Northeast Florida Forecast
July 25, 2024
By Capt. Roger Bump
Fernandina Beach to Flagler Beach Capt. Roger Bump covers inshore and offshore fishing in Northeast Florida from Fernandina Beach to Flagler Beach, including Jacksonville and Saint Augustine.
Action Spotter Podcast
July 25-28 Report Offshore
Where are the pogies? Some big kingfish have been caught this year but not without its challenges. Fishbites rep Scott Jones, who lives for the warm months of kingfish and tarpon, explains one important thing missing, pogy schools. They showed up early May then disappeared. Seasoned pros like Thomas Rady of Neptune Beach are leaving no stones unturned when it comes to alternative baits. Frozen ribbon fish, goggle eyes or “sabiki rig” jigging green backs are just a few examples. When bait gets scarce, I have heard of success using a blue runner or Jack crevalle. For the weekend angler, once you have bait, focus your search on wrecks starting 20 miles out and further. Be prepared to have a few run-ins with sharks, but there are also possible catches of cobia.
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Definitely have a surface presentation mixed with baits dropped down using down riggers. Mixing in some bottom fishing on those deeper wrecks should add trigger, mutton, mangrove, and vermilion to the fish box.
Inshore
I want to take a moment and address the future of inshore fishing via new products that we all look forward to purchasing and using to improve our fishing experience. There are new lures, tackle and sonar options becoming available everyday and are somewhat overwhelming to choose from. My opinion for everyone is to try a little bit of everything and learn about trends on YouTube as much as possible. Glide, swim, wake, chatter, suspend presentations can be highly productive in our forecast area. There is not a better time than right now in experimenting with a wake bait over a standard walk-the-dog topwater for redfish or trout, especially early and late in the day. As the sun comes up, mix in some deeper techniques, using jigs or lip divers and focusing on depths between 5 and 12 feet. I prefer main waterways with current, not so much backwater and ditch areas. Flounder this time of year require a lot of moving and casting. Experiment with a small spinner bait, either arm style or underspin, adding a trailer (Fishbites, Gulp, soft plastic) in white or chartreuse. This is a great lure to cover water and get reaction strikes that may draw fish in from a couple feet. A small crankbait bounced on shallow rocks in a natural black/white color can often score on flounder and give a angler another option in getting a few more bites. The free rig using a tungsten weight gives an angler the advantage of getting more sensitivity using any style hook and getting presentations not achieved by other rigs. I personally use the free rig on any given day or fishing charter and with natural bait or artificial. In other words, don’t be afraid to try new things. The only negative right now in fishing our forecast area is the heat. Otherwise fish are biting and there may not be a better time to catch five or more different species. Have a great fishing weekend trying something new to catch a fish. I will try to add some specific new lures in future forecast reports.
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Capt. Roger Bump Email Roger Bump www.jacksonvillefishingtrips.com
PREVIOUS REPORTS July 19-21 Report Offshore
We might get some needed rain this weekend which will have little effect on fishing but may make temperatures more comfortable for anglers. This weekend the Sisters Creek boat ramp will host the Greater Jacksonville kingfish tournament which means no public use of the ramp and Mayport boat ramp will be packed, so plan accordingly. Water temps are in the high 80’s. This should hold larger Kings nearshore especially if you can find areas with bait. Bait on the other hand has been tough to find. Some reports have anglers catching pogies inside the mouth of the St. Mary’s river; otherwise pogies have been scarce to scattered. Bait options could be buying frozen ribbon fish or using sabiki rigs on nearshore wrecks to catch greenies. A lot of anglers like to slow troll inside five miles within sight of the beaches for kings but anglers using down riggers on wrecks outside 20 miles also scoring on big kingfish. Best bottom fishing starting on wrecks outside 30 miles or 120 feet.
Inshore
It’s been hot to say the least but if you can get past the sweat, there are plenty of species of fish biting. Redfish pushing wakes on the incoming tides will start both days. Sight fishing will be prime using small top waters or weedless soft plastics as fish try to move into the grass. Flounder hasn’t slowed a bit especially on main waterway banks just inside inlets. Best bait for flounder is a mud minnow on a jig head or slide weight with hook 1/8 to 1/4 ounce. Lure choices Gulp or Fishbites curly tails in white. Speckled trout also keeping up with the heavy feed trend taking topwaters or lip divers early and late in the day. Night fishing for trout also productive if you can find the right lights on a dock. I like any shrimp imitating lure for trout at night. Tarpon are also giving chances to anglers presenting the right retrieve with either a swim bait , grub , or fluke style bait. Mornings are best for tarpon but be advised these fish can be very challenging to catch or even get to bite. I always say, try everything especially if you can see them rolling over and over in the same spot. Small finger mullet can get the attention of any tarpon even fish pushing 150 plus. Study some tarpon knots , leaders and hooks. I myself constantly change my rigging for tarpon as I find every situation different. My best advice is try 40 lb leader to get bites and 80l lb leader to possibly catch one. Don’t get frustrated , determination is everything when it comes to tarpon. Best spots to look for tarpon are inlets and surf areas holding pogie schools.
Have a great weekend and stay cool.
Capt. Roger Bump Email Roger Bump www.jacksonvillefishingtrips.com
Updated July 11 Offshore
July 12th—this Friday—will be open for red snapper. That is one snapper per angler. Most wrecks from 5 miles out to 30 hold plenty of red snapper with the deeper wrecks starting in 80 ft holding the larger fish. Frozen squid or Boston Macks are standard bait for red snapper. Deeper wrecks starting in 120 feet are the best chances for trigger, mutton, mangrove and vermilion. Live bait has been a challenge the past month as pogy schools are scarce. Best bet for live-bait kingfish is to jig nearshore wrecks inside 10 miles with sabiki rigs. Kingfish live bait alternatives can be just about anything with a flash; jack crevelle, blue runners, lady fish, Spanish mackerel, mullet and Bonita. Frozen option is ribbon fish, which can be very effective but hard to find. Fishing for kings has been a mix of slow trolling beaches to down-rigging baits on wrecks as far out as 30 miles. I have been hearing success on both options.
Inshore
If you fish one of the main rivers in our Northeast Florida area, St John’s, St Mary’s, Nassau, then you might have noticed your fishing area has grown. Due to lack of rainfall, saltwater has crept up all those rivers where normally one would just catch freshwater largemouth bass. We are now experiencing a small amount of afternoon showers but it would take a lot of rainfall to washout the saltwater and move saltwater species. So, if you happen to be bass fishing in Palatka, St. John’s River or Thomas Creek, Nassau River or past the 95 bridge, St Mary’s River, don’t be surprised to catch a redfish or two.
Fishing overall has something for everyone.
Flounder are available to target with mud minnows or artificial fish bites and Gulp tails in white. Speckled trout are taking any soft plastic shrimp imitator, D.O.A., Vudu, or Tsunami great brands to try. If you’re trying to target trout or flounder you’re probably going to catch a redfish. Focus on main grass lines, docks, bridges, rocks in major waterways. In other words, avoid small creeks as water temps are hot and water movements mostly slack. In July, livebait preferences will change to live shrimp, which is not the easiest to keep alive in the hot weather. A frozen water bottle sealed can help cool your bait bucket water down and add life to your shrimp. If you’re not getting bites move to the next spot. Have a safe trip and don’t forget the bug spray and enjoy.
Capt. Roger Bump Email Roger Bump www.jacksonvillefishingtrips.com
