Last Updated on June 12, 2025 by Eric Bonneman
Fishing the inshore waters around St. Augustine, Florida requires more than enthusiasm. These estuaries, flats, and tidal creeks are home to a wide range of fish species, each with distinct behaviors and environmental preferences that demand specific gear choices. If you want to fish here successfully, you need to understand not just what to bring, but why it matters. This guide breaks down every piece of equipment required for effective inshore fishing, from rods and reels to line, bait, lures, and essential tools, with detailed explanations of how each component fits into a real-world strategy.
Understanding the Species: What You’re Targeting and Why It Matters
Redfish (Red Drum)
Redfish have a bronze or copper-toned body with a pronounced black spot near the tail, though some fish may display multiple spots or none at all. Their torpedo shape and thick shoulders give them tremendous power in shallow water. Redfish are aggressive feeders and typically forage along the bottom for crabs, shrimp, and baitfish, often using their snouts to dig through mud and grass. This behavior makes them frequent visitors to oyster beds, grass flats, and creek mouths, especially during moving tides. Inshore redfish are commonly between 18 and 27 inches, though fish over 30 inches, referred to as bull reds, can be found in deeper channels and near inlets. Florida regulations enforce a slot limit of 18 to 27 inches for keeper fish in the northeast region, with a limit of one fish per angler per day. Redfish are present year-round but become more concentrated and easier to locate during the fall as they gather into schools. An interesting note for targeting them is that redfish will often “tail” in very shallow water, standing on their heads while rooting through bottom cover, exposing their tail fins above the surface.
Spotted Seatrout (Speckled Trout)
Spotted seatrout are slender fish with silver sides, a greenish-gray back, and a scattering of dark spots along the upper body, dorsal fin, and tail. Their long canine teeth and delicate mouth structure distinguish them visually and functionally. Seatrout tend to hold on grass flats and edges of deeper potholes where current brings bait through narrow channels. They feed by ambush, often waiting in transition zones between deep and shallow areas. Most seatrout caught inshore range from 14 to 22 inches. In Florida’s northeast region, the slot limit is 15 to 19 inches, with one fish over 19 inches allowed per person and a daily limit of five. They are present throughout the year but are most actively caught in spring and fall when water temperatures are moderate. A notable trait is their sensitivity to cold water. A sudden temperature drop can stun or kill them in shallow estuaries, which affects feeding behavior and movement patterns.
Flounder
Flounder have a flattened, oval-shaped body with both eyes on one side and a camouflaged appearance that blends into sand, mud, or shell bottom. They are ambush predators that lie flush against the bottom, striking upward at prey that passes overhead. This means presentations need to stay low and slow to trigger bites. Flounder are most often caught near structure like docks, seawalls, channel edges, and creek mouths where currents funnel bait. Most fish range between 12 and 18 inches, though larger “doormat” flounder over 20 inches do appear in deeper pockets near inlets. Florida’s minimum size limit is 14 inches, with a bag limit of five fish per person. Flounder are most active in fall and early winter, with some overlap into spring. They undergo seasonal migrations, moving offshore to spawn late in the year. Despite their camouflage, flounder will hit bright or noisy lures if the presentation stays close to the bottom.
Black Drum
Black drum are stocky, deep-bodied fish with large scales, a rounded snout, and chin barbels used to detect food along the bottom. Juveniles have dark vertical stripes that fade with age. They favor heavy structure such as bridge pilings, oyster beds, and rocky shorelines and feed mainly on crustaceans and mollusks. Their strong jaws can crush clams and crab shells easily. Most black drum caught inshore fall between 16 and 24 inches, but large adults over 40 pounds are not uncommon in deeper holes or inlet channels. Florida’s regulations set a 14 to 24-inch slot with one fish over 24 inches allowed in a five-fish bag. They are available year-round, though spring and fall offer higher concentrations in shallow water. One of their quirks is that large drum produce a drumming sound by vibrating muscles against their swim bladder, especially during spawning season.
Snook
Snook have a sleek, streamlined body with a bold black lateral line and a sloped head with an underbite. Their aggressive behavior and tendency to ambush prey from structure make them a top target among inshore fishermen. They favor mangrove edges, dock pilings, seawalls, and river mouths, especially where warm water mixes with moving current. Most snook caught inshore fall between 20 and 30 inches, though much larger fish are possible in the summer months. Florida enforces strict slot limits of 28 to 32 inches in northeast Florida and a seasonal closure during cold months due to their vulnerability to low temperatures. Snook are most commonly targeted from late spring through early fall. Despite being a tropical species, they have expanded northward and are now caught with some regularity in St. Augustine in warmer years. They are highly reactive to noisy lures, and few inshore fish match their explosive surface strikes.
Rods: Matching Power to Presentation
The rod is your primary interface with the fish. It determines how far you can cast, how well you feel a bite, and whether your hook set will drive home. The wrong rod doesn’t just make fishing harder. It reduces the chances of even detecting a strike.
