Oct inshore/nearshore report for Jacksonville area waters

Florida Fishing Report for:
Intracoastal Waterway, St Johns River and Nearshore Waters from Fernandina to Saint Augustine
Updated: October 08, 2006.
We are in a transition period now between summer and fall, and a northeaster is blowing as I write this. The water temperatures are starting to drop a little and were 77 to 79 degrees yesterday.

The bull reds are staging way up the St Johns River near Dames Point and Blount Island. Normally, they would be out on the sand flats north and south of the jetty tips by this time. The consensus is that our lack of rain thus far has something to do with it. They can still be caught using blue crab baits fished along the channel roll down. Slot size fish are in the creeks and surf following the mullet run. A couple of weeks ago some friends and I caught nine in the surf on live mullet and Storm wild eye shad lures. The high spring tides associated with our current full moon also provide opportunities to catch tailing reds and sheephead on the grass flats.

Finger and corn cob size mullet are streaming out of area inlets with tarpon, sharks, bluefish, jacks, flounder and redfish hot on thier heels. There are also some nice speckled trout shadowing the mullet. This is probably the last good chance to catch a tarpon as they will be moving south with the mullet and pogies and falling water temperatures. The flounder fishing is only going to get better as the temperatures drop and the mullet run continues.

There are also some good size spanish mackerel around the jetty tips. Troll or cast for them with small spoons, diving plugs, or shiny flies.

Good fishing!

CAPT Bob -- Captain Bob's Fishing Charters,Inc. [url]http://www.captainbobsfishingcharters.com[/url]