Waterlands

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King mackerelRetention open

Cape · Florida

Saint Johns Point

30.40°N · 81.39°W · Cape · Coastal waters from Fernandina Beach to St. Augustine FL out 20 NM

LOADING MAP

Best score today · 2 AM · King mackerel

80/100Great
Now
5812 AM EDT
Best window
1-6 AMFlood tide
Tide now
Low1.3 ft

Data from: NOAA CO-OPS + NDBC + ECMWF + Open-Meteo Marine · Waterlands engine

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14-day forecast

Best days to fish

Best: Mon · 84

24-hour conditions · rolling from now

Conditions · 12 AM · now

Time12ANOW
Score58Good
Tide1.3 ftLow
CurrentEbb1.8 kn · toward E
Wind3 kn ENEgusts 5 · steady
Sea stateLight chop1.2 ft · 6 s
Air temp77°Warm
WeatherClear16% cloud
Water84°FObserved

Current regulations

What you can keep here today

Atlantic state waters (Nassau through Miami-Dade counties)

IN EFFECT NOW

King mackerel

Retention open
Daily limit
2 per day
Possession
Not published
Size
Minimum 24 in, fork length
Season
No closed season on file
Annual quota
Not published
Other
Hook and line and spearing only. Open year-round.

From FWC Recreational Regulations: King Mackerel, read Sep 13

Other species here

  • Atlantic croaker Retention open (50 per day)
  • Black drum Retention open (5 per day)
  • Bluefish Retention open (3 per day)
  • Bonefish Catch & release (No retention)
  • Cobia Retention open (1 per day)
  • Crevalle jack Retention open
  • Florida pompano Retention open (6 per day)
  • Gag grouper Closed (No retention)
  • Gray snapper Retention open (5 per day (10 snapper combined))
  • Gray triggerfish Retention open (10 per day)
  • Greater amberjack Retention open (1 per day)
  • Mahi-mahi Retention open (5 per day)
  • Permit Retention open (2 per day)
  • Red drum Retention open (1 per day)
  • Red grouper Retention open (3 per day (3 Atlantic grouper and tilefish combined))
  • Red snapper Check regulations
  • Sailfish Retention open (1 per day (1 billfish combined))
  • Sheepshead Retention open (8 per day)
  • Snook Retention open (1 per day)
  • Southern flounder Retention open (5 per day)
  • Spanish mackerel Retention open (15 per day)
  • Spot Retention open (50 per day)
  • Spotted seatrout Retention open (3 per day)
  • Summer flounder Retention open (5 per day)
  • Tarpon Catch & release (No retention)
  • Wahoo Retention open (2 per day)
Always check with FWC ↗Fishing license ↗

Source: FWC · synced yesterday

Seasonality · 52-week view · this week ringed

When King mackerel is best here

Peak season for King mackerel · 5 more weeks at peak

King mackerel season by week of the year. Peak season for King mackerel · 5 more weeks at peak.
  • Peak
  • Shoulder
  • Off
  • This week

King mackerel in Florida →

Spot profile

Saint Johns Point

Depth
10-60 ftNearest water
Structure
Point · Outer · ExposedPoint · drop-off
Season
Peak seasonKing mackerel

NOAA NCEI DEM, sampled Sep 13 on a 3.4 m grid. Depths are feet below NAVD 88, not chart datum (MLLW), so they can differ from a chart by a few feet. Not for navigation.

About this spot

Fishing Saint Johns Point

Saint Johns Point is a cape in Coastal waters from Fernandina Beach to St. Augustine FL out 20 NM, Florida. Depth in the nearest water is 10-60 ft, with a drop-off. Its profile reads point, outer water and exposed.

Waterlands scores 28 species here; the best right now are Atlantic tarpon, gray snapper and red drum. It is peak season now for Atlantic tarpon, gray snapper, red drum and crevalle jack, and shoulder season for Florida pompano, Spanish mackerel, greater amberjack and little tunny. Atlantic tarpon peak from July through September. Gray snapper peak from June through September. Red drum peak from August through November.

Tackle & technique

King mackerel
Kings roam from beaches and pier ends out to reefs, wrecks and ledges in 40 to 200 feet, usually feeding in the upper half of the water column. Slow-troll live menhaden, blue runners or cigar minnows on a light wire stinger rig, or pull spoons and ribbonfish past bait schools. Look for clean green water above 68 F with bait and birds on it.
Atlantic tarpon
Tarpon roll along beaches, in passes and channels, and under bridges from late spring through fall, and in South Florida some fish stay through winter in warm canals and backcountry rivers. Live crabs, mullet or pinfish drifted through a pass on the outgoing tide, or a fly or soft plastic cast ahead of a rolling string of fish, are the main approaches. Use a long heavy leader, bow to the jumps, and keep big fish in the water for release.
Gray snapper
Mangrove snapper hold tight to mangrove roots, bridge pilings, jetties and reef ledges, from a few feet deep inshore to 150 feet offshore. Chum to pull them out of cover, then freeline or lightly weight a live shrimp or pilchard on fluorocarbon leader, since they shy away from heavy line in clear water. The bite improves at dusk and after dark.

Nearby spots

Other spots within an easy run

View all on map →
  • Fort George Inlet

    Bay · 1.8 mi

    76
    Top: Atlantic tarponPeak season
    • Atlantic tarpon 76
    • Red drum 67
    • Southern flounder 66

    3 kt ENEH 6:10 AM · 5.5 ftL 12:29 PM · 1.2 ft

  • Sherman Cut Range

    Channel · 2.8 mi

    76
    Top: Atlantic tarponPeak season
    • Atlantic tarpon 76
    • Red drum 68
    • Gray snapper 66

    3 kt ENEL 12:35 AM · 1.2 ftH 6:47 AM · 4.7 ft

  • Mayport Cut Range

    Channel · 2.5 mi

    75
    Top: Atlantic tarponPeak season
    • Atlantic tarpon 75
    • Red drum 67
    • Gray snapper 65

    3 kt ENEL 12:35 AM · 1.2 ftH 6:47 AM · 4.7 ft

  • Fort George River

    Gut · 3.5 mi

    74
    Top: Atlantic tarponPeak season
    • Atlantic tarpon 74
    • Atlantic croaker 71
    • Red drum 68

    3 kt ENEL 1:10 AM · 1.1 ftH 6:56 AM · 4.8 ft

Open in the tide map

Scores and forecasts are for planning only and can be wrong. Conditions on the water change fast; check the marine forecast before you go. Regulations change during the season, so confirm limits and closures with FWC before you keep a fish.