Severson Coastal Outfitters

Start Here

Start Here

Where to Start Fishing in Northeast Florida

Everything a new angler needs to catch fish in Northeast Florida.

Whether you’ve never held a fishing rod or you’re returning to the water after years away, this guide will help you get started the right way. We’ll walk you through licenses, gear, tides, bait, rigs, and the fish you’re most likely to catch around Jacksonville, Mayport, and the surrounding Northeast Florida coast.

Step 1 — Get Your Florida Fishing License

Before making your first cast, make sure you’re fishing legally.

Florida Residents Fishing From Shore

If you’re a Florida resident fishing from shore (not from a boat), you’re eligible for a Free Florida Shoreline Saltwater Fishing License.

You still need to register, but there is no cost.

Keep in Mind

✔ Florida residents fishing from shore qualify for the free license

✔ Non-residents need a paid saltwater license

✔ Children under 16 do not need a fishing license

✔ Keep your license with you or available on your phone while fishing

→ Get Your Florida Fishing License

Step 2 — Buy Simple Beginner Fishing Gear

You don’t need expensive equipment to catch fish in Northeast Florida.

A basic setup will catch nearly every common inshore species.

Rod & Reel

  • 7-foot Medium Action Spinning Combo
  • $30–60
  • Great for trout, redfish, flounder, whiting, and sheepshead

Fishing Line

  • 10–15 lb monofilament
  • Easy to use
  • Forgiving for beginners

Hooks

  • Circle Hooks
  • Sizes 1/0–3/0
  • Better hook placement
  • Safer for released fish

Sinkers

  • Small assortment of split shot
  • Egg sinkers for Carolina rigs

Jig Heads

  • 1/8 oz
  • 3/16 oz
  • 1/4 oz

Popping Cork

One of the easiest and most productive ways to catch trout and redfish.

💡 Money-saving tip: Check our Used Fishing Gear section for quality rods, reels, and tackle at affordable prices.

Step 3 — Learn the Tides

In Northeast Florida, the tide matters more than the clock.

Moving water creates feeding opportunities.

Incoming Tide

Water floods the marshes and grass flats.

Best for:

  • Redfish
  • Speckled Trout

High Tide

Fish spread across shallow grass flats.

Great time for:

  • Sight fishing
  • Topwater fishing
  • Live shrimp

Outgoing Tide

Probably the most productive tide for beginners.

Bait is forced through:

  • Creeks
  • Oyster bars
  • Channels
  • Points

Excellent for:

  • Flounder
  • Redfish
  • Trout

Low Tide

Fish concentrate in deeper water.

Target:

  • Creek mouths
  • Deep holes
  • ICW drop-offs
  • Bridges

→ Check Today’s Northeast Florida Tide Charts

Step 4 — Choose the Right Bait

You don’t need dozens of lures.

These few options catch almost everything.

Live & Natural Bait

Live Shrimp

The number one bait in Northeast Florida.

Catches:

  • Trout
  • Redfish
  • Whiting
  • Sheepshead
  • Black Drum
  • Flounder

Finger Mullet

Excellent for:

  • Redfish
  • Flounder
  • Snook

Fiddler Crabs

The best bait for:

  • Sheepshead

Artificial Lures

Soft Plastic Paddle Tails

Works nearly everywhere.

Excellent for:

  • Trout
  • Redfish
  • Flounder

Gold Spoon

Perfect for:

  • Shallow grass flats
  • Redfish

Topwater Plugs

Best during:

  • Sunrise
  • Sunset
  • Calm mornings

Step 5 — Learn Three Basic Fishing Rigs

Carolina Rig

Perfect for:

  • Bottom fishing
  • Live bait
  • Surf fishing

Components:

  • Egg sinker
  • Swivel
  • 12–18″ leader
  • Circle hook

Popping Cork Rig

Perfect for:

  • Trout
  • Redfish
  • Grass flats

Use with:

  • Live shrimp
  • Soft plastics

Free-Lined Shrimp

No weight.

Simply hook a live shrimp and let it drift naturally around docks, rocks, or mangroves.

Step 6 — Target These Beginner-Friendly Fish

Speckled Trout

Where

  • Grass flats
  • Intracoastal Waterway
  • Creek mouths

Best Bait

  • Live shrimp
  • Soft plastics
  • Popping cork

Redfish

Where

  • Grass flats
  • Marshes
  • Oyster bars

Best Bait

  • Gold spoon
  • Live shrimp
  • Finger mullet

Flounder

Where

  • Sandy bottoms
  • Creek mouths
  • Inlets

Best Bait

  • Paddle tails
  • Finger mullet
  • Live shrimp

Sheepshead

Where

  • Docks
  • Bridges
  • Jetties

Best Bait

  • Fiddler crabs
  • Live shrimp

Spanish Mackerel

Where

  • Surf
  • Beaches
  • Nearshore

Best Bait

  • Silver spoons
  • Small jigs

Whiting

Where

  • Sandy beaches
  • Surf

Best Bait

  • Shrimp
  • Sand fleas

→ View Our Complete Species Guide

Step 7 — Know the Regulations

Florida fishing regulations change frequently.

Before every trip:

✔ Check size limits

✔ Check bag limits

✔ Know seasonal closures

✔ Carry a measuring board

✔ Release fish carefully

Remember:

  • Some fish have both minimum and maximum slot limits.
  • Snook and Redfish often have seasonal closures.
  • Federal species like Red Snapper follow separate NOAA regulations.

→ View Northeast Florida Fishing Regulations

You’re Ready to Go Fishing

Fishing doesn’t have to be complicated.

Start with a simple rod, a bucket of shrimp, and a nearby public fishing spot. Learn one species at a time, pay attention to the tides, and spend time on the water. Every trip teaches you something new.

Here at Severson Coastal Outfitters, our goal is to make Northeast Florida fishing easier to understand. Explore our fishing reports, tide charts, species guides, how-to articles, and local tips to keep learning and catch more fish.

Shop