Jacksonville fishing report for the week of September 24, 2026. This is prime time on the First Coast. The mullet run is at its peak, the bull reds are stacked at the mouth of the St. Johns, and the full moon on Saturday is setting up some big tides. If you only fish a few weekends a year, this is one of them.
What’s Hitting
This week, the bull redfish run is in full swing. Big, over-slot reds are feeding at the St. Johns River jetties and along the beaches on the outgoing tide. Flounder are staging at the inlets and around the jetty rocks as they prepare for their fall migration offshore. Inshore, slot reds and speckled trout are feeding in the creeks, and sheepshead are around the docks. Along the beaches, tarpon, jacks, and sharks are following the mullet schools, and the first pompano are showing in the surf.
Where to Find Them
The St. Johns River jetties are the top spot for bull reds, especially the tip of the north and south jetties on the falling tide. Flounder are holding around the rocks at the jetties, in the Mayport basin, and at the Nassau Sound and Fort George inlets. For slot reds and trout, work the creek mouths off the Intracoastal around Sisters Creek and Pablo Creek. Along the beaches, look for birds and bait from Jacksonville Beach to Little Talbot Island.
Tides & Conditions
With the full moon on Saturday, tides are big and currents strong at the jetties. The bite has been best in the first half of the outgoing and around the slack. Water temps are in the upper 70s to low 80s. Northeast winds can build this time of year and muddy the beaches, so check the marine forecast, and keep an eye on the tropics.
Tackle & Tactics
For bull reds at the jetties, fish a half or whole mullet or a big cut of menhaden on a fish-finder rig with a 7/0 or 8/0 circle hook and 50- to 60-pound fluorocarbon leader. Use enough weight to hold bottom in the current. For flounder, bounce a mud minnow or finger mullet on a Carolina rig or a jig along the rocks. Inshore, a live shrimp under a popping cork catches reds and trout.
Local Intel This Week
The Mayport boat ramp at Wonderwood Drive and the Joe Carlucci Sisters Creek ramp provide quick access to the jetties. Huguenot Memorial Park offers shore access and surf fishing near the north jetty. Fish are concentrated at the jetty tips on the outgoing tide. Handle big bull reds carefully and release them quickly. Check current FWC regulations, slot sizes, and seasons before keeping fish.
This Week’s Tip
When fishing the jetties for bull reds, use a fish-finder rig with a sliding sinker so the fish can pick up the bait without feeling resistance. Let the rod load before you reel, and the circle hook will do the rest.
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.