Florida · Northeast
REDFISH FISHING
IN ST. AUGUSTINE
St. Augustine is an excellent destination for redfish fishing, with peak season in May, September, October and good catches in January, February, March. Book a charter and target redfish with local experts.
About Redfish Fishing in St. Augustine
Also known as Red Drum, one of the most sought-after inshore gamefish in the Gulf. Known for powerful runs and the distinctive spot on the tail.
Redfish — also called Red Drum — are the most popular inshore gamefish along the Gulf and South Atlantic coasts. They are bronze-copper in color with one or more distinctive black spots near the tail, which scientists believe confuse predators into attacking the wrong end. Juveniles (called "rat reds") are bright gold or copper, while bull reds over 30 inches take on a deeper bronze-red hue with a pronounced hump behind the head. Males and females are visually identical, though females grow larger and are the primary spawners.
Scientific name: Sciaenops ocellatus
Redfish Seasonal Calendar — St. Augustine
Month-by-month availability for redfish in St. Augustine, FL.
How to Catch Redfish in St. Augustine
Techniques & Bait
Live shrimp under a popping cork is the most reliable year-round technique. Soft plastic jigs (gold spoons, paddle-tail swimbaits on 1/4 oz jigheads) worked along oyster bars and grass flat edges are deadly. For trophy bulls in the fall, fresh-cut mullet or blue crab on a Carolina rig fished near passes and jetties is hard to beat. Sight-casting to tailing reds on shallow flats with gold spoons or fly-rod presentations is the pinnacle of the sport.
Recommended Tackle
Medium or medium-light spinning rod (7 ft), 2500-3000 size reel, 10-15 lb braided line, 20 lb fluorocarbon leader. For bull reds: medium-heavy rod, 4000 reel, 20-30 lb braid, 30 lb leader.
Best Inshore Fishing Spots in St. Augustine
Top spots where local captains target redfish and other inshore species.
St. Augustine Inlet
St. Augustine Inlet connects the Matanzas River and Intracoastal Waterway to the Atlantic and is the region's primary inshore fishing hotspot. Redfish, flounder, sheepshead, and black drum hold around the jetty rocks, while tarpon and jack crevalle push through the inlet during summer. The strong tidal currents create a natural fish-concentrating funnel.
Matanzas River
The Matanzas River flows through downtown St. Augustine and south through pristine salt marsh habitat teeming with redfish and spotted seatrout. Oyster bars, dock pilings, and grass flats along the river provide year-round habitat for inshore species. The section near the Bridge of Lions and around Vilano is particularly productive.
Guana River Preserve
The Guana River and Tolomato River system north of St. Augustine flows through the Guana Tolomato Matanzas Reserve, offering pristine inshore fishing in protected marsh waters. Redfish, spotted seatrout, and flounder patrol the grass edges and oyster bars in a largely undeveloped setting. Kayak fishing is especially popular in the shallow creeks.
Salt Run
Salt Run is a sheltered tidal lagoon in the heart of St. Augustine near Anastasia State Park, offering easy-access fishing for redfish, spotted seatrout, flounder, and sheepshead. The shallow grass flats and oyster bars are prime wade-fishing territory on lower tides. Its proximity to downtown makes it one of the most convenient fishing spots in the area.
Other Species in St. Augustine
More fish you can target while visiting St. Augustine.
Redfish Fishing in St. Augustine — FAQ
The peak months for Redfish fishing in St. Augustine are May, September, October. During these months, Redfish are most active and abundant in the St. Augustine area.
Redfish fishing charters in St. Augustine are typically inshore trips. Prices vary by trip duration and group size. Most charters include all gear, bait, licenses, and fish cleaning.
Live shrimp under a popping cork is the most reliable year-round technique. Soft plastic jigs (gold spoons, paddle-tail swimbaits on 1/4 oz jigheads) worked along oyster bars and grass flat edges are deadly. For trophy bulls in the fall, fresh-cut mullet or blue crab on a Carolina rig fished near passes and jetties is hard to beat. Sight-casting to tailing reds on shallow flats with gold spoons or fly-rod presentations is the pinnacle of the sport.
No — when you book a charter in St. Augustine, your captain provides all required Florida fishing licenses as part of the trip.
Redfish regulations in Florida include minimum size limits and bag limits that vary by season. Your captain will know the current regulations and ensure compliance.
While targeting Redfish in St. Augustine, you may also catch Black Sea Bass, Sheepshead, Flounder, Speckled Trout, Black Drum. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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