St. Augustine Fishing Report — Week of November 5, 2026: Black Drum, Whiting, Bluefish

Updated: Thursday, November 5, 2026 · Next update: Thursday, November 12, 2026

This St. Augustine fishing report is a seasonal outlook for the week of November 5, built on early-November patterns rather than a dock-by-dock tally. Water along the Matanzas and the Intracoastal should keep cooling, and black drum, whiting and bluefish typically anchor the picture. Daylight saving ended Sunday, so evening light fades sooner, and the new moon on Monday, November 9 should stir the tides.

What’s Hitting

Early November around St. Augustine usually belongs to the inshore crowd and the surf crowd alike. Black drum should be gathering near the inlet and along the deeper bends of the Matanzas River, where cut shrimp or blue crab on the bottom tends to draw them. Redfish typically hold on the marsh edges of Salt Run and the creeks behind Anastasia Island, especially on falling water. Along the beach, whiting and pompano often show in the trough on sand fleas and fresh shrimp, with bluefish sometimes cruising through on cooler days. Sheepshead should keep stacking on pilings and the jetty rocks as temperatures slide. Flounder tend to thin out as fall progresses. Mullet schools often lead predators down the coast.

Where to Find Them

Start at the St. Augustine Inlet, where the north jetty at Vilano and the south side near Anastasia State Park offer current breaks that hold drum and sheepshead. Inside, the stretch of the Matanzas River between the Bridge of Lions and the Usina area tends to reward anglers working docks and oyster bars at the right stage of tide. Salt Run is a calmer option when the wind kicks up, and its grass edges often hold redfish. Surf anglers can walk the beach south of the St. Augustine Beach Pier and read the troughs at low water to find the deeper cuts. Farther south, the Matanzas Inlet area gets quiet in the cooler months and rewards patient bottom fishing. Pilings under the Vilano bridge typically hold sheepshead.

Tides & Conditions

The new moon on Monday, November 9 should bring stronger spring tides near the middle of the week, which means more movement through the inlet and faster water over the oyster bars. Strong outgoing flow typically concentrates bait at the inlet mouth and pulls drum and redfish toward the edges. Slack water around the top and bottom of the tide is often better for sheepshead on the pilings. With daylight saving over, dusk arrives sooner, so be set up early. Wind against a strong outgoing tide can make the inlet rough, so check conditions first.

Tackle & Tactics

For black drum and sheepshead, a medium spinning rod with fifteen to twenty pound braid, a fluorocarbon leader and a small, strong hook works well with fiddler crabs or cut shrimp. Redfish on the marsh edge typically respond to a quarter-ounce jig head with a paddle tail, or a gold spoon worked slowly. Surf anglers should carry a longer rod, two-hook pompano rigs and fresh shrimp or sand fleas, plus a few fish-finder rigs for bigger bait. Bluefish have teeth, so a short wire or heavy fluorocarbon bite leader can save lures. Keep a cast net handy for finger mullet, a dependable early-November bait. A pair of long pliers and a basic wire cutter always earn their space in the bag.

Local Intel This Week

Public access around town is good. The St. Augustine Beach Pier on A1A offers surf-side fishing without a boat, and the Vilano Beach area near the north jetty gives walk-up inlet access. Anastasia State Park provides beach and Salt Run access with a day-use fee, while the Usina boat ramp area on the Matanzas serves small boats headed into the river. Launch times and parking can fill on pleasant weekends, so arrive early. Watch for strong current at the inlet, especially around the new moon. Boaters should mind shoals that shift after storms and carry a current chart. Check current state and federal regulations and seasons before keeping fish. Local tackle shops generally know which bait is available, so a quick stop before heading out can save a trip.

This Week’s Tip

Take a cast net to the Vilano bridge area at first light on a falling tide, throw a few finger mullet, and fish them live on a short fish-finder rig along the inlet edge. Keep a second rod rigged with fiddler crab for sheepshead around the pilings while you wait for the drum.