Entry to fish-filled ocean, good local weather, and rich historic previous – that’s most certainly how we’d describe the “Historic Metropolis.” For individuals who’re visiting St. Augustine to catch fish and profit from the oldest metropolis throughout the US, you’re within the right place.
With the Atlantic Ocean minutes away from city, it’s possible you’ll on a regular basis depend upon distinctive angling alternate options correct on the doorstep. And when deep sea fishing in St. Augustine is on the desk, you already realize it’s gonna be world-class.
Sooner than you establish to take your fishing journey offshore, there are some issues it’s advisable know. What are the potential catches and the place are you able to uncover them? When is the simplest time to go deep-sea fishing in St. Augustine?
On this info, we did our biggest to answer all these questions so that you just simply’re prepared in your St. Augustine fishing journey. Let’s start with what it’s possible you’ll catch on this sportfishing paradise…
St. Augustine Deep Sea Fishing Catches
The right half is, there’s on a regular basis one factor biting in the marketplace. In St. Augustine, there are quite a few fascinating species that cling round anyplace from a couple of miles off the coast to the bluewaters roughly 60 miles offshore and previous.
So, what are the best species it’s possible you’ll catch throughout the deep waters of the Gulf? On this half, we’ll endure our prime picks from St. Augustine’s massive sport menu.
Blackfin Tuna
As you plan your St. Augustine deep sea fishing journey, you might marvel in the event you occur to’ll be able to do some Tuna fishing there. Successfully, the good news is, in reality it’s possible you’ll! Blackfin Tuna may be discovered for anyone ready to do some trolling on the shelf edge 30 miles offshore. The one issue it’s advisable know is when to seek for your Tuna.
Blackfin are spherical any time of the 12 months, although their chew differs counting on the season. Native anglers need fishing for them from Christmas until Easter, however, it’s possible you’ll nonetheless uncover Blackfins all through the summer season months.
Billfish
Everybody is aware of that hardly any sportfishing angler would want to miss out on the Gulf Stream Billfishing movement. In St. Augustine, you’re spoiled with choice; there’s a nice trio of Sailfish, White Marlin, and Blue Marlin accessible for some movement.
Usually speaking, any time is an efficient time for Billfishing in St. Augustine, significantly between April and October. Sailfish cling round throughout the reefs, wrecks, and pure ledges close to shore all through the summer season months and all via September and October. Some Sails jam spherical weed traces, making an attempt to snack on some Mahi Mahi.
Referring to Blue Marlin, locals say that the one months with out recorded catches are December and January. Huge Blues go by St. Augustine first in April and May after which in September. Similar to Sailfish, numerous Blue Marlins could also be taken in comparatively shallow waters – from 300 to 700 ft.
Snapper & Grouper
For individuals who’re fishing with a federally licensed structure all through the open season, there’s nothing which will stop you from completely having enjoyable with some good Pink Snapper movement in St. Augustine. In actuality, it’s possible you’ll merely protect it inside 3 miles offshore and fish for “Chickens” when the season permits!
Whereas the season for big Snapper doesn’t usually last too prolonged, it’s possible you’ll nonetheless spend some time fishing for Grouper. For individuals who ship your bait to the reefs or totally different bottom places, you’ll uncover Gag Grouper – or Grays, as locals identify them.
Gags begin exhibiting in early March or maybe a bit earlier. In June, as a result of the ocean warms up, it’s possible you’ll head to a reef or wreck and seek for schools of Gags.
Mahi Mahi & Wahoo
Fishing for Mahi Mahi is on a regular basis a pleasure for anglers and captains world large, and St. Augustine is not any exception. Faculties of these pelagic species are caught by trolling and would possibly sometimes be caught whereas fishing for Sailfish. The right half about Mahi Mahi fishing in St. Augustine is that you just simply don’t ought to go too far out!
Late spring and early summer season is the right time to go for Mahi Mahi, although they nonetheless chew all yr lengthy. When the numbers begin to drop within the course of the tip of the summer season, anglers can change their consideration to Wahoo. These ferocious fighters usually maintain until the spring.
And Further
It goes with out saying that this St. Augustine’s deep sea fishing file isn’t full with out not lower than half a dozen further species. Everytime you’re employed the underside, it’s possible you’ll as nicely uncover Black Bass, Amberjack, and even Sharks, whereas Kingfish, Barracuda, and Cobia might current up all through your trolling movement. So, it’s protected to say that you just simply’re spoiled for choice in St. Augustine!
St. Augustine Deep Sea Fishing Methods
Now that you just already know what’s on Augustine’s deep-sea fishing menu, it’s time to discuss how one can catch these species. Counting on what you’re after, it’s possible you’ll anticipate to spend your time offshore trolling, bottom fishing, deep dropping, jigging…or all on the similar time.
It’s on a regular basis a very good suggestion to book a deep-sea fishing structure with a licensed captain. An skilled crew is conscious of some ideas that work biggest that may help you land an unlimited trophy. St. Augustine is dwelling to an enormous fleet of structure boats, so that you just’ll have a variety of journeys accessible all yr lengthy.
Trolling
How is deep sea trolling achieved in St. Augustine? Practically all of captains use scale back bait, lures, or keep bait, paying homage to Ballyhoo and Mullet. Moreover they use outriggers – prolonged poles fitted on both facet of the boat. Outriggers are designed to hold fishing traces at a certain angle at distance from the boat while you cruise close to your targets.
As we talked about earlier, there are quite a few reefs, shipwrecks, and ledges ideally fitted to some trolling movement in St. Augustine. This method is your weapon of choice in the event you occur to find out to go for Tuna, Blue and White Marlin, Sailfish, King Mackerel, Wahoo, and Mahi Mahi. Trolling can be a super method to utilize when you’re in your technique to a spot.
Bottom Fishing & Deep Dropping
Bottom fishing in St. Augustine is the method to get your arms on not solely Snapper and Grouper, nonetheless one other critters as correctly. Your captain will nearly definitely take you to wrecks, reefs, and totally different bottom buildings the place you’ll get a chance to reel in one among many bottom-dwellers.
day of bottom fishing is unquestionably action-packed, since you’ll be doing numerous reeling in. Referring to bait, anglers normally use scale back and keep bait – every present environment friendly. Counting on what you’re specializing in, it’s best to use a bucktail jig, frozen squid, pinfish, mullet, and sardines.
So, what about deep dropping? Successfully, this methodology is reserved for bigger fish and deeper waters. For individuals who’re after massive Amberjack, Snapper, and Grouper, you’ll most certainly search for them spherical deep offshore wrecks and reefs.
St. Augustine Deep Sea Fishing Spots
So, what’s subsequent? Selecting the simplest spot for deep sea fishing, in reality. One in every of many points that makes city so partaking is the number of offshore reefs and wrecks it is necessary to uncover.
There’s the Gulf Stream with its pelagic fish up for grabs all the way in which wherein as a lot as 70 miles offshore. Then, there’s fast entry to the Atlantic. Deep-sea fishing in St. Augustine is all at your mercy.
Proper right here’s just a few spots to ponder:
- The 9 Mile Reef: As you permit the St. Augustine Inlet, you’ll be shortly greeted by the Continental Shelf. The 9 Mile Reef is probably going one of many artificial reefs that is ideally fitted to bottom fishing. Plus, it’s solely a nine-mile journey to the reef.
- The Pop Warner Reef: That’s one different artificial reef located in federal waters. The Pop Warner is just a bit further offshore and provides excellent bottom fishing alternate options for Grouper and Snapper lovers.
- Continental Shelf: The Continental Shelf offers arguably the simplest deep sea fishing grounds St. Augustine has to provide. There are a selection of deepwater wrecks, along with the Dorothy Louise and the Intruders wreck, along with some outdated airplanes. For individuals who don’t ideas altering the tempo of your fishing movement, you is prone to be rewarded with some excellent catches.
- The “Rolldown”: About 50 miles offshore lies a ledge throughout the ocean floor the place it’s possible you’ll get your arms on prized catches. That’s the place to go for some good Marlin fishing, significantly all through the months of April, May, and September. Nonetheless, it’s possible you’ll nonetheless catch some massive fish proper right here any time of the 12 months.
When to Go Deep Sea Fishing in St. Augustine
As you might’ve already guessed, deep sea fishing in St. Augustine is a year-round event. Nonetheless, some months are increased than others for specializing in certain fish species – merely as we talked about throughout the Species half.
As an example, you’ll see further Amberjack and Mangrove Snapper near the reefs and wrecks as a result of the ocean will get a bit hotter. Spring can be wonderful for specializing in Mahi Mahi, although they arrive once more in autumn, too. Early summer season is all about Blue Marlin and Sailfish.
Usually, the warmer season means bigger fish and richer alternative than the winter months. If we had been to set a strict seasonality, peak fishing could possibly be from March by June, after which from September to October.
The remainder I need to know?
It’s on a regular basis important to focus on Florida fishing authorized tips and legal guidelines. For instance, the federal Pink Snapper season solely runs for a few days all through the 12 months. Plus, there are minimal measurement and bag restrictions for many fish species, which it’s best to look at ahead of time.
Probably the most safe alternative is to book a go to with a licensed structure. Native captains usually cowl all of the obligatory fishing licenses and permits for his or her anglers. Your captain will likely be able to info you on which species may be discovered in the interim, along with inform you what variety of it’s possible you’ll protect.
St. Augustine moreover hosts fishing tournaments, paying homage to Northeast Florida Marlin Affiliation Bluewater Occasion in April. As you might even see, it’s an issue to get bored throughout the Historic Metropolis, even in the event you occur to’re a aggressive angler.
Deep Sea Fishing in St. Augustine – All Anglers Aboard!
Deep-sea fishing in St. Augustine isn’t solely about legendary battles with massive sport fish. It’s moreover about getting a extra in-depth take a look on the fishing custom of the northeast coast of Florida.
Reap the benefits of the mighty Gulf Stream, try fishing throughout the Atlantic Ocean with an skilled crew, and seize the prospect to develop as an angler. The right half is which you’ll come proper right here anytime you want – and nonetheless uncover one factor massive biting arduous!
