June inshore/nearshore fishing report Jacksonville area waters

Conditions continue to change in our local waters. The ocean water is now about 77-79 degrees. We have had a long dry spell and the salt water has moved far up the St Johns River. The trout and reds have now disbursed 20 to 30 miles up the river and can be caught in the Mandarin, Switzerland, and Green Cove Springs areas on the flats and around docks. Also, the creeks have warmed up considerably. Yesterday, the creek I was in was 90 degrees. Try early and late in the creeks for best results.

We had a good run of flounder moving from their wintering grounds offshore to their bait rich inshore summer haunts over the past few weeks with some banner days being had at the Mayport jetties, St Augustine Jetties, and the rocks at Nassau Sound. These flounder averaged 2-4lbs with some reports of 10lb doormats also being caught. Try a jig and finger mullet or mud minnow, or rig them on a fish finder for best results.

While fishing for flounder, we have had substantial incidental catches of speckled trout, redfish, jacks and ladyfish. Last week two of my charters even pulled up octopii out of the rocks! The spanish mackerel were thick a couple of weeks ago, however, the big schools seem to have moved on north.

There are some schools of slot and oversize reds feeding around the jetties when you can find them. When you do find them, double and even triple hook-ups are not uncommon. One of my inland customers hooked into what he thought was a nice red only to be surprized by a tarpon in the 20lb class tail walking behind the boat. With considerable luck, he landed this fish and got the coveted photo for back home bragging rights.

The king mackerel tournaments have begun, and the slow trollers are a daily sight along our beaches. Several kings have already been caught off the Jacksonville Beach pier. Surf fishing has been slow for me lately, but I keep trying.

See you on the water!

CAPT Bob

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