Updated: Thursday, October 15, 2026 · Next update: Thursday, October 22, 2026
This Jacksonville fishing report covers mid-October, the start of the best stretch of the year on the First Coast. Cooling water pushes flounder toward the jetties, and redfish stack in the marsh creeks around the St. Johns and Nassau Sound, with bigger bull reds at the jetties and nearshore. Whiting and pompano work the surf. Plan around the falling tide in the creeks and at the jetties, with tides easing from the new-moon push as the moon builds toward first quarter.
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.
Over the next few weeks, the fall flounder run builds as water temperatures drop, and the jetties at Mayport become the focus. Redfish 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. As the tide drains the marsh, shrimp and baitfish are forced out of the grass and down the creeks, and redfish wait at the mouths for the easy meal.
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 is the most productive window for reds and flounder, with early morning the best light. The St. Johns moves a lot of water, so check a current tide chart before you go.
Tackle & Tactics
Match the rig to the target and keep everything close to the bottom.
- Flounder: live mud minnows and finger mullet on a Carolina rig or light jighead, or a bounced soft plastic.
- Redfish: cut mullet, live finger mullet or a gold spoon around the oyster bars and flats on the falling tide.
- Surf whiting: small pieces of shrimp or Fishbites on a pompano rig.
For flounder, keep your bait close to the bottom and slow down, and fish the edges of drop-offs at the creek mouths where flounder ambush bait. Bring a small net for flounder and a pair of pliers for the jetty rocks.
Local Intel This Week
Sisters Creek and the Mayport area ramps are the launches for the jetties and the lower St. Johns, and Dames Point gives access farther up the river. Surf anglers can work the Jacksonville Beach pier for whiting and pompano.
Fish concentrate at the jetties, the creek mouths and the inlet drop-offs. Check current FWC and federal regulations and seasons before keeping fish. Redfish and flounder rules deserve a close look.
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 turns the bait. Flounder often grab a bait crosswise and take a moment to reposition it, so an early hook set tends to pull it away.
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