UTERJack crevalle fishing in The First Coast
In The First Coast, jack crevalle peak June–October and are around May–November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. September: Behind the mullet on the beach.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Jack crevalle in The First Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayArrivingKings, cobia and tarpon off the jetties; reds and trout in the marsh. Big kings and cobia on the reefs and the Mayport jetties; the first tarpon at the river mouth; reds and trout on the creek mouths on the outgoing.
- JunePeakTarpon at the jetties; reds in the flooded grass; flounder on the drops. The Mayport tarpon fishery — pogies at the jetties and along the beach. Reds up in the spartina on the top of the tide, flounder on the creek drops.
- JulyPeakSummer: jetty tarpon and bull reds, marsh reds on the high water. Tarpon and bull reds at the jetties on live pogies; marsh reds in the grass on the flood; trout early on the ICW points.
- AugustPeakBull reds stack in the river; tarpon on the beach. Big bull reds in the St. Johns and off the jetties as the spawn approaches; tarpon on the beach bait pods; flounder on the drops.
- SeptemberPeakBehind the mullet on the beach.
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberLeaving
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish jack crevalle near Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, Jacksonville
Spartina marsh, oyster-lined creeks and the Intracoastal from Ponce Inlet to the Georgia line, the St. Johns River and the Mayport jetties, St. Augustine and Matanzas inlets, and the beaches. More like Georgia's lowcountry than the rest of Florida.
Fish Scouter charts 351 dock / pilings, 233 grass flat, 51 bridge, 18 beach / surf, 5 pass / inlet spots in the The First Coast map area — the kinds jack crevalle hold on.
What to use for jack crevalle
- Pilchards (whitebait)Free-lined or under a cork, hooked through the nose on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook. The one bait that catches everything inshore.
- Finger mulletLip-hooked on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook and free-lined, or on a fish-finder rig in the surf. Cut mullet on the bottom for redfish and drum.
- PinfishHooked through the back ahead of the dorsal on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook; the small ones free-lined, the big ones on a fish-finder rig.
- Leader30–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook3/0–5/0
- Jig head1/2–1 oz
- Braid20–30 lb
Feeds in 66–92°F water, best at 72–88°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch jack crevalle in The First Coast?
Peak season is June–October. Jack crevalle are in The First Coast May–November. September: Behind the mullet on the beach.
Where do jack crevalle hold in The First Coast?
Look on pass / inlet, beach / surf, grass flat, dock / pilings, bridge, channel edge — around Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Mayport, Fernandina Beach.
What is the best bait for jack crevalle in The First Coast?
Live bait: pilchards (whitebait), finger mullet, pinfish. Pilchards (whitebait): Free-lined or under a cork, hooked through the nose on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook. The one bait that catches everything inshore. Tackle: leader 30–40 lb fluorocarbon, hook 3/0–5/0, jig head 1/2–1 oz, braid 20–30 lb.
What are the rules for jack crevalle in The First Coast?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and change — read the current rule at https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/ before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
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