Jacksonville sits at the mouth of the St. Johns River with the Atlantic on one side and a hundred miles of marsh, creek, and Intracoastal Waterway on the other. That geography — plus the broader 904 area reaching from Fernandina Beach down past St. Augustine — is why this is one of the best fishing regions in the Southeast. You can land a sheepshead under a bridge downtown, run thirty miles offshore to a wreck for grouper, and grab a fresh fish sandwich on the way home — all in one day. This guide is the one I wish I'd had when I started.
I built our904 to map every spot worth knowing across Jacksonville and the 904 & beyond — what's biting when, what to use, where to grab bait on the way. Free, no ads, no sign-up. Skip ahead to the map below, or read straight through for the lay of the land.
The interactive map is the fastest way to find spots near you across Jacksonville, the 904, and beyond. Tap a pin for the bite forecast, tide, species, nearest ramp, and recommended tackle.
Northeast Florida has a deeper species mix than most Southeast cities. Inshore is the headline because most local anglers fish from shore, kayak, or a small boat — but offshore reefs in 60–90 feet of water sit just a short run east.
The seasonal calendar shows the exact bite intensity for every species, every month — what's hot in November is very different from May.
The full database catalogs 128 spots across NE Florida — from Fernandina Beach down to Crescent Beach. The shortlist by category:
The strongest inshore water is the St. Johns River system feeding into the Intracoastal Waterway running both north and south of the city.
Browse all 128 spots → or open the interactive map for current tides, bite forecast, and a per-spot fish prediction.
Short version: there's always something biting. The long version, month by month:
Sheepshead peak on every piling. Trout in deeper holes. Bull reds at the jetties on the late fall pattern. Cold fronts shut things down briefly, but the fish come back fast once the water rebounds.
Pompano runs in the surf — the local obsession. Spanish mackerel push into the inlets. Sheepshead stay hot through April. The redfish bite improves through spring as water warms past 65°F.
Tarpon at the Mayport jetties — the iconic NE FL fishery. Snook push north into Jacksonville waters and hold around bridges and inlets. Inshore goes off in early mornings before the heat shuts the bite down by 10 a.m. Offshore for kings, mahi, and the Gulf Stream species.
The flounder run — historically the best month for keeper-sized flatties. Bull reds at the jetties. Pompano back in the surf for the second annual run. The whole estuary is on fire as bait migrates and predators key in.
The seasonal calendar shows the exact bite intensity for every species in every month, plus which spots fish best in each window.
The right rod, reel, and line setup depends on what you're fishing — not exactly where. NE Florida has six standard fishing contexts and each has a different optimal setup. Quick version:
The full tackle profiles guide walks through each setup with the reasoning — why a 3000 reel, why a 30 lb leader, what changes if you upsize.
Twelve local bait & tackle shops mapped across NE Florida, from Fernandina Beach down to Hastings. The shortlist:
Browse all bait & tackle shops → with each shop's hours, phone, and what they typically carry.
Twenty public boat ramps mapped from Fernandina down to Crescent Beach. The big-ramp shortlist:
Every ramp appears on the map with facilities, parking capacity, and what water it accesses.
Florida saltwater fishing requires a license unless you're under 16, over 65, or shore-fishing in your home county. Slot limits, bag limits, and seasons change throughout the year — know before you keep.
The licenses & regulations page pulls current rules from FWC and includes catch-and-release best practices. Always cross-check the official FWC saltwater page before keeping a fish — regulations update mid-season.
Twenty-seven hand-picked local restaurants across NE Florida — no chains, only spots a local would actually recommend.
If you fished Mayport, North Beach Fish Camp is a five-minute drive. If you launched downtown, head to the Bearded Pig for ribs. If you fished Vilano, Marker 32 puts you right back on the water for a sunset dinner. Sort the whole Eats guide by area or cuisine to find what fits the trip.
The Trip Planner takes a few fishing spots and turns them into a full day: nearest bait & tackle on the way, breakfast spots before launch, grub after the trip, and an exportable Google Maps route. One click. No sign-up.
The interactive map is the fastest way to find Jacksonville fishing spots near you. Tap a pin for the bite forecast, tide, species, nearest ramp, and recommended tackle.
I built our904 because the best Jacksonville fishing information was scattered, paywalled, or out of date. This is a free, independent guide maintained by one local angler. No ads, no paid placements, no sign-up. If you spot something wrong or know a spot I should add, tell me.
Every visit also surfaces a vetted 904-area nonprofit on the Give page. Donations route directly to the charity — I never touch a dollar of it. That's it. Tight lines.