Fishing spots in Nassau County

Nassau County is Florida's northeast corner: Amelia Island, the historic port of Fernandina Beach, St. Marys Inlet on the Georgia line, and Nassau Sound to the south. Some of the state's biggest tides, five to six feet, sweep through its two inlets. Anglers fish beside the south jetty of St. Marys Inlet at Fort Clinch State Park, whose old pier was lost to Hurricane Matthew, and from the George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier over Nassau Sound. Redfish, black drum, sheepshead, whiting and seatrout are the mainstays, with tarpon and mackerel in summer.

St. Marys Inlet and Fort Clinch

• Character: A deep, jettied inlet with huge tides and strong current.
• What it suits: Redfish, black drum, sheepshead, flounder, whiting.
• Access: Fort Clinch State Park (park fee, 8 a.m. to sundown); fish the beach beside the jetty.

Amelia Island beaches

• Character: Surf beaches with sand bars from Fernandina's Main Beach south to American Beach.
• What it suits: Whiting, pompano, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, sharks.
• Access: Public beach accesses and parks along Fletcher Avenue and A1A.

Nassau Sound

• Character: A marsh-lined sound with fast tidal flow.
• What it suits: Whiting, trout, redfish, drum, sheepshead.
• Access: The George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier via Amelia Island State Park (small fee).

Season	Likely species (shore)	Notes
Spring (Mar-May)	Black drum, sheepshead, whiting, trout, bluefish	Big drum run at the inlets.
Summer (Jun-Aug)	Tarpon, Spanish mackerel, flounder, whiting, sharks	Tarpon roll in both inlets.
Fall (Sep-Nov)	Bull redfish, flounder, trout, bluefish, jacks	Best redfish and flounder season.
Winter (Dec-Feb)	Sheepshead, black drum, whiting, trout	Fiddler crabs on the rocks and pilings.

• Inlet and bridge: Fish-finder rigs with 4-8 oz of lead and cut mullet, crab or clams.
• Sheepshead: Fiddler crabs on short leaders at slack tide.
• Whiting: Two-hook rigs with shrimp or squid strips.
• Trout: Live shrimp under a float.
• A bridge net for the George Crady pier.

• Tides are semidiurnal (two highs and two lows a day) with a range of around five to six feet, among the largest in Florida.
• Peak flow in the inlets and Nassau Sound is too strong to fish; fish the turns.
• The outgoing tide brings redfish and flounder out of the sounds and marshes.
• Low tide exposes wide beaches; learn the channels then.
• Wind against the tide makes the inlets rough.

• Swimming is prohibited near the Fort Clinch jetty and is unsafe in Nassau Sound because of currents.
• Do not climb the jetty rocks.
• The big tidal range floods beaches fast.
• Ship and submarine traffic uses St. Marys Inlet; wakes can wash up the beach.
• Summer lightning is frequent.
• Parts of the George Crady Bridge are closed; stay out of fenced sections.

• Fish the turn of the tide everywhere in this county; peak flow is too strong.
• Fiddler crabs for sheepshead from December to April.
• Fort Clinch's pier is gone; fish the beach beside the jetty instead.
• The George Crady Bridge is reached from the Amelia Island State Park end; the south end is closed.
• Carry sun protection on the bridge; there is no shade.
• Bull reds push through St. Marys Inlet on fall outgoing tides.

• Duval County – Huguenot Park, Hanna Park and the Jacksonville Beach Pier to the south.
• St. Johns County – Vilano Beach and Matanzas Inlet further south.

• Is the Fort Clinch fishing pier open?
  • No. It was destroyed by Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and removed; anglers fish the beach beside the jetty rocks.
• Which county is the George Crady Bridge in?
  • It spans Nassau Sound on the Nassau-Duval line; the open section is reached from Amelia Island State Park in Nassau County.
• Do I need a fishing license?
  • A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt; check FWC (myfwc.com).
• How big are the tides?
  • Around five to six feet, which is why fishing the tide changes matters so much.
• When are sheepshead best?
  • Winter and early spring around rocks and old pilings.

Area	Coast character & access	Best species	Prime season	Go-to methods	Key safety notes	Facilities
Fort Clinch State Park Jetty	Inlet beach beside the jetty; park fee; 8 a.m. to sundown	Redfish, drum, sheepshead, whiting	Fall to spring	Heavy fish-finder rigs, fiddler crabs	No swimming, strong current	Restrooms, showers, campgrounds
George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier	Old bridge over Nassau Sound; small fee	Whiting, trout, reds, drum	Spring and fall	Bottom rigs, float and shrimp	Current, closed sections, no shade	Restrooms at north end
Amelia Island beaches	Surf beaches with public accesses	Whiting, pompano, bluefish	Fall to spring	Pompano rigs, spoons	Rip currents	Beach-park facilities