Jacksonville fishing report for the week of October 8, 2026. October is the start of the best fishing of the year in Northeast Florida. The marsh is full of mullet and finger-sized shrimp, the redfish are fat and aggressive, and the flounder are staging for their fall move to the inlets.
What’s Hitting
Redfish are the main attraction, with schools in the marsh creeks and big bull reds beginning to move through the St. Johns River mouth and the jetties. Flounder are stacking up on the jetties and the sandy bottoms near the inlet, and speckled trout are on the grass edges. Whiting and pompano are hitting along the beaches, and sheepshead are starting to show on structure.
Where to Find Them
Fish the marsh creeks around Sisters Creek and the Fort George River on a falling tide, where reds push into the shallow cuts and hold on oyster bars. For flounder, work the jetties at Mayport and the sand edges inside the inlet. The surf at Huguenot and Little Talbot Island produces whiting and the occasional pompano, and trout hold on the grass flats in the Nassau Sound area.
Tides & Conditions
The new moon this weekend brings stronger tides. Marsh fishing is best on the falling tide as water leaves the flats, and the stronger the tide, the more the fish concentrate at the mouths of the creeks. Winds from the northeast can muddy the surf, so choose the protected marsh creeks on rough days.
Tackle & Tactics
For redfish, a quarter-ounce jig head with a paddle tail or a live mud minnow on a Carolina rig does the job. Flounder love a slow-rolled jig tipped with a strip of squid, bounced along the bottom beside the rocks. In the surf, a double-drop rig with fresh shrimp or Fishbites sorts out the whiting. Use a fluorocarbon leader and keep the bait moving along the bottom.
Local Intel This Week
Public access includes the Sisters Creek Park ramp, the Mayport boat ramp, and the Fort George River ramp, with Huguenot Memorial Park for surf fishing. Fish are concentrating around the jetties, the creek mouths and the oyster bars. Check current FWC regulations and seasons before keeping any fish, as slot limits apply to redfish.
This Week’s Tip
Fish the last two hours of the falling tide. In the marsh, that is when the water drains out of the grass and reds gather at the creek mouths waiting for a meal.
More Jacksonville Resources
All Jacksonville fishing reports · Seasonal fishing calendars · Submit your own report
Planning a trip to Jacksonville?
This report tells you what happened. ReelAI tells you what to do about it — a briefing for your date, your target species and how you're fishing, built from our reports plus live NOAA and USGS data.
Powered by ReelAI — fishing.digital's intelligence layer. Answers are generated from fishing.digital reports and public NOAA, NWS and USGS data, and may be incomplete or out of date. Regulations and marine safety information are summaries only; always confirm with the responsible authority before you fish.