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St. Augustine Fishing Report: Fall Mullet Run, Reds, Trout, and More
Published 7 months, 1 week ago
Description
Good morning, fishin’ friends — this is Artificial Lure bringing you your St. Augustine area fishing report for September 20, 2025.
Sun popped up at 7:12 and it’ll dip out around 7:24 tonight, giving us over 12 hours of daylight and prime bite windows. According to Tides4Fishing, we’ve got a high tidal coefficient of 88 today — that means we’re looking at strong tide swings and currents, just the way we like it for stirring up the action. Here’s the run-down: low tide came through early morning around 3:03 am, and the next high tide is set for 8:53 am at just about 5.0 feet. Another low hits at 3:18 pm, then high water again at 9:17 pm. Currents will be moving quick through the creeks and inlets, especially around those turns, so set up where the water dumps into deeper channels — that’s your best bet for an ambush[1].
Weather’s looking typical for late September — the morning started muggy and will heat up fast, so expect a south breeze and scattered clouds. These conditions keep the bait tight against the banks early, but by mid-morning and dusk, you’ll see mullet and shrimp schools pushing out onto the flats and oyster bars. According to recent Spreaker and local shop reports, the fall mullet run is in full swing right now and the predators are right behind ‘em[6].
Reds are thick in the ICW and especially around the mouths of Salt Run and Vilano flats. Live mullet or finger mullet is king right now, but if artificial’s your thing, tie on a soft plastic paddle tail in pearl or opening night. Fishbites Fish'n Strips in shrimp flavor and chartreuse, made right here in St. Augustine, have been deadly on slot reds, trout, and even the occasional flounder around structure[3]. Early risers drifting the banks of the Matanzas River have pulled nice seatrout on topwaters before the sun gets high. Top morning producers have been Skitterwalks and Spook Juniors, especially in bone and mullet colors.
Sheepshead are chewing around the pilings and docks — fiddler crabs or a chunk of fresh shrimp on a split shot rig will do the trick.
Out on the beach, folks are seeing pompano pushing through on the higher tides, so pop a sand flea or chartreuse Fishbites onto a pompano rig and toss it just behind the breakers. The jetties and St. Augustine Inlet are loaded with jacks and ladyfish chasing glass minnows; throw a gold spoon or bucktail to get hooked up.
If you’re looking for a couple of proven hot spots, give these a try:
- Salt Run near the Conch House: redfish and trout early, flounder at slack tides.
- Vilano Bridge and north flats: solid seatrout and plenty of schoolie reds on both live and artificial.
- Matanzas Inlet rocks: sheepshead and drum on the turn of the tide.
Recent catches have been heavy on slot reds, scattered overslot snook, some nice trout up to 24 inches, and even a surprise tarpon in the mix at the inlet this week. If you’re after action and fun, there’s plenty to go around.
Grab your light spinning gear, a mix of live baits and artificials, and prepare to chase the outgoing’s edge and work the creek mouths hard till that tide flips. There’s no place like St. Augustine this time of year, y’all.
Thanks for tuning in — don’t forget to subscribe for your daily local fishing fix. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
Sun popped up at 7:12 and it’ll dip out around 7:24 tonight, giving us over 12 hours of daylight and prime bite windows. According to Tides4Fishing, we’ve got a high tidal coefficient of 88 today — that means we’re looking at strong tide swings and currents, just the way we like it for stirring up the action. Here’s the run-down: low tide came through early morning around 3:03 am, and the next high tide is set for 8:53 am at just about 5.0 feet. Another low hits at 3:18 pm, then high water again at 9:17 pm. Currents will be moving quick through the creeks and inlets, especially around those turns, so set up where the water dumps into deeper channels — that’s your best bet for an ambush[1].
Weather’s looking typical for late September — the morning started muggy and will heat up fast, so expect a south breeze and scattered clouds. These conditions keep the bait tight against the banks early, but by mid-morning and dusk, you’ll see mullet and shrimp schools pushing out onto the flats and oyster bars. According to recent Spreaker and local shop reports, the fall mullet run is in full swing right now and the predators are right behind ‘em[6].
Reds are thick in the ICW and especially around the mouths of Salt Run and Vilano flats. Live mullet or finger mullet is king right now, but if artificial’s your thing, tie on a soft plastic paddle tail in pearl or opening night. Fishbites Fish'n Strips in shrimp flavor and chartreuse, made right here in St. Augustine, have been deadly on slot reds, trout, and even the occasional flounder around structure[3]. Early risers drifting the banks of the Matanzas River have pulled nice seatrout on topwaters before the sun gets high. Top morning producers have been Skitterwalks and Spook Juniors, especially in bone and mullet colors.
Sheepshead are chewing around the pilings and docks — fiddler crabs or a chunk of fresh shrimp on a split shot rig will do the trick.
Out on the beach, folks are seeing pompano pushing through on the higher tides, so pop a sand flea or chartreuse Fishbites onto a pompano rig and toss it just behind the breakers. The jetties and St. Augustine Inlet are loaded with jacks and ladyfish chasing glass minnows; throw a gold spoon or bucktail to get hooked up.
If you’re looking for a couple of proven hot spots, give these a try:
- Salt Run near the Conch House: redfish and trout early, flounder at slack tides.
- Vilano Bridge and north flats: solid seatrout and plenty of schoolie reds on both live and artificial.
- Matanzas Inlet rocks: sheepshead and drum on the turn of the tide.
Recent catches have been heavy on slot reds, scattered overslot snook, some nice trout up to 24 inches, and even a surprise tarpon in the mix at the inlet this week. If you’re after action and fun, there’s plenty to go around.
Grab your light spinning gear, a mix of live baits and artificials, and prepare to chase the outgoing’s edge and work the creek mouths hard till that tide flips. There’s no place like St. Augustine this time of year, y’all.
Thanks for tuning in — don’t forget to subscribe for your daily local fishing fix. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI