One area that traditionally holds a constant supply of fish is the ICW from the St. Johns River south to the bridge over J. Turner Butler Boulevard. The outgoing tide down to low and the first hour or so of the incoming tide is best. Ideally, the days when these tides occur in the morning are better.
In the St. Augustine area, the waters around Pine Island are usually hot on the same outgoing tide scenario.
Baits for First Coast redfish include live shrimp, mud minnows, finger mullet, small blue crabs, fiddler crabs, and even cut bait at times. Most guides in the area like to use a plain jig head with one of these baits. The weight of the jig is dependent on the water depth and strength of the current. They use the smallest weight necessary to get the bait down. On the jetties, it’s a bottom fishing game. In the ICW, slow rolling a jig with the current or a very slow retrieve across the mud bottom close to the bank both work well.
Artificial baits include grub tail jigs, small bucktail jigs, Johnson spoons, and even some topwater bass plugs. Most artificial angling is done in the creeks and on the flats in shallower water.
Fly rodders have great success on reds in the creeks and on the flats. Small crabs, shrimp, Clousers, and Deceivers all work well on feeding reds. You’ll need to be in the creeks or on the flats on a high tide.
Redfish angling on Florida’s First Coast is as good as it gets, and getting better every year. If you plan to use a guide, try giving Captain Kirk Waltz a call at 904-241-7560, or if you are in the St. Augustine area, contact Captain Kevin Faver at 904-829-0027. Either of them can put you on some really big redfish in June.
