Gear & Tackle

Saltwater & Coast

Fly Fishing

Spin, Cast & Bait

Nassau Sound Fishing Guide

Florida

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

Trip at a Glance

Anglers come to Nassau Sound for redfish, flounder, sheepshead and bluefish. In October, redfish, 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; the closest is Amelia Island Bait & Tackle in Fernandina Beach, about 8 mi away. Golden Isles is about 44 mi away if you want to make a trip of it.

Season at a Glance

Redfish
Flounder
Sheepshead
Bluefish
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What You'll Catch

Nassau Sound Species

Redfish

Redfish

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

Best: Mar to May, Sep to Nov

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 · 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, Redfish

    Shop This Lure

  • Paddle-Tail Swimbait 3 to 5 in

    Lure

    Soft Plastic · Flounder, 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

  • Popping Cork Rig 18 to 30 in leader

    Lure

    Rig · 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, 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.

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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.

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.

Bluefish

Fly 9 ft 9 wt rod, intermediate line, wire or 40 lb bite tippet.

Spin / Cast 7 to 9 ft medium-heavy spinning rod, 4000 to 5000 reel, 20 lb braid with a wire leader.

Matched to These Species

Gear for Nassau Sound

Fly Lines

RIO Redfish Fly Line

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

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Jigs

Spro Bucktail Jigs

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

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Reels

Penn Battle III Spinning Reel

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

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Metal Jigs

Deadly Dick Deadly Dick Metal Jig

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

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Rods

Penn Battalion II Inshore Spinning Rod

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

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Line

PowerPro Spectra Braided Line

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

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Terminal Tackle

Egg Sinkers and Swivels

Egg sinkers, swivels, and beads for slip-sinker and Carolina rigs.

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Soft Plastics

Berkley Gulp! Shrimp

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

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Within 25 Miles

Shops Near Nassau Sound

Within 25 Miles

Guides and Charters Near Nassau Sound

Make It a Trip

Nearby Water

Saltwater & Coast · Georgia · About 44 mi

Golden Isles

Marshes and sounds around St. Simons and Jekyll Island with redfish, trout, and summer tarpon.

Redfish · Speckled Trout · Sheepshead

Saltwater & Coast · Florida · About 57 mi

Matanzas Inlet

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

Redfish · Sheepshead · Speckled Trout

Lakes & Reservoirs · Florida · About 74 mi

Rodman Reservoir

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

Largemouth Bass · Crappie · Bluegill