There's a surprising variety of fly fishing in St. Augustine as well, including blind casting for trout and casting for schools of jacks or ladyfish. 1 in number of in-state anglers, angler expenditures, economic impact, and international fishing record catches, Florida's claim to fishing fame is unrivaled. 2022 2. Bottom fishing in St. Augustine is the technique to get your hands on not only Snapper and Grouper, but some other critters as well. Fish mid-day around deep drop-offs or docks. Although these are some of the most common places to fish, they are not always the best. These files work with many mobile devices and all computers. For an in depth review of how to organize your gear check out How to Organize Fly Fishing Gear. If you find an area that is productive, make note of the time of day and tide. Generally speaking, any time is a good time for Billfishing in St. Augustine, especially between April and October. How was it? Nearshore and offshore fishing are done in waters between 20 and 100 feet deep, usually 10 to 30 miles offshore in the Atlantic. The camp is located about 15 miles south of St. Augustine on the Matanzas River. From calm inshore waterways, where the action is focused on tailing Redfish, to legendary battles on the waves offshore, St. Augustine fishing is an experience you can't miss! Largemouth bass, black crappie and bluegill are the St. Johns River's major attraction for freshwater fishermen. If you are visiting the area or newly moved here, I strongly recommend hiring a guide and seeing what this fishery is all about! Its a great way to make a memorable trip even more exciting especially if luck smiles down on you and sends a beastly fish your way. If youre fishing with a federally licensed charter during the open season, theres nothing that can stop you from fully enjoying some nice Red Snapper action in St. Augustine. (904) 687-9498, Inshore Adventures offers charter fishing tours from St. Augustine to Palm Coast. Sailfish hang out around the reefs, wrecks, and natural ledges close to shore during the summer months and all the way through September and October. Book a Charter; St. Augustine Daily Fishing Report; CHARTER INFO CALL (904) 377-3734 . Thanks to the towns history and a strong connection to fishing, both commercially and recreationally, the local marinas are home to an impressive charter fleet. Choose the north side of the dam for freshwater fishing or the tidal waters on the south side to fish for saltwater species. Anglers have logged in Fishbrain over 12,972 catches for Largemouth bass, 2,763 catches for Red drum, 1,092 catches for Bluegill and many more species in the St. Augustine area. Close to the Matanzas Inlet, this shop offers fresh and live shrimp and other baits as well. There are three fishing piers on the historic Bartram Trail (County Road 13) along the river in St. Johns Countythe Alpine Groves Pier in Fruit Cove, the Riverfront Park Pier, and Shands Pier in St. Johns (see the map of fishing piers below). On the other hand, adrenaline junkies meet your perfect target! As we mentioned earlier, there are various reefs, shipwrecks, and ledges ideal for some trolling action in St. Augustine. The nearshore reefs and ledges (including shipwrecks!) Lets start with what you can catch in this sportfishing paradise. Using a small back crab fly with a heavy weed guard will rarely be refused. Next well look at what you can expect to catch when fishing St. Augustine. who delivers papa johns. The best time to enjoy fishing St. Augustine is in the fall months. A great starting point is definitely the Vilano Beach Pier. Anastasia State Park 117 Closed until 10:00 AM "I have had many great experiences here fishing, picnicking, finding mussels, camping and bbqs." more 2. (904) 824-3328, Jodie Lynn Sport Fishing Charters' Captain Robert Johnson has more than 30 years of experience in offshore and deep-sea fishing. Whenever you work the bottom, you can also find Black Bass, Amberjack, and even Sharks, while Kingfish, Barracuda, and Cobia might show up during your trolling action. Its also famous for its pristine coastline, crystal clear waters, and beautiful ocean scenery. (904) 471-0398, Located at Camachee Cove Yacht Harbor, Bay Ray Rentals has the largest selection of pontoon boats, deck boats, and fishing boats in the area. Since the area is made up of vast mash land full of mazy creeks lined with oysters. Consistently ranked No. Your leader material should range from 15lb fluorocarbon up to 60lb fluorocarbon. All fishing spots will load to your waypoints list and your GPS Map screen. The fall, however, is the easiest time to catch fish. (904) 829-9136, Bob's Bait and Tackle is also on U.S. 1, but farther south, at State Road 206. If youre after big Amberjack, Snapper, and Grouper, youll probably search for them around deep offshore wrecks and reefs. Deep sea fishing in St. Augustine is all at your mercy. Please note, GPS views will vary depending on the brand, model, and age of your GPS. Fishing in Fernandina Beach: The Complete Gui 2023 FishingBooker.com. Craig Hastings/Getty Images. The adjacent Anastasia State Park provides tons of recreational resources as well, including canoe and kayak rentals. These areas are accessible by boat and with a little effort, can be accessed from shore. However, some months are better than others for targeting certain fish species just as we mentioned in the Species section. If you can handle the long ride out to deeper water, about 50 miles, then you are in for some exciting fishing! At the tail end of the winter, fish will go to deeper areas where the water is actually warmer. Although our staple inshore fish species are redfish, trout, and flounder, there are quite a few different species that can be caught as well. 47 There are 47 fishing charters in Vilano Beach and nearby cities. Being close to the inlet, youll see anything from Flounder and Snook to Red Snapper passing through the waters below. Call 1 (904) 814-2442 or Private charter trips are without a doubt one of the most popular experiences for visiting anglers. St. Augustine offers