St. Augustine Early Summer Bite: Reds, Trout, and Flounder on the Incoming Tide

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your St. Augustine fishing report. We’ve got a classic First Coast setup this morning. Around St. Augustine Inlet and the Intracoastal, the tide is running a typical early-summer cycle: an early-morning low pushing into a strong midmorning incoming, then a decent afternoon high before easing out this evening. That incoming water is your money window around the inlet jetties, Vilano Bridge, and the creek mouths north and south of town. Weather-wise, expect warm, muggy air, light to moderate onshore breeze, and the usual chance of a pop-up storm in the afternoon. Skies are partly cloudy, with enough sun to get the bait flashing in the water. Sunrise comes early over the ocean and sunset is late enough to give you a prime evening bite on the flats and docks. Inshore, fish activity has been good. Local dock talk and bait shop chatter around town say redfish and speckled trout are chewing early and late, with decent numbers of flounder showing along the ICW drop-offs and creek mouths. The reds have been cruising flooded grass edges on the higher stages of the tide, and slot-sized fish are still coming from oyster bars and deeper bends in creeks like Moses Creek, Pellicer, and the cuts behind Vilano. Trout reports are steady along deeper ICW edges and around lighted docks at night. Best lures right now: - For trout and slot reds at daybreak, walk-the-dog topwaters in bone or mullet patterns. - As the sun climbs, switch to 3–4 inch paddle tails and jerk shads in new penny, silver mullet, or natural green on 1/8 to 1/4 ounce jig heads. - For flounder, go with a low-and-slow presentation: small paddle tails or Gulp-style shrimp hugged tight to the bottom. Best natural bait: - Live shrimp under a popping cork along ICW edges and creek mouths. - Finger mullet and mud minnows on a fish-finder rig or jig head near structure for reds and flounder. - Cut mullet or ladyfish around dock pilings and oyster bars will draw the bigger reds. Off the beach and nearshore when seas let you get out, folks have been picking at king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and the occasional cobia along bait pods and near the local wrecks and reefs. Slow-trolled live pogies and sardines are doing work, with spoons and small dusters picking up Spanish and smaller kings. Expect that nearshore bite to turn on when the bait stacks up tight to the beach with clean green water. A couple of local hot spots to keep in mind: - St. Augustine Inlet jetties: great for reds, trout, sheepshead, and the odd snook or tarpon later in the season when the tide is moving hard. - The ICW stretch from the 312 Bridge south toward the 206 Bridge: plenty of creek mouths, docks, and oyster bars holding redfish, trout, and flounder on those moving tides. Remember, adjust to the tide and water clarity: lighter leaders and more natural colors in clear water, bump up your leader and go darker or more flashy when it’s dirty. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn