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St. Augustine Fishing Report: Sheepshead, Trout, and Offshore Action on the Rise
Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your St. Augustine fishing report for this beautiful Saturday morning, May 3rd, 2025.
We're looking at typical early May conditions with temperatures starting to warm up nicely. The water's sitting around 65-70 degrees, which has the fish getting more active. Today we've got some moderate chop with winds running about 15 to 20 knots from the northeast, and seas 3 to 5 feet. Not ideal but definitely fishable inshore.
The big news is that the sheepshead have finally started showing up in decent numbers, mostly in the river. If you're heading to the jetties, it's been hit or miss lately, so plan accordingly. Folks have been landing some really nice speckled trout using live shrimp, and there have been bonus bull reds mixed in as well.
If you're planning to fish inshore today, the flats around the Intracoastal Waterway are producing well. Captain Tommy Derringer, who knows these shallow waters better than most, has been putting clients on fish consistently in the backcountry estuaries. Live shrimp is the go-to bait right now, but don't overlook artificial shrimp imitations if you're looking to avoid constantly re-baiting.
For those heading offshore, kingfish are starting their summer move closer to shore - they're typically hanging around wrecks and reefs. Mahi-mahi are showing up as the water warms, and you've got your usual reef residents like grouper and snapper. Some folks have been using ballyhoo and sardines with good success in the 80-120 foot range. If you're really lucky, you might run into some blackfin tuna or wahoo.
Hot spots this week: The Matanzas River has been firing for trout and redfish, especially on the incoming tide. The Flagler Beach flats are another good bet if you want to escape some of the weekend crowds. For offshore action, try those nearshore reefs for kingfish and barracuda - they're putting up a real fight right now.
Bait shops are well-stocked with live shrimp, which seems to be the ticket for most inshore species. If you're throwing artificials, gold spoons and jigs with white or chartreuse tails are getting good results.
One last tip from a local - with the tides running strong this weekend, focus on fishing the edges of the current rather than right in the middle of it. The fish are hanging in those seams waiting to ambush bait.
Y'all get out there and enjoy the water. Remember to share your spots but not your honey holes! This is Artificial Lure signing off from St. Augustine - tight lines, friends!
We're looking at typical early May conditions with temperatures starting to warm up nicely. The water's sitting around 65-70 degrees, which has the fish getting more active. Today we've got some moderate chop with winds running about 15 to 20 knots from the northeast, and seas 3 to 5 feet. Not ideal but definitely fishable inshore.
The big news is that the sheepshead have finally started showing up in decent numbers, mostly in the river. If you're heading to the jetties, it's been hit or miss lately, so plan accordingly. Folks have been landing some really nice speckled trout using live shrimp, and there have been bonus bull reds mixed in as well.
If you're planning to fish inshore today, the flats around the Intracoastal Waterway are producing well. Captain Tommy Derringer, who knows these shallow waters better than most, has been putting clients on fish consistently in the backcountry estuaries. Live shrimp is the go-to bait right now, but don't overlook artificial shrimp imitations if you're looking to avoid constantly re-baiting.
For those heading offshore, kingfish are starting their summer move closer to shore - they're typically hanging around wrecks and reefs. Mahi-mahi are showing up as the water warms, and you've got your usual reef residents like grouper and snapper. Some folks have been using ballyhoo and sardines with good success in the 80-120 foot range. If you're really lucky, you might run into some blackfin tuna or wahoo.
Hot spots this week: The Matanzas River has been firing for trout and redfish, especially on the incoming tide. The Flagler Beach flats are another good bet if you want to escape some of the weekend crowds. For offshore action, try those nearshore reefs for kingfish and barracuda - they're putting up a real fight right now.
Bait shops are well-stocked with live shrimp, which seems to be the ticket for most inshore species. If you're throwing artificials, gold spoons and jigs with white or chartreuse tails are getting good results.
One last tip from a local - with the tides running strong this weekend, focus on fishing the edges of the current rather than right in the middle of it. The fish are hanging in those seams waiting to ambush bait.
Y'all get out there and enjoy the water. Remember to share your spots but not your honey holes! This is Artificial Lure signing off from St. Augustine - tight lines, friends!
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By Quiet. PleaseHey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your St. Augustine fishing report for this beautiful Saturday morning, May 3rd, 2025.
We're looking at typical early May conditions with temperatures starting to warm up nicely. The water's sitting around 65-70 degrees, which has the fish getting more active. Today we've got some moderate chop with winds running about 15 to 20 knots from the northeast, and seas 3 to 5 feet. Not ideal but definitely fishable inshore.
The big news is that the sheepshead have finally started showing up in decent numbers, mostly in the river. If you're heading to the jetties, it's been hit or miss lately, so plan accordingly. Folks have been landing some really nice speckled trout using live shrimp, and there have been bonus bull reds mixed in as well.
If you're planning to fish inshore today, the flats around the Intracoastal Waterway are producing well. Captain Tommy Derringer, who knows these shallow waters better than most, has been putting clients on fish consistently in the backcountry estuaries. Live shrimp is the go-to bait right now, but don't overlook artificial shrimp imitations if you're looking to avoid constantly re-baiting.
For those heading offshore, kingfish are starting their summer move closer to shore - they're typically hanging around wrecks and reefs. Mahi-mahi are showing up as the water warms, and you've got your usual reef residents like grouper and snapper. Some folks have been using ballyhoo and sardines with good success in the 80-120 foot range. If you're really lucky, you might run into some blackfin tuna or wahoo.
Hot spots this week: The Matanzas River has been firing for trout and redfish, especially on the incoming tide. The Flagler Beach flats are another good bet if you want to escape some of the weekend crowds. For offshore action, try those nearshore reefs for kingfish and barracuda - they're putting up a real fight right now.
Bait shops are well-stocked with live shrimp, which seems to be the ticket for most inshore species. If you're throwing artificials, gold spoons and jigs with white or chartreuse tails are getting good results.
One last tip from a local - with the tides running strong this weekend, focus on fishing the edges of the current rather than right in the middle of it. The fish are hanging in those seams waiting to ambush bait.
Y'all get out there and enjoy the water. Remember to share your spots but not your honey holes! This is Artificial Lure signing off from St. Augustine - tight lines, friends!
We're looking at typical early May conditions with temperatures starting to warm up nicely. The water's sitting around 65-70 degrees, which has the fish getting more active. Today we've got some moderate chop with winds running about 15 to 20 knots from the northeast, and seas 3 to 5 feet. Not ideal but definitely fishable inshore.
The big news is that the sheepshead have finally started showing up in decent numbers, mostly in the river. If you're heading to the jetties, it's been hit or miss lately, so plan accordingly. Folks have been landing some really nice speckled trout using live shrimp, and there have been bonus bull reds mixed in as well.
If you're planning to fish inshore today, the flats around the Intracoastal Waterway are producing well. Captain Tommy Derringer, who knows these shallow waters better than most, has been putting clients on fish consistently in the backcountry estuaries. Live shrimp is the go-to bait right now, but don't overlook artificial shrimp imitations if you're looking to avoid constantly re-baiting.
For those heading offshore, kingfish are starting their summer move closer to shore - they're typically hanging around wrecks and reefs. Mahi-mahi are showing up as the water warms, and you've got your usual reef residents like grouper and snapper. Some folks have been using ballyhoo and sardines with good success in the 80-120 foot range. If you're really lucky, you might run into some blackfin tuna or wahoo.
Hot spots this week: The Matanzas River has been firing for trout and redfish, especially on the incoming tide. The Flagler Beach flats are another good bet if you want to escape some of the weekend crowds. For offshore action, try those nearshore reefs for kingfish and barracuda - they're putting up a real fight right now.
Bait shops are well-stocked with live shrimp, which seems to be the ticket for most inshore species. If you're throwing artificials, gold spoons and jigs with white or chartreuse tails are getting good results.
One last tip from a local - with the tides running strong this weekend, focus on fishing the edges of the current rather than right in the middle of it. The fish are hanging in those seams waiting to ambush bait.
Y'all get out there and enjoy the water. Remember to share your spots but not your honey holes! This is Artificial Lure signing off from St. Augustine - tight lines, friends!