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St. Augustine Fishing Report: Reds, Trout, and Offshore Action
Published 7 months ago
Description
This is Artificial Lure coming to you with your Sunday, September 28th, 2025 fishing report for the St. Augustine waters—let’s get you on the bite.
Sunrise hit at 7:00 AM, giving us a glassy, golden start with sunset coming up around 7:50 PM. Weather-wise, we’re sitting pretty as the day unfolds—calm winds out of the northeast and seasonal temps keeping things comfortable for anglers and fish alike.
Tides are in our favor today: high tide rolled through at 12:41 AM at about 4 feet, with low tide swinging in at 7:31 AM at around 1.03 feet, then another high at 1:56 PM near 4.57 feet. That means the outgoing tide early should have stirred up bait and activity along the flats and creek mouths, while the incoming tide after lunch bodes well for that afternoon bite near structure according to tideschart.com and tide-forecast.com.
Now for the hot action—it’s been a banner week across the inshore and just-offshore zones. Redfish are thick in the shallows, especially around Vilano flats and the Matanzas Inlet. Early risers tossing live shrimp or finger mullet under a popping cork are finding upper-slot reds. If you’re an artificial enthusiast, a gold spoon or paddle tail in “electric chicken” color is fooling plenty of hungry fish. Topwater action at sun-up has been hot—just remember to work it slow along those grassy edges.
Trout are still holding on the deeper edges of the ICW drop offs—we heard from local guides and Fishing Booker reviews that MirrOlure suspending plugs are cash money right now, especially in “mirrored mullet” colors. Live shrimp on a jig is putting limit numbers in the cooler.
Flounder reports continue to improve, with a fair number picked up on mud minnows bounced along sandy drop-offs near the Bridge of Lions and under docks in Salt Run. Gulp Swimming Mullet in white or pink is always reliable this time of year.
Offshore, charters have been hauling in king and Spanish mackerel, cobia, a surprising run of mahi (dolphin), and even some good snapper action on the reefs between 15–30 miles out. Sardines and cigar minnows—either live or fresh dead—are the bait of choice. For lures, try trolling with blue/white or pink/white skirted ballyhoo or deep-diving plugs. Vertical jigs are picking up the scattered amberjack when you mark them on the wrecks. Captains report that calm seas have made this a banner week for bottom dwellers—check Gator Bowl and Nine Mile Reef if you’re heading east.
Sheepshead are starting to show up more around the jetty rocks, responding well to fiddler crabs and small crabs on a knocker rig.
For hot spots today:
- **Vilano Flats** for early-morning redfish and trout
- **Matanzas Inlet** outgoing tides for reds and flounder
- **Salt Run docks** for flounder and sheepshead
- **Nine Mile Reef** for snapper, triggerfish, and a chance at kingfish
To wrap up: today’s prime baits are live shrimp, finger mullet, mud minnows, and fiddler crabs. Best artificials are gold spoons, “electric chicken” and white paddle tails, MirrOlure suspending plugs, and topwater walkers for that early bite.
Thanks for tuning in to the St. Augustine fishing report with Artificial Lure. Don’t forget to subscribe for daily updates, hot tips, and all the inside info you need for your next trip.
This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please 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
Sunrise hit at 7:00 AM, giving us a glassy, golden start with sunset coming up around 7:50 PM. Weather-wise, we’re sitting pretty as the day unfolds—calm winds out of the northeast and seasonal temps keeping things comfortable for anglers and fish alike.
Tides are in our favor today: high tide rolled through at 12:41 AM at about 4 feet, with low tide swinging in at 7:31 AM at around 1.03 feet, then another high at 1:56 PM near 4.57 feet. That means the outgoing tide early should have stirred up bait and activity along the flats and creek mouths, while the incoming tide after lunch bodes well for that afternoon bite near structure according to tideschart.com and tide-forecast.com.
Now for the hot action—it’s been a banner week across the inshore and just-offshore zones. Redfish are thick in the shallows, especially around Vilano flats and the Matanzas Inlet. Early risers tossing live shrimp or finger mullet under a popping cork are finding upper-slot reds. If you’re an artificial enthusiast, a gold spoon or paddle tail in “electric chicken” color is fooling plenty of hungry fish. Topwater action at sun-up has been hot—just remember to work it slow along those grassy edges.
Trout are still holding on the deeper edges of the ICW drop offs—we heard from local guides and Fishing Booker reviews that MirrOlure suspending plugs are cash money right now, especially in “mirrored mullet” colors. Live shrimp on a jig is putting limit numbers in the cooler.
Flounder reports continue to improve, with a fair number picked up on mud minnows bounced along sandy drop-offs near the Bridge of Lions and under docks in Salt Run. Gulp Swimming Mullet in white or pink is always reliable this time of year.
Offshore, charters have been hauling in king and Spanish mackerel, cobia, a surprising run of mahi (dolphin), and even some good snapper action on the reefs between 15–30 miles out. Sardines and cigar minnows—either live or fresh dead—are the bait of choice. For lures, try trolling with blue/white or pink/white skirted ballyhoo or deep-diving plugs. Vertical jigs are picking up the scattered amberjack when you mark them on the wrecks. Captains report that calm seas have made this a banner week for bottom dwellers—check Gator Bowl and Nine Mile Reef if you’re heading east.
Sheepshead are starting to show up more around the jetty rocks, responding well to fiddler crabs and small crabs on a knocker rig.
For hot spots today:
- **Vilano Flats** for early-morning redfish and trout
- **Matanzas Inlet** outgoing tides for reds and flounder
- **Salt Run docks** for flounder and sheepshead
- **Nine Mile Reef** for snapper, triggerfish, and a chance at kingfish
To wrap up: today’s prime baits are live shrimp, finger mullet, mud minnows, and fiddler crabs. Best artificials are gold spoons, “electric chicken” and white paddle tails, MirrOlure suspending plugs, and topwater walkers for that early bite.
Thanks for tuning in to the St. Augustine fishing report with Artificial Lure. Don’t forget to subscribe for daily updates, hot tips, and all the inside info you need for your next trip.
This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please 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