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Black Drum fishing in St. Johns County

19 rated shore spots in St. Johns County hold black drum — ranked below with today's live forecast score for the species.

Black Drum forecast map for St. Johns County

Every spot colored by how it fishes for black drum right now. Scrub the timeline, tap a pin for its forecast, or go full screen.

When to go

In season now
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🌊 Fish the flood tide.

Size, bag and season rules in St. Johns County

Open: keep up to 5 a day between 14 in and 24 in

St. Johns County

Rules set by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Minimum size
14 inMeasured nose to tail, tail pinched
Maximum size
24 inMeasured nose to tail, tail pinched
Bag limit
5 a day

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission · checked Sep 30, 2026

A summary of the rules these authorities publish for anglers, checked on the dates shown. It is not legal advice: the authority's own page is the rule, and rules can change.

Check FWC rules

Best black drum spots in St. Johns County

1Vilano PointGood · 78HotspotWinter and spring along the jetty on blue crab and clams.2Matanzas InletGood · 79ReliableWinter and spring near the bridge and deeper holes. Shrimp or crab on the bottom.3Guana River DamGood · 71ReliableCooler months around the structure and the deeper holes; shrimp or crab on the bottom.4Vilano Beach Fishing PierGood · 79ReliableCooler months on the bottom. Shrimp, clams or crab near slack tide.5Usina Boat RampGood · 78ReliableCooler months near structure and the deeper water; shrimp or crab on the bottom.6Anastasia State ParkExcellent · 81ReliableWinter and spring at the inlet end on crab or clams fished on the bottom.7Lighthouse Park, St. AugustineGood · 69ReliableCooler months; a piece of blue crab or peeled shrimp on the bottom by the pier.8Frank Butler Park WestGood · 78ReliableWinter and spring on shrimp or crab.9Helen Mellon Schmidt ParkGood · 79ReliableCooler months on the bottom with shrimp or crab, often on the outgoing tide.10Palm Valley East Boat RampGood · 71ReliableCooler months near the bridge pilings on shrimp or crab.11Crescent Beachfront ParkGood · 78Worth a tryWinter; a crab quarter or shrimp on the bottom.12Mickler's LandingGood · 71Worth a tryCold months; shrimp or a crab quarter on the bottom.13South Ponte Vedra ParkGood · 69Worth a tryLate fall through early spring; crab or clam on the bottom.14Frank Butler Beachfront Park EastGood · 78Worth a tryWinter; crab or shrimp on a sliding sinker.15GTM Research Reserve BeachGood · 71Worth a tryColder months on calm days; shrimp or crab on the bottom.16Mussallem Beachfront ParkGood · 78Worth a tryWinter and early spring; crab or clam fished on the bottom.17Spyglass Beachfront ParkGood · 69Worth a tryWinter into spring; crab or clam on the bottom.18Vaill Point ParkGood · 69Worth a tryWinter; cut crab on a small bottom rig near pilings.19Faver-Dykes State ParkGood · 78Worth a tryNamed by the park; cooler months on shrimp or cut mullet on a light sliding-sinker rig.
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Tactics for black drum

Top baits, best first

  1. Blue Crab
  2. Clams
  3. Dead Shrimp
  4. Live Shrimp

Rigs that work, best first

  1. Fish-Finder Rig
  2. Knocker Rig
  3. Carolina Rig

Black Drum fishing elsewhere

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