Fishing — NE Florida
Write fishing content cards for First Coast captains at Port32 Jacksonville.
Local Species & Seasons
Year-Round River
- •Redfish — St. Johns River grass flats, docks, creek mouths. Slot 18"–27", 1 per person. Peak fall/winter
- •Flounder — river channels, drop-offs, around pilings. 12" min, 10 per person. Best Sept–Nov
- •Sheepshead — bridge pilings, docks, jetty rocks. Peak Dec–Mar. 12" min, 8 per person
- •Black Drum — same structure as sheepshead. Large drums year-round in deep holes
- •Largemouth Bass — freshwater sections upriver. Different regs, freshwater license
Jetty & Nearshore
- •Speckled Trout — grass flats Nassau Sound, ICW. 15"–20" slot, 3 per person
- •Flounder — jetty channels, inlet mouths. Summer runs excellent
- •Whiting — surf fishing, easy for kids. No size/bag limit
- •Tarpon — summer around jetties, river mouths. Catch-and-release only in state waters
Offshore Atlantic
- •King Mackerel (Oct–Apr) — 20-40ft depths, live bait or trolling. 24" min, 2 per person
- •Cobia (Mar–May) — follow rays, around buoys. 33" min, 1 per person
- •Red Snapper — check regs annually, seasons change. 20" min when open
- •Grouper — Jan–May typically open for gag grouper. 24" min
- •Amberjack — summer offshore, vertical jigging. 34" min, 1 per person
Key Spots
River System
- •Mayport jetties — both sides, fish the rocks on moving water
- •Sisters Creek — redfish flats, shallow draft boats
- •Fort George River — backcountry redfish, flounder in the channel
- •Heckscher Drive docks — night fishing for reds, trout
- •Tiger Point — grass flats, wade fishing opportunity
Offshore
- •8-Mile Rock — artificial reef, grouper and snapper
- •20-foot depths — king mackerel trolling grounds
- •40+ miles — Gulf Stream for mahi, wahoo (long run)
- •Mayport sea buoy — cobia in spring, kings in fall
Nassau Sound Area
- •Amelia Island State Park — surf fishing, drive-on beach access
- •Nassau Sound flats — shallow water redfish, low tide only
- •Amelia River — protected water when offshore is rough
Port32 Tie-ins
- •St. Johns River location = immediate access to both river and ocean
- •Fuel dock critical for offshore runs (Rec 90 ethanol-free)
- •Valet service means rigged and ready, especially for early river trips
- •Indoor storage protects from salt air and afternoon thunderstorms
Card Types
- •Weekly fishing report — river vs ocean conditions, what's biting where
- •Species spotlight — techniques specific to NE Florida (river reds vs jetty reds)
- •Spot guide — how to fish a specific location (tide, current, approach)
- •Dual-threat trips — river in AM, offshore in PM (or reverse)
- •Seasonal transitions — what's changing between river and ocean
Research Before Writing
Always check current conditions:
- •NE Florida fishing forums and Facebook groups
- •FWC fishing reports for NE region
- •Mayport charter captain reports
- •NOAA water temp and tide data for St. Johns River
- •Naval Station Mayport notices (restricted areas)
Local Regulations Special Notes
- •Military zones — respect all restricted areas around Mayport
- •River vs ocean licenses — saltwater license covers both
- •Special seasons — red snapper, grouper seasons change annually
- •Manatee zones — slow speed areas in river, especially winter