings and the jetties; fiddler crabs on a small jig are the ticket.
Redfish and Trout
Redfish are responding to the warming water on the flats and creeks around Sister’s Creek, Cedar Point, and the back side of Big Talbot. Cut mullet or live shrimp under a popping cork is the easy approach. Sight-casters are scoring at low tide on tailing fish in the marsh grass. Trout are showing on the grass flats and oyster bars at dawn — gold spoons and topwater plugs early.
Specific Spots This Week
For cobia, the Jax sea buoy and the buoy line offshore have been the most reliable starting points — start trolling at idle speeds and work the bow looking for fish on the surface. The beaches from Mayport south through Ponte Vedra are also holding scattered fish on calm days. Flounder anglers are doing best at the jetties on the outgoing tide and around the dolphin pilings inside the river — live mud minnows on a 3/8-oz jighead. The Mayport ferry slip and the bridge fenders at the Sisters Creek bridge are producing flounder daily. Redfish action is best in the back of Sister’s Creek and along the spartina banks at the south end of Big Talbot at the bottom of the tide.
Conditions and Outlook
Water temp 73–75°F. New moon Saturday — strong dawn bite expected. Light SE winds through Friday, building Saturday. Cobia run is the headline this week.
Local Intel This Week
The Jacksonville sea buoy and the beaches south to Vilano are the cobia hot zone — flat-water mornings only for the sight-casting to work. Sister’s Creek and the cuts back of Big Talbot are giving up slot reds to anglers fishing cut mullet on a popping cork at low tide. Jetties at Mayport hold sheepshead and the first flounder of the year. Florida saltwater license required, redfish bag limit 1 per angler 18-27 inches. Tight lines.