Inshore Report: Redfish Season on the Matanzas

The Matanzas River

Running behind Anastasia Island and down toward Flagler County, the Matanzas is a classic inshore fishery — grass flats, oyster bars, and deeper cuts that hold redfish and trout through most of the year, with fall bringing some of the most consistent action as bait pushes through the system.

St Augustine Inlet

Where the Matanzas and Intracoastal meet the Atlantic, the inlet is a magnet for snook, redfish, and seasonal runs of Spanish mackerel and other species following bait through the pass. Moving water — an incoming or outgoing tide — is when it fishes best.

The Intracoastal Waterway

The Intracoastal that threads the entire First Coast offers year-round structure fishing around docks, bridges, and channel edges — a reliable fallback when the open flats or inlet aren't producing.

Seasonal Patterns

• Fall: generally the most productive redfish window as bait moves and water cools.
• Winter: fish often push into deeper, warmer holes on cold snaps — patience pays off.
• Spring: improving action as water warms and bait returns to the flats.
• Summer: early mornings beat the heat, with snook fishing typically at its best.

Where to Launch

Public ramps around Vilano Beach, St Augustine, and the Intracoastal give both boat and kayak anglers easy access to the area's best inshore water — check current county and state ramp listings for the nearest option to where you're staying.

Know the Regulations

Redfish, trout, and snook are all subject to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) size and bag limits that can change by region and season — always confirm current regulations before you head out.