Rod Length and Action
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Length: 7’ to 7’6”
This length provides the best combination of casting distance and accuracy. A 7-foot rod gives you tighter control in narrow tidal creeks and around docks, while a 7’6” rod lets you launch lures across open flats where staying back from spooky fish is essential. -
Power: Light to Medium-Heavy
Rod power must match the fish. Light power helps detect subtle flounder bites, but it lacks the backbone to pull a redfish from structure. Medium or medium-heavy rods provide the strength to turn larger fish without compromising sensitivity. -
Action: Fast Tip
Fast-action rods bend mostly at the tip, which lets you feel more of what’s happening at the lure and makes it easier to drive home a hook set, especially with single-hook rigs. For soft plastics and jigs, this precision is essential. Moderate-action rods are better for treble-hooked plugs, but they sacrifice sensitivity.
Reels: Control, Line Capacity, and Drag You Can Trust
A spinning reel is the most versatile and forgiving option for inshore fishing. You need something light enough to cast small lures but strong enough to handle a redfish or drum without failure.
Ideal Reel Sizes
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2500–3000 Size
These reels are compact, light, and match perfectly with medium-light to medium rods. They hold enough line to handle most inshore fights and are small enough to cast all day without fatigue. -
4000 Size
Needed when targeting large drum, snook, or using heavier line in deep or strong current. These reels offer more drag pressure and greater line capacity, giving you room to fight larger fish without risking a spool-out.
Reel quality matters. A cheap drag system can lock up under pressure or fail to engage smoothly, resulting in pulled hooks or lost fish. Always choose a sealed or corrosion-resistant reel for saltwater use. Salt exposure can kill even premium equipment if it isn’t built for it.
Line: Sensitivity, Stealth, and Strength
Your line connects every decision to the fish. The wrong type can lead to missed bites, break-offs, or poor lure action.
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Mainline: 10–20 lb Braid
Braid is essential for inshore fishing because it has no stretch, allowing you to feel the lightest taps, especially when fishing soft plastics or jigs near structure. It also cuts through wind and current better than monofilament, improving casting distance and control. Lighter braid (10–15 lb) excels for trout and flounder, while 20 lb offers security around oysters or for bull reds. -
Leader: 15–30 lb Fluorocarbon
Fluorocarbon is abrasion-resistant and nearly invisible in water. A 15–20 lb leader is standard for most inshore work, but stepping up to 25–30 lb helps when targeting snook, fishing around heavy cover, or using cut bait near shell beds. Leaders protect against sharp gill plates, toothy jaws, and barnacle-covered structure.
Terminal Tackle: Function First, Not Just Fit
Every piece of terminal tackle affects bait movement, hook-up ratio, and presentation.
Hooks
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Circle Hooks
Excellent for live bait, especially when letting fish eat naturally, because they set in the corner of the mouth, reducing gut-hooking and increasing safe release. Essential for shrimp or mullet under a float. -
J-Hooks
Ideal for active presentations like jigging or soft plastics. You control the hookset. Choose chemically sharpened models with wide gaps to match bait size. -
Kahle Hooks
Best for flounder and bottom rigs. Their shape increases hookup rates on slow pickups and lateral runs.
Weights and Rigs
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Split Shot and Egg Sinkers
Use split shots to subtly adjust bait depth. Egg sinkers slide freely and are key in fish-finder or Carolina rigs, which allow bait to move naturally while you feel the bite through the line. -
Jigheads (1/8 to 3/8 oz)
These are a foundation of artificial presentations. Lighter jigs stay above grass and work well on flats. Heavier ones punch through current or drop into channels. Match size to both depth and water speed.
Lures: Versatility, Imitation, and Reaction
Artificial lures allow fast coverage and are reusable, but they only work if they match the mood of the fish and the conditions around you.
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Soft Plastics (Paddle Tails, Shrimp, Jerkbaits)
Mimic the most common forage such as mullet, shrimp, and minnows. Paddle tails give steady vibration, shrimp excel under popping corks, and jerkbaits trigger strikes when fish are cautious or pressured. -
Hard Baits (Topwater, Twitchbaits, Spoons)
Topwater plugs like the Super Spook Jr. create visual and audible strikes during low light. Twitchbaits like MirrOdines suspend and twitch in the strike zone, which is great for trout in cooler months. Weedless spoons shine in stained water or over grass, keeping you snag-free while drawing aggressive reaction strikes.
Tools and Personal Gear
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Pliers
Essential for hook removal, line cutting, and crimping split shot. Must be saltwater-safe and easy to grip with wet hands. -
Landing Net
Reduces dropped fish boatside and is critical for flounder or seatrout, which often shake free at the surface. -
Fish Grip and Dehooker
Safer handling of large fish or those with sharp gill plates. Dehookers preserve bait efficiency and make releases faster. -
Measuring Device and License
Keep a legal fish and avoid fines. Have a fixed measuring board and a valid Florida saltwater license unless you’re on a charter.
Fish Smart, Gear Up Right
The inshore waters of St. Augustine reward preparation. Every piece of gear you bring either moves you closer to a fish or gets in the way. By understanding not just what each tool does, but why it belongs in your kit, you increase your efficiency and success. Get familiar with your species, match your gear to your goals, and make sure every cast is backed by deliberate choices. This approach turns a good day on the water into a consistent one.
That same mindset drives everything we do at Avid Angler here in St. Augustine. Each person who walks through the door has their own goals, but the need for dependable, location-specific gear is the same. We focus on real performance in real conditions, providing guidance rooted in firsthand experience from local waters. Check us out and get outfitted with gear that’s selected for how fishing actually happens here.
