Fernandina Beach to Flagler Beach
Includes Jacksonville and St. Augustine.

July 3-6

Offshore

Is it hot enough for you? Summer time fishing patternss have taken hold offshore and inshore.

Accharters.net reports from Fernandina that amberjacks are on every reef to 120ft with snapper and a few grouper in the mix. Larger fish seem to be further out and holding in that 120 ft depth. Beeliners have also been very consistent and running in larger than normal sizes. Tarpon are running the beaches and also have been spotted moving inside the St. Marys river as well as the Nassau river. Large schools of pogie pods are also running up and down the beaches drawing attention to kingfish and Spanish mackerel. Slow drift a live pogie behind your boat off the beach or drop into the pogie pods themselves and you will more than likely get bit by something.

C&H lures out of Jacksonville also confirms large schools of pogies running the beaches from Mayport south. Kingfish and tarpon are not far from these natural summertime food sources and have been best bets for these hot weeks we have had. Ledge trolling has slowed considerably which is normal during these hot weather months. Amberjacks are on every reef with larger beeliners and snapper found further out around 21 fathoms. Sharks are thick also especially on or near the beaches.

Majestyfishing.com out of Mayport reports amberjacks to 32lbs on every trip made the past week also almaco jacks which are a smaller version. Beeliners have been the stars the past week with limits obtainable and their sizes running larger than normal. 16 to 28 miles has accounted for most of their success this past week with a few snapper and throw back grouper in the mix as well.

Inshore

Accharters.net reports speckled trout to 4lbs and redfish in the upper slot at the Fernandina jetties mostly using live mullet on the bottom. Sharks are also at the jetties and thick so reel in your catch quick.

Don Suber, a well known Nassau river local, reports redfish in the slot range and trout in the 15 to 20 inch range in the Amelia River with small grass Islands at high tides the main targets. Popping corks with live shrimp work very well for this pattern and those grass islands with current seem to produce better. Lots of small trout up as far as Edwards flat areas and tarpon also spotted up in that part of the Nassau river as well. I have been reporting on this migratory pattern which can not be ignored for all are Northeast Florida rivers and estuaries because shrimp hatches will become a summer staple to most of our inshore species and shrimp are up river.

I have had good success on slot size yellowmouth trout with limits highly obtainable with a mixture of speckled trout to 25 inches this past week following up river patterns with yellowmouth trout a deeper water dweller. Most of my fish have been caught on 1/4 ounce jig heads with plastic grubs with the larger specks caught using topwater lures.

Vic2fish.com has stayed on those redfish running in the upper slot mostly using quartered blue crab up in the many small creeks on the dropping tides. Sister’s, Saw Pit and Clapboard have all been consistent for Vic for reds, as well as a few trout using popping corks teamed with live shrimp. Flounder have moved in considerably around the dock areas between Sister’s creek mouth to Mayport .Most anglers using live mud minnows dragged on the bottom to cover water are having good success on fish between 2 and 4lbs.

Devil’s Elbow reports from St. Augustine: Redfish have turned on the past week and seem to be thicker in and around the small creek systems of Pelicer flats. Trout have also picked up especially at night around docks with lights. Matanzas Inlet has generally been slow this past week except for some decent sized pompano that have showed up in the inlet. Whiting have been very spotty.

By Captain Roger Bump, bumpstraightjacket@comcast.net
(904) 866-8055
www.captainrogerbump.com