UTERWeakfish fishing in The First Coast
In The First Coast, weakfish peak November–April and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: The St. Johns and Nassau River deep holes in winter.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Weakfish in The First Coast, month by month
- JanuaryPeakThe St. Johns and Nassau River deep holes in winter.
- FebruaryPeak
- MarchPeak
- AprilPeak
- MayAround
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberAround
- NovemberPeak
- DecemberPeak
Where to fish weakfish 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 221 fishing pier, 51 bridge, 5 pass / inlet spots in the The First Coast map area — the kinds weakfish hold on.
What to use for weakfish
- 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.
- Mud minnows (killifish)Lip-hooked on a jig head or a 1/0 hook dragged along the bottom — the flounder bait.
- BloodwormsA piece threaded on a #2 to 2/0 hook on a hi-lo or fish-finder rig — the striper, spot, croaker and white perch bait of the Chesapeake and the surf.
- Sand eelsFree-lined or on a light jig head for stripers, fluke and bluefish; strips teased on a fluke rig.
- Leader20–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#1–4/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 55–80°F water, best at 60–74°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch weakfish in The First Coast?
Peak season is November–April. Weakfish are here year-round. January: The St. Johns and Nassau River deep holes in winter.
Where do weakfish hold in The First Coast?
Look on channel edge, pass / inlet, bridge — around Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Mayport, Fernandina Beach.
What is the best bait for weakfish in The First Coast?
Live bait: live shrimp, mud minnows (killifish), bloodworms, sand eels. 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 20–40 lb fluorocarbon, hook #1–4/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
What are the rules for weakfish 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/.
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All about weakfish · The First Coast, the whole year