Fishing in the St Johns River in Jax

[KeyWestBoater]

I live in Jacksonville and am starting to fish in the St Johns river close to St Johns county, in south Jacksonville. I've been fishing inshore before (reds, grouper, flounder, etc) but not in the river where I live and put my boat in. I haven't found any place near there that sells live bait so what are my best options and what kinds of fish are there? If anyone know who sells live bait around there please let me know!
Thanks!

 

[pecheux]

Re: Fishing in the St Johns River in Jax

Hi, if you launch your boat at Mayport (near the ferry) you'll be driving right in front of a supplier of live bait of all kinds ... It's about half a mile prior to getting at the ferry if you access via Mayport road. You cant miss it ... keep you window rolled down and you'll smell it ... LOL

I recommend 'finger mulets" for fishing just about any spicies. Good luck.

 

[KeyWestBoater]

Re: Fishing in the St Johns River in Jax

Since I live close to St Johns county I would like to use the Goodby's Creek ramp for a while and will try Mayport later on. I would like to try fishing in Black Creek. Does anyone know if Black Creek is a decent fishing spot? What's good bait to use? I've heard parts of the creek run 50 ft deep.
Thanks!

 

[wavrider]

Re: Fishing in the St Johns River in Jax

Black creek has it's days.

The salt content in the river will determine what you target as it varies there.
Close to the river you can target salt water species normaly found in the river.

As you go further inland on the creek you can target freshwater species.

The usual bait applies to whatever you are targeting.

Keep in mind you will need both types of fishing license, salt and fresh.
FWC usually patrols the creek on PWC.

Boat traffic can get a little heavy on nice weather weekends also.

 

[ddennis]

Re: Fishing in the St Johns River in Jax

I saw some good looking spots a good way past the beach area where boaters were congregated, it was also past some kind of park what a ton of rednecks jumping off a guard-railed pier and swimming near the middle of the creek!... wasnt much boat traffic up there.

 

[ebry710]

Re: Fishing in the St Johns River in Jax

The St John Bridge and the Jetties are great memories. We hand caught crab, catch large quantities of catfish and catch crockers, shark and ribbon fish. Does not sound exciting to a Florida fisherman, but to a California fisherman in Florida you could ask for anything better. We used flies at the jetties and blood bait for catfish under the big bridge over the Saint Johns River. Trolling also works. Fishing on the St John's River in Jacksonville is for any type of fishing. Live bait almost seems secondary to artificial lures. A fish finder helps. Your lucky to be on such a river and have access to the Atlantic like you do. Good Luck.

 

[KeyWestBoater]

Re: Fishing in the St Johns River in Jax

We went out late Saturday afternoon in St John's just off Goodby's Creek. We fished by some old docks. Some big fish maybe mullet were jumping right out of the water. We were using some shrimp and were getting lots of bites but couldn't catch um. Whatever was biting was biting the tails off then hollowing out the shell. When we would pull it up all that was left was an empty shrimp shell. Sure would like to know what was biting!

 

[wavrider]

Re: Fishing in the St Johns River in Jax

Pull the heads off of those shrimp, peel the scales off and hook it on your hook, you will catch them little bait stealers
Most likely pin fish, catch you half a dozen then run to the channel
Drum point or wherever you prefer to fish at.

Put the pinfish on a 2/0 hook and good stout rod and use it for bait.

Never know what you will get but something big for sure.

 

[KeyWestBoater]

Re: Fishing in the St Johns River in Jax

Thanks Wavrider. I will try that next time when the weather is better. By the way, to ask a dumb question. How big is a pinfish?

I hope to try the intercoastal real soon too!

Have you had a luck with a beetlespinner? I heard some good things about it (in the creeks).

 

[wavrider]

Re: Fishing in the St Johns River in Jax

Thanks Wavrider. I will try that next time when the weather is better. By the way, to ask a dumb question. How big is a pinfish?

I hope to try the intercoastal real soon too!

Have you had a luck with a beetlespinner? I heard some good things about it (in the creeks).

sorry so late to answer your question, been busy with work and new contracts

pin fish about size of a blue gill more or less

beetle spins, good reports i have read of them for freshwater,

do a google asearch for fishing reports and fishing forecasts, there are tons of them for FL, lots of good reading and will give you some insight on the river, I plan on hitting the shands bridge in greencove the weekend of the 26th and 27th to enjoy some of the river

 

[jdp8488]

Re: Fishing in the St Johns River in Jax

when you go to fish the intercoastal, go dead low tide, find you a creek running off the main channel, and when the tide starts commin in, throw a live shrimp on a floater right on the edge of some oyster beds and let it drift a a long your boat, you will get a hit everytime you toss it in the water. you will catch tons of reds doing this. when tides high and starts movin out, just sit off edge of creek that is pooring off of a flat and throw whatever you want out there, reds set up and wait for bait to come off the flats and out of grass.

 

[jaxbasser35]

Re: Fishing in the St Johns River in Jax

it all depend on if your targeting a specific species. if your goin out just to catch any fish that will bite . id use dead shrimp and get it fresh grey in color not pink. just about any fish will hit shrimp around this area