Gear & Tackle

Saltwater & Coast

Fly Fishing

Spin, Cast & Bait

Matanzas Inlet Fishing Guide

Florida

The inlet south of St. Augustine at Fort Matanzas National Monument, where shore anglers catch redfish, sheepshead, seatrout, bluefish, and flounder.

Trip at a Glance

Anglers come to Matanzas Inlet for redfish, speckled trout, flounder, sheepshead and bluefish. In October, redfish, speckled trout, flounder and bluefish are in season, and Clouser Minnow, Lefty's Deceiver and EP Baitfish are a good place to start. There are 12 shops within 25 miles (2 fly, 10 bait and tackle); the closest is Genungs Fish Camp Live Bait, Tackle, Kayak Rentals & Boat Storage in St. Augustine, about 4 mi away. Rodman Reservoir is about 37 mi away if you want to make a trip of it.

Season at a Glance

Redfish
Speckled Trout
Flounder
Sheepshead
Bluefish
JFMAMJJASOND
View Larger Map

What You'll Catch

Matanzas Inlet Species

Redfish

Redfish

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: Mar to May, Sep to Nov

Speckled Trout

Speckled Trout

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: Mar to May, Oct to Dec

Flounder

Flounder

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: Apr to May, Sep to Nov

Sheepshead

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: Dec to Apr

Bluefish

Bluefish

Prime Now
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Best: May to Oct

Images: Duane Raver, USFWS; NOAA Fisheries. Public domain.

Plan by Month

What to Use

Month
Fish

14 picks for October. marks species in season in October.

  • Clouser Minnow #1/0-8

    Fly

    Streamer · Speckled Trout, Redfish

    Shop This Fly

  • Lefty's Deceiver #3/0-2

    Fly

    Streamer · Bluefish

    Shop This Fly

  • EP Baitfish #2/0-2

    Fly

    Streamer · Redfish

    Shop This Fly

  • Spoon Fly #1/0-2

    Fly

    Flats Fly · Redfish

    Shop This Fly

  • Walking Topwater 4 to 5 in

    Lure

    Topwater · Bluefish, Speckled Trout, Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Paddle-Tail Swimbait 3 to 5 in

    Lure

    Soft Plastic · Flounder, Speckled Trout, Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Popping Cork Rig 18 to 30 in leader

    Lure

    Rig · Speckled Trout, Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Bucktail Jig 1/4 to 2 oz

    Lure

    Jig · Flounder

    Shop This Lure

  • Weedless Gold Spoon 1/4 to 1/2 oz

    Lure

    Spoon · Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Metal Jig 1/2 to 3 oz

    Lure

    Jig · Bluefish

    Shop This Lure

  • Live Shrimp 2 to 4 in

    Bait

    Live Bait · Sheepshead, Speckled Trout, Redfish

  • Cut Mullet Chunk or strip

    Bait

    Natural Bait · Bluefish, Redfish

  • Live Minnows 1 to 3 in

    Bait

    Live Bait · Flounder · Mud minnows or finger mullet.

  • Sand Fleas Small

    Bait

    Live Bait · Redfish · Surf.

Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.

Rod & Reel

Recommended Setups

Redfish

Fly 9 ft 8 wt rod, floating redfish line, 16 to 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium spinning rod, 3000 reel, 15 lb braid with a 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Speckled Trout

Fly 9 ft 7 wt rod, floating or intermediate line, 15 lb leader, Clousers and shrimp flies.

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-light spinning rod, 2500 reel, 10 lb braid with a 15 to 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.

Flounder

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-light spinning rod, 3000 reel, 15 lb braid, Carolina rig or bucktail.

Sheepshead

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium spinning rod with a sensitive tip, 3000 reel, 20 lb braid, fiddler crabs on a small strong hook.

Matched to These Species

Gear for Matanzas Inlet

Fly Lines

RIO Redfish Fly Line

A heavy front taper for quick shots at tailing fish in warm, humid conditions.

Check Price

Floats & Rigs

Cajun Thunder Popping Cork

The clacking cork that calls trout and reds to shrimp or a soft plastic.

Check Price

Jigs

Spro Bucktail Jigs

Durable hair jigs for stripers, fluke, and anything that eats baitfish.

Check Price

Reels

Penn Battle III Spinning Reel

A metal-bodied reel built to survive saltwater and big runs.

Check Price

Metal Jigs

Deadly Dick Deadly Dick Metal Jig

A small, heavy casting jig for fast-moving albies and mackerel.

Check Price

Rods

Penn Battalion II Inshore Spinning Rod

A medium inshore rod for jigs, popping corks, and live bait.

Check Price

Line

PowerPro Spectra Braided Line

Thin, strong braid for long casts, sensitivity, and pulling fish from cover.

Check Price

Soft Plastics

Berkley Gulp! Shrimp

Scented shrimp that out-fish plain plastics on a jighead or under a cork.

Check Price

Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.

Within 25 Miles

Shops Near Matanzas Inlet

Within 25 Miles

Guides and Charters Near Matanzas Inlet

Make It a Trip

Nearby Water

Lakes & Reservoirs · Florida · About 37 mi

Rodman Reservoir

A stump-filled impoundment of the Ocklawaha River known for giant bass.

Largemouth Bass · Crappie · Bluegill

Saltwater & Coast · Florida · About 49 mi

Ponce de Leon Inlet

The inlet between Ponce Inlet and New Smyrna Beach, a jumping-off point for offshore trips, with red drum, seatrout, flounder, and sheepshead in the nearby estuary.

Redfish · Speckled Trout · Flounder

Rivers & Streams · Florida

St. Johns River

Florida's longest river. Bass from Lake Monroe to Welaka, reds and occasional snook near the mouth.

Largemouth Bass · Redfish

Saltwater & Coast · Florida · About 57 mi

Nassau Sound

A sound north of Jacksonville, crossed by a fishing pier, where anglers catch redfish, flounder, sheepshead, and bluefish.

Redfish · Flounder · Sheepshead

Saltwater & Coast · Florida · About 65 mi

Mosquito Lagoon

A shallow, clear lagoon famous for sight-fishing to tailing and schooling redfish.

Redfish · Speckled Trout