UTERMangrove snapper fishing in The First Coast
In The First Coast, mangrove snapper peak June–September and are around April–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: Summer fish on the jetties and the nearshore reefs.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Mangrove snapper in The First Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilAround
- MayArriving
- 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 fish on the jetties and the nearshore reefs.
- 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.
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberAround
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish mangrove snapper 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, 191 wreck, 130 artificial reef, 79 mangrove shoreline, 51 bridge, 43 ledge / hard bottom spots in the The First Coast map area — the kinds mangrove snapper hold on.
What to use for mangrove snapper
- Live shrimpUnder a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait.
- 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.
- 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.
- SquidStrips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig.
- Leader15–30 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#1–2/0
- Jig head1/8–1/4 oz
- Braid10–20 lb
Feeds in 68–90°F water, best at 74–86°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch mangrove snapper in The First Coast?
Peak season is June–September. Mangrove snapper are in The First Coast April–October. July: Summer fish on the jetties and the nearshore reefs.
Where do mangrove snapper hold in The First Coast?
Look on artificial reef, wreck, bridge, dock / pilings — around Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Mayport, Fernandina Beach.
What is the best bait for mangrove snapper in The First Coast?
Live bait: live shrimp, pilchards (whitebait), pinfish, squid. Live shrimp: Under a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait. Tackle: leader 15–30 lb fluorocarbon, hook #1–2/0, jig head 1/8–1/4 oz, braid 10–20 lb.
What are the rules for mangrove snapper 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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