Main Beach Park Fishing

Main Beach Park is Fernandina Beach's main oceanfront park, with easy surf fishing right in front of parking and restrooms.

• Whiting and pompano in the troughs
• Bluefish and redfish in spring and fall
• Black drum in late winter and spring
• Food, showers and restrooms steps from the sand
• A few minutes from Fort Clinch State Park and the St. Marys inlet

The park is at 32 North Fletcher Avenue in Fernandina Beach, on Amelia Island.

• Parking: at the park; busy on summer weekends
• Entry: the city lists no fee
• Surface: a short walk to soft sand
• Hours: the city closes its parks and beach accesses from midnight to 5 a.m. every night
• Fort Clinch State Park and its jetty are a few minutes' drive north
• Arrive early on summer weekends, when parking fills

Spring and fall are the best seasons.

• Spring (Mar-May): whiting, pompano, bluefish and black drum; redfish on the bars
• Summer (Jun-Aug): whiting and croaker at first light, blacktip and sharpnose sharks
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the mullet run brings redfish, bluefish, jacks and pompano
• Winter (Dec-Feb): whiting and black drum on calm days
• Year-round: whiting are the dependable catch whenever the surf is fishable

Standard surf tackle works.

• Whiting: a double-drop rig with small circle hooks and shrimp or Fishbites
• Pompano: sand fleas or clams with bright floats on the droppers
• Redfish and black drum: cut mullet, clams or blue crab on a fish-finder rig
• Bluefish: metal spoons on a short wire leader
• A sand spike and a cart make life easier

Northeast Florida has big Atlantic tides here, with two a day and a range of several feet.

• Fish the rising tide into the troughs, from mid-tide to high
• Look for troughs and cuts at low tide, then fish them on the flood
• A light west wind flattens the surf and clears the water
• Northeast winds make the surf rough and muddy
• Dawn and dusk avoid swimmers in summer

An easy beach to reach, with the usual surf hazards.

• Rip currents; do not wade deep
• Summer lightning; leave early when storms build
• Stingrays in the shallows: shuffle your feet
• Cast away from swimmers and surfers, especially in summer
• Police and lifeguards can close or restrict the beach for crowds, sharks, storms, tides or currents
• Heat and sun on the open beach; bring water and shade
• Staffed lifeguard towers mean no fishing lines within 300 yards of them
• Parking is close by, but the beach itself is soft sand

One of the best-equipped beach parks on Amelia Island.

• Public restrooms and outdoor showers
• Picnic shelters and a playground
• Restaurants nearby
• No bait shop in the park; tackle shops are in Fernandina Beach
• Two sand volleyball courts, a multipurpose court and a skate park
• Beach accesses from the park to the sand
• A large grassy area for a break from the sand

• Dig sand fleas at the swash line; they are the best pompano bait
• Fish early morning in summer before the beach fills
• The fall mullet run is the best time for redfish and bluefish
• Walk north toward Fort Clinch for quieter water
• Keep your spread tight when the beach is busy
• Look for troughs at low tide, then fish them on the rising tide
• Bring a cart for the carry from the parking to the water

Main Beach Park is a City of Fernandina Beach park.

• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you qualify for an exemption
• City code bans fishing lines within 300 yards north or south of a staffed lifeguard tower, and any line that blocks people walking the beach
• City parks and beach accesses close from midnight to 5 a.m.; do not leave fish remains on the beach
• Stay off the dunes and out of marked sea turtle nests
• Shore-based shark fishing needs the free FWC shore-based shark fishing permit
• Check current FWC rules (myfwc.com) for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything