UTERTarpon fishing in The First Coast
In The First Coast, tarpon peak June–September and are around May–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: The Mayport tarpon fishery — pogy pods at the jetties and along the beach to Nassau Sound.
Leaving with the mullet — the first northeaster ends it.
Tarpon in The First Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayArrivingFirst fish at the St. Johns river mouth and the Mayport jetties.
- JunePeakThe Mayport tarpon fishery — pogy pods at the jetties and along the beach to Nassau Sound.
- JulyPeakPeak: tarpon on the pogy schools off the beach and at the jetties; live pogy on a circle hook.
- AugustPeakStill on the beach pods; fish push into the St. Johns and Nassau Sound.
- SeptemberPeakThe mullet run starts; tarpon behind it heading south.
- OctoberLeavingLeaving with the mullet — the first northeaster ends it.
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish tarpon 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 51 bridge, 18 beach / surf, 5 pass / inlet spots in the The First Coast map area — the kinds tarpon hold on.
What to use for tarpon
- Blue crabsWhole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia.
- Threadfin herring (greenbacks)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined, or slow-trolled. Fragile — handle them wet and fast.
- 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.
- Leader50–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook5/0–8/0
- Jig head1–1 1/4 oz
- Braid40–65 lb
Feeds in 74–90°F water, best at 78–86°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch tarpon in The First Coast?
Peak season is June–September. Tarpon are in The First Coast May–October. June: The Mayport tarpon fishery — pogy pods at the jetties and along the beach to Nassau Sound.
Where do tarpon hold in The First Coast?
Look on pass / inlet, beach / surf, bridge, channel edge — around Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Mayport, Fernandina Beach.
What is the best bait for tarpon in The First Coast?
Live bait: blue crabs, threadfin herring (greenbacks), pilchards (whitebait), finger mullet. Blue crabs: Whole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia. Tackle: leader 50–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 5/0–8/0, jig head 1–1 1/4 oz, braid 40–65 lb.
What are the rules for tarpon 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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