20 fishing spots · Florida
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St. Johns County is Northeast Florida's most productive saltwater fishing destination, offering world-class inshore access at two legendary tidal inlets — St. Augustine Inlet and Matanzas Inlet. The St. Augustine Inlet, framed by the historic Anastasia Island, serves as a natural fish highway connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Tolomato and Matanzas Rivers. Redfish, Flounder, Spotted Seatrout, Sheepshead, and Black Drum patrol the jetties, oyster bars, and grass flats with every tide change. Tarpon move through the inlet from May through July, and Cobia follow rays in spring. The Matanzas Inlet, 15 miles south of the city, is a more remote but equally productive fishery — its clear waters and strong tidal flow make it a top producer for Trout, Redfish, and inshore species. Sheepshead pack the bridge pilings and inlet jetties throughout winter. Summer brings Flounder to the cuts and channels, and Spanish Mackerel and Bluefish push through in fall. The St. Johns River and its estuary tributaries add a freshwater-saltwater mix that holds additional species including Striped Bass and Largemouth Bass in the upper reaches. For anglers asking 'what kind of fish can you catch in St. Augustine' — the answer is almost everything Florida inshore has to offer.
