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St. Augustine Fishing Report: Reds, Trout, and Dredging Updates for Early October
Published 7 months ago
Description
Artificial Lure here, checking in with your October 1st St. Augustine fishing report—local knowledge, fresh bites, and all the need-to-know news for the day!
We’re looking at a textbook early-October morning—temps hanging in the mid-70s at dawn, with highs expected in the low 80s and only a slight NE breeze. The air’s got that fall crispness the redfish love, and we’re in for a mostly clear sky. According to Tide-Forecast.com, today’s sunrise slid up at 7:18 AM, with sunset set for 7:10 PM. Your high tides run 3:23 AM and 3:54 PM, both offering strong moving water, while the lows hit around 9:28 AM and again just after dark at 10:32 PM.
Now, with the Salt Run channel getting dredged this month, per Action News Jax, expect clearer, deeper cuts opening up around the Lighthouse Park Boat Ramp and on out to the Inlet. This means fresher water exchange around Anastasia State Park and Salt Run, making those zones even more fishy than usual.
Onto what’s biting: Redfish are still thick, especially around high tide edges, grasslines, and oyster mounds. The “rat reds” are schooling up, but some nice slot and over-slot fish are mixed in, too. Flounder are picking up on moving water near docks and sandy drop-offs, and speckled trout are staging at the mouths of creeks, getting more active with the cooler weather. Word from the guides is also that a few bull reds have been hooked in the inlet—fall run is on!
Recent catches reported on Captain Experiences back up what we’re seeing—anglers this week have been pulling reds, trout, and even a bonus black drum or two, mostly during the first couple of hours after sunrise or right before sunset. Folks are saying it’s “more catching than fishing” right now.
Best baits and lures: Live shrimp is always a killer, drifted under a popping cork around creek mouths or grasslines. Mud minnows and finger mullet are top picks for flounder and reds if you can net ’em fresh. If you’re working artificials, tie on a 4-inch paddle tail in new penny or root beer, rigged on a quarter-ounce jighead—redfish and trout will slam it, especially on the outgoing tide. Topwaters like a Super Spook Jr. at first light can produce explosive strikes from both trout and reds in the shallows.
For hot spots, here’s where I’d point ya:
- The flats behind Salt Run and the adjacent creek mouths—structure and good tidal flow, plus less traffic with the dredging work.
- The Vilano north jetty rocks are holding big reds, especially during late afternoon incoming tides. Fish the deeper holes near the rocks for your best shot at a bull.
- The Matanzas River drop-offs near the 312 bridge are steady for trout and mixed bag action late in the day.
Remember, with the dredging in Salt Run, stay mindful of navigational markers and other boat traffic—give folks working the project a wide berth.
Thanks for tuning in to your St. Augustine fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe for daily updates and all things local angling. 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
We’re looking at a textbook early-October morning—temps hanging in the mid-70s at dawn, with highs expected in the low 80s and only a slight NE breeze. The air’s got that fall crispness the redfish love, and we’re in for a mostly clear sky. According to Tide-Forecast.com, today’s sunrise slid up at 7:18 AM, with sunset set for 7:10 PM. Your high tides run 3:23 AM and 3:54 PM, both offering strong moving water, while the lows hit around 9:28 AM and again just after dark at 10:32 PM.
Now, with the Salt Run channel getting dredged this month, per Action News Jax, expect clearer, deeper cuts opening up around the Lighthouse Park Boat Ramp and on out to the Inlet. This means fresher water exchange around Anastasia State Park and Salt Run, making those zones even more fishy than usual.
Onto what’s biting: Redfish are still thick, especially around high tide edges, grasslines, and oyster mounds. The “rat reds” are schooling up, but some nice slot and over-slot fish are mixed in, too. Flounder are picking up on moving water near docks and sandy drop-offs, and speckled trout are staging at the mouths of creeks, getting more active with the cooler weather. Word from the guides is also that a few bull reds have been hooked in the inlet—fall run is on!
Recent catches reported on Captain Experiences back up what we’re seeing—anglers this week have been pulling reds, trout, and even a bonus black drum or two, mostly during the first couple of hours after sunrise or right before sunset. Folks are saying it’s “more catching than fishing” right now.
Best baits and lures: Live shrimp is always a killer, drifted under a popping cork around creek mouths or grasslines. Mud minnows and finger mullet are top picks for flounder and reds if you can net ’em fresh. If you’re working artificials, tie on a 4-inch paddle tail in new penny or root beer, rigged on a quarter-ounce jighead—redfish and trout will slam it, especially on the outgoing tide. Topwaters like a Super Spook Jr. at first light can produce explosive strikes from both trout and reds in the shallows.
For hot spots, here’s where I’d point ya:
- The flats behind Salt Run and the adjacent creek mouths—structure and good tidal flow, plus less traffic with the dredging work.
- The Vilano north jetty rocks are holding big reds, especially during late afternoon incoming tides. Fish the deeper holes near the rocks for your best shot at a bull.
- The Matanzas River drop-offs near the 312 bridge are steady for trout and mixed bag action late in the day.
Remember, with the dredging in Salt Run, stay mindful of navigational markers and other boat traffic—give folks working the project a wide berth.
Thanks for tuning in to your St. Augustine fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe for daily updates and all things local angling. 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