CONTACT US: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Fish and Wildlife Research Institute 100 Eighth Avenue SE St. Petersburg, Florida 33701 727-896-8626 http://MyFWC.com/ BoatingGuides Boating_Guides@ MyFWC.com City of Jacksonville Parks and Recreation 214 N. Hogan Street Third Floor Jacksonville, Florida 32202 904-630-2489 http://JaxParks.com jaxparks@coj.net This project was funded in part by a grant awarded by the Jacksonville Environmental Protection Board and Jacksonville Port Authority (Jaxport). Additional funding for this project was obtained through the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Fund.

Fish images, except striped bass, © Diane Rome Peebles. Striped bass image © Duane Raver, Jr. Illustrations provided for viewing purposes only. Below is a small list of the popular sport fish caught in the waters of Nassau and Duval Counties. Striped Bass: found primarily in the St. Johns River and its tributaries, and a few panhandle rivers; does not tolerate water temperatures over 75° F for long periods of time. Bluefish: Travels in large schools, following schools of baitfish; cannibalistic; all members of a given school about the same size; spawning occurs offshore in spring and summer. Cobia: Both inshore and nearshore inhabiting inlets, bays and among mangroves; frequently seen around buoys, pilings, and wrecks. Dolphin (Mahi-mahi): Offshore in warm waters of the Gulf Stream. Black Drum: Inshore fish common to bays and lagoons; bottom dweller often found around oyster beds; also offshore. Red Drum (Redfish): Inshore near grass beds, oyster bars, and docks pilings; deeper channels during the warmest and coolest months Southern Flounder: Inshore within bays near or within grass flats during spring and summer. Black Grouper: Offshore species; adults associated with rocky bottoms, reef, and drop-off walls in water over 60 feet deep; young may occur inshore in shallow water Gag (Gag Grouper): Adults offshore over rocks and reefs; juveniles occur in seagrass beds inshore Red Grouper: Bottom dwelling fish associated with hardbottom; juveniles offshore along with adults greater than six years old; nearshore reefs Crevalle Jack (Jack Crevalle): Common to both inshore waters and the open sea. Southern Kingfish (Whiting): Shallow Coastal waters; common along beaches. King Mackerel (Kingfish): Nearshore and offshore; occasionally taken from piers running into deep water. Spanish Mackerel: Inshore, nearshore, and offshore over grass beds and reefs Florida Pompano: Inshore and nearshore waters, especially along sandy beaches, along oyster bars, and over grass beds, often in turbid water; may be found in water as deep as 130 feet. Spotted Seatrout (Speckled Seatrout): Inshore over grass beds, sand, and sandy/mud bottoms; deeper water during warmest and coolest months. Sheepshead: Inshore around oyster bars, seawalls, and in tidal creeks; moves nearshore in late winter and early spring for spawning, gathering over rocks, artificial reefs, and around navigation markers. Gray (Mangrove) Snapper: Juveniles inshore in tidal creeks, mangroves, and grass beds; adults generally nearshore or offshore on coral or rocky reefs. Red Snapper: Juveniles inshore in tidal creeks, mangroves, and grass beds; adults generally nearshore or offshore on coral or rocky reefs. Tarpon: Found mostly inshore near bridges, pilings, rock walls, harbors, around structures, and on flats. Weakfish: Adults-move inshore north during warm months inhabiting the surf, inlets, bays channels and estuaries; move offshore and south during cold months. Juveniles-inhabits estuaries which serve as nurseries. Back to Top If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions about this Web site, please e-mail us at Boating_Guides@MyFWC.com. Would you like to receive notices of changes to this Web site and the Boating and Angling Guide to Nassau and Duval Counties? If so, please e-mail us and include SUBSCRIBE-DUVAL in the subject line.