4 Best Fishing Spots Near Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville, FL is one of the best places to fish in the entire United States. With access to saltwater and freshwater species from the nearby St Johns river and the Atlantic Ocean, great opportunities start as soon as you get near the water. There are plenty of fishing spots around. Whether piers, banks, rivers, or even offshore, there will be a spot for everyone.

4 Best Fishing Spots Near Jacksonville, FL

1. Jacksonville Beach Fishing Pier

One of the longest piers in the state of Florida, Jacksonville Beach Fishing Pier runs for nearly a quarter of a mile of boardwalk out into the ocean. Located on 503 North First Street, the pier offers great opportunities to catch Redfish, Kingfish, and plenty of other saltwater species.

The Pier has plenty of facilities with plenty of parking, a tackle shop, and restrooms. The fees to use the pier are $3 for every angler and $1 for anyone else, although children under 6 are free of charge, and you don’t need a license to use the pier.

2. Matanzas And Pellicer Creek Flats

An excellent inland spot to try for mullet is the Matanzas Pellicer creek flats, which features a very popular mullet run as well as the other inland water species of Redfish and Trout. The Pellicer creek section also features gator trout on their migrations towards the shallows.

Be aware of the tide if you want to fish here as it will affect the distribution of fish, as a particularly high tide could force the fish up onto any of the other flats along the Intracoastal waterway.

3. Mosquito Lagoon

Another inland place to fish that is worth a try is Mosquito Lagoon. The lagoon is best in the fall, when the trout move to the shallower waters upstream, towards the northern end, where several creeks lead into the lagoon. The section between Three Sisters and the Shotgun Pass can be one of the best places to look for trout.

Redfish are particularly plentiful in the lagoon and can be caught year-round, as most of the lagoon’s redfish spend their lies there. The clear flats are the best place to try where the shallow waters make it a great place to sight fish. This is also an opportunity to sight cast for the giant “gator” trout that sometimes make an appearance.

4. Trout River Bridge Pier

This pier, located on Trout River drive to the north of Jacksonville, is a real local favorite. The pier is a converted bridge, and as such reaches right out into the river. Aside from the excellent scenic views during the day, the pier is also very well lit at night, making it possible to fish around the clock.

The trout that give this pier and river their names are plentiful here, but you can also catch a variety of other freshwater species, including catfish and redfish. The pier doesn’t have many facilities, but bait and tackle can be bought from a nearby shop.

The Jacksonville area is full of places to fish, whether you’re looking for a handy pier, or heading out to the creeks. Visit Mazda City of Orange Park today to find out more.

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