great shore fishing, with river systems, inlets, ponds, and channels all over the area, you can find plenty of spots to enjoy your day of fishing. Well, the good news is, of course you can! This protected inlet is an ideal spot to fly fish for redfish. Smaller boats should avoid these areas when the tide is flowing. Not too excited about heading into the waves? This build-your-own adventure approach makes charters especially convenient for families with kids. Cover photo courtesy of Florida's Historic Coast. Lowering your leader size to 15lb and fishing baits or lures that land softly in the water will increase your chances of a hook-up. Local anglers prefer fishing for them from Christmas until Easter, however, you can still find Blackfins during the summer months. The best time of day will be fishing morning and evening. Of course, the setting is only half the story. These feisty critters are reliable year-round targets, giving you a chance at a great catch whenever you decide to visit. With purses totaling more than $100,000, the kingfish tour now rivals the professional bass fishing circuit. In St. Augustine, there are various interesting species that hang out anywhere from a couple of miles off the coast to the bluewaters roughly 60 miles offshore and beyond. Using the highest quality materials, Roswell R1 subwoofers are built to stand up to the harshest marine environments and drive the soundtrack of your session into your soul. How To Thoroughly Clean a Saltwater Fly Line. St Augustine Land and Sea Tours 123 Boat Tours Fishing Charters & Tours By Suzi_Brady The tour guide knew all the streets with the best lights to see and artfully avoided traffic so we got the most out o. (904) 826-0010. Thank you for your business, and we look forward to serving you in the future. St. Augustine is home to a large fleet of charter boats, so youll have a selection of trips available throughout the year. Year-round warm weather and the diversity of recreational species, both freshwater and saltwater, found in the state are huge factors as well. Offshore fishing is a year-round experience in St. Augustine with popular species like Grouper, Snapper, Triggerfish, Sailfish, and more! About. Uncover the heartbeat of the world's premier marine audio systems with the Roswell R1 10" and 12" subwoofers. The Southern Kingfish Association, headquartered in St. Augustine, sanctions more than 100 tournaments throughout the Southeast. It also offers easy access to the Everglades, which is one of Floridas most exciting inshore fisheries. Outriggers are designed to hold fishing lines at a certain angle at distance from the boat while you cruise close to your targets. St. Augustine's Best Fishing Charter! As you mightve already guessed, deep sea fishing in St. Augustine is a year-round event. Since this is the case, locating fishing spots can prove difficult, especially for someone wanting to fish from land. Easily accessible inshore fishing can also be found at the Guana Tolomato Matanzas Estuarine Research Reserve, which is located eight miles north of Vilano Beach. Fishing from a kayak can open up new opportunities as well since the kayak can go into the nooks and crannies of the waterways that other boats can't reach. Along the Intracoastal waterway are a series of creeks and outflows that will dump into the main waterway on a falling tide. We have an incredible history, breathtaking beaches, and the fishing is outstanding. The SD option will be obvious once the fishing spots are added to the cart. Because the pier maintains a fishing license with the state, it isn't necessary to purchase a separate license when fishing here the license is included in the fishing fees. | fishing in Smith Creek (Flagler Beach) (17 mi.) If you want to experience the very best of Florida fishing, you've come to the right place. They will use mid-day sun to warm up, especially on mid-day incoming tides. However, if youre after the catch of a lifetime, youre going to want to come to town during the summer months. Areas that are full of water can be completely dry within a couple of hours. We strive to help anglers catch more fish by providing proven fishing spots throughout Florida. Using a guide will be safer, allow you to learn about the area, and typically catch more fish. They specialize in Gulf Stream trolling, where guests can catch anything from snapper to wahoo, cobia, amberjack or billfish. Late spring and early summer is the ideal time to go for Mahi Mahi, although they still bite throughout the year. Fishing the flats can be quite exciting, whether you're fishing for trout with light tackle or sight fishing for redfish during a flood tide when the fish go right up into the grass. I started this blog in addition to my fishing charter business so that I could help people all over the world! The variety of species inshore, from redfish, drum, and spotted trout to the offshore sport fish like kingfish, tuna, cobia, and barracuda, make St. Augustine a year-round fishing destination. In fall, fish will be feeding actively to prepare for winter. Another species that you can target on your inshore adventures in St. Augustine is Black Drum. The area also has plenty of islands nearby, so you'll never get bored of the area, no matter how long you'll be staying. | fishing in St. Augustine (City Dock) (14 mi.) Matanzas Bay and the Guana and Tolomato Rivers are among the most fertile estuarine waters in the state of Florida, which is saying a lot. This will make areas that are navigable at high tide, completely dry land at low tide. These ferocious fighters usually stay until the spring. Currently available for 4,6,8,10 or 12 hour fishing charters. For the sight fishermen, the best months to fish St. Augustine will be during the winter, where the water is the clearest. 2 pounds of red snapper filets cut into serving-size pieces. As long as youre willing [], Within an hours drive of Tampa lies a small city of Sarasota, often simply nicknamed Paradise. As one of the best vacation spots in Florida, its home to gorgeous beaches, nearshore reefs, and mangrove-lined flats.