Matanzas Inlet Fishing

Matanzas Inlet is a wild, shifting inlet where the Matanzas River meets the Atlantic, with no jetties, just sand, oyster bars and fast water. Its north shore is part of Fort Matanzas National Monument, so the beaches stay natural and undeveloped.

• Redfish, black drum, sheepshead and trout along the inlet and under the A1A bridge.
• Flounder on the inlet drop-offs in fall.
• Pompano, whiting and bluefish on the ocean beach.
• A beautiful, uncrowded setting beside a Spanish fort.

The inlet is on State Road A1A about 14 miles south of downtown St. Augustine, near Summer Haven and the Flagler County line.

• Parking: Small free National Park Service lots on both sides of A1A just north of the Matanzas Inlet bridge; the two ocean-side accesses have about 60 spaces between them and fill early on weekends.
• The ocean-side ramp and its lot closed in November 2025 for rebuilding and reopened in September 2026 with accessibility upgrades.
• For the fort, trails and visitor center, use the main monument lot west of A1A.
• Hours: Monument parking lots and boardwalks are open 6 a.m. to midnight; the visitor center grounds, including the river beach there, are open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Beach driving: St. Johns County allows it from the Crescent Beach ramp south to the Fort Matanzas ramp, which is exit only, so you cannot drive onto the beach here; a county beach pass is needed from March through September.
• Surface: Soft sand and some shell; short walks from the lots.

An inlet with a mix of river and ocean fish.

• Spring (Mar-May): Sheepshead and black drum near the bridge and oyster bars, redfish and trout on the move, pompano and whiting on the ocean beach, bluefish passing.
• Summer (Jun-Aug): Redfish and flounder, trout at dawn, jacks and ladyfish, tarpon rolling in the inlet, sharks in the channel.
• Fall (Sep-Nov): The mullet run brings redfish, bluefish and jacks; flounder stack up on the inlet drop-offs.
• Winter (Dec-Feb): Sheepshead and black drum around the bridge, trout in the river, whiting in the surf.

Bring gear for both inlet current and surf.

• Redfish and drum: A fish-finder rig with 2-4 oz of lead, a 3/0-5/0 circle hook, and cut mullet, crab or shrimp.
• Sheepshead: Fiddler crabs or shrimp on a 1/0 hook near the bridge structure and oyster bars.
• Trout: Live shrimp under a popping cork or soft plastics along the grass and bars.
• Flounder: Live mud minnows on a Carolina rig along the inlet drop-off.
• Surf: A pompano rig with sand fleas bought beforehand or Fishbites for pompano and whiting.
• Bring all your bait: collecting fiddler crabs, sand fleas or any other animal inside the monument is prohibited.

Tides at Matanzas Inlet are semidiurnal, two highs and two lows a day, with a range of several feet and very strong flow through the narrow, unjettied inlet.

• The outgoing tide carries bait out of the river and is the classic redfish and flounder tide.
• The incoming tide brings clearer ocean water and suits trout and sheepshead near the bridge.
• The inlet shoals shift after every storm; learn the current channel at low tide.
• Calm, westerly days give the cleanest surf.
• Dawn and dusk are best in summer.

Beautiful but genuinely dangerous water.

• Currents: Inlet currents are extremely strong and the bottom drops off suddenly; never wade out on a falling tide or swim near the inlet.
• Tide: Sand bars flood quickly on the incoming tide; do not get cut off.
• Traffic: A1A is a fast road; cross carefully between the lots.
• Weather: Summer afternoon storms bring lightning; there is no shelter on the beach.
• Wildlife: Stingrays and sharks are common; shuffle your feet. Nesting birds and sea turtles are protected; respect posted closures.
• Access: Short, flat walks on soft sand; not wheelchair-friendly beyond the lots.

Facilities are limited at the inlet itself, so come prepared with water, shade and everything you need for the session.

• Public restrooms, nature trails and fishing access at the monument's visitor center on the west side of A1A, open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Seasonal portable restrooms at the two ocean-side beach accesses, with a seasonal lifeguard at the northern one from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend.
• Free parking in the small beach lots.
• No bait shop at the inlet; bait and tackle shops are in the St. Augustine area.
• No lighting.

• Arrive early: the small beach lots fill quickly on weekends.
• Fish the outgoing tide at the bridge for redfish and drum.
• Shoals move after storms; scout at low tide before fishing.
• Buy sand fleas and fiddler crabs before you come; collecting them inside the monument is not allowed.
• Pack out everything you bring, including old line and bait bags.
• Visit the fort on the free ferry, which runs Thursday to Monday, when the fishing slows.

The north side of the inlet lies within Fort Matanzas National Monument, managed by the National Park Service.

• Fishing is not allowed from park boardwalks and docks, from the shoreline within 50 feet of the fort dock, or from the visitor center shoreline between its dock and the posted signs.
• Collecting plants and animals in the monument is prohibited, including fiddler crabs, sand fleas (mole crabs) and driftwood.
• Monument lots and boardwalks close from midnight to 6 a.m.; alcohol and glass are banned on its beaches, and the dunes are off limits except on marked trails and boardwalks.
• St. Johns County's beach code bans fishing for sharks, chumming and bloodbaiting on its beaches and within 600 feet of shore.
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt.
• Check current FWC rules (myfwc.com) for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything.