Jacksonville Beach Pier

82 — GO

Jacksonville Beach

Northeast Florida's primary ocean pier — 1,320 feet extending into the Atlantic. Strong seasonal runs for pompano and whiting in spring/fall, excellent flounder during the October-November migration, and king mackerel from the T-end in summer.

This spot targets species that are in their active season right now. incoming tide lines up with this spot.

Best window around high tide Sun 1:48 AM

Location

Tides & Moon

Between phases — focus on tide timing over lunar influence

Major feeding5:06 AM – 7:06 AM5:06 PM – 7:06 PM

Minor feeding11:06 PM – 12:06 AM11:06 AM – 12:06 PM

Live Conditions

Water81.5°F

Wave—

WindSE 5 mph

Tideincoming

Air75°F

Rain0%

Conditions Match

Conditions check

How it matches right now

Tide: incoming / high; incoming
Wind dir: W, SW, S; SE
Wind speed: ≤10 mph ideal; 5 mph
Wave height: 1–3 ft; —
Water temp: 60–78°F; 81.5°F
Light: Daytime; Daytime

✓ ideal ~ close ✗ outside range

Personal logbook

Log this trip with conditions auto-captured from the live feed.

Current Read

Why it scores 82 right now

This spot targets species that are in their active season right now.
incoming tide lines up with this spot.
Light breeze keeps the presentation manageable.
Water temperature is workable, but not ideal for this program.
This is a cleaner daylight read than a pure low-light play.

Tactics

Hooks, baits, and lanes for Jacksonville Beach Pier

Pompano — spring/fall migration

Double-drop rig with No. 2 hooks, sand fleas, fresh shrimp, or Fishbites. 2–3 oz pyramid sinker. Fish the upcurrent side of the pier in the first 300 feet during incoming tide. Pompano migration peaks are March-May and October-November. Move along the pier until you find the school.

Flounder — October piling drag

3/8 oz white bucktail tipped with fresh-cut mullet belly or a live finger mullet. Work along the sand at the base of the pilings during the October-November run. Drag slowly — flounder hit and hold. Wait 3 full seconds before sweeping the rod up to set.

Black drum — piling structure

Large shrimp or half a blue crab on a 3/0 circle hook with 25 lb fluoro, fished on the bottom tight to the pilings. Drum use their chin barbels to find food — they don't strike visually. Let the bait sit and wait for the slow, heavy pull. Circle hooks set themselves.

Sheepshead — winter pilings

Live fiddler crab or shrimp on a 1/0 hook with 15 lb fluoro and a split shot. Drop right against the pilings. January-March is peak season. They hit like they're nibbling — feel for the lightest tick and short-stroke the hookset upward. Sharp hooks are critical.

Target Species

Florida Pompano

Keep casts in the troughs first; only bomb it long if the first cut is dead.

FWC recreational rule set: 11" fork minimum, 6 per harvester, open year-round.

Whiting

Move with the clean-water pocket and stay close to the first or second trough.

Check current local limits before harvest; use this card as a trip cue, not your final legal source.

Flounder

Drag baits across sand-mud transitions and channel drop-offs. Flounder ambush — they don't chase. Slow down.

FWC: 14" total length minimum, 5 per harvester. Sept. closed season on Atlantic coast.

Black Drum

Work slower water right off structure or on the calmer side of the surf cut.

Use live FWC regulations for current harvest limits before keeping fish.

Sheepshead

Fish vertical and tight to pilings; this is a precision bite, not a long-cast bite.

FWC rule set: 12" minimum, 8 per person, open year-round; vessel limit 50 during March and April.

Spanish Mackerel

Cast ahead of surface schools parallel to the beach. Speed kills — if you're not moving the lure fast, you're doing it wrong.

FWC: 12" fork minimum, 15 per harvester. Open year-round.

Access

Paid pier fishing access (rates vary — typically $5–6 adults, $3 kids). Cash and card accepted.
Rod rentals and basic tackle available at the pier house.
No fishing license required from the pier (Florida pier exemption).
Open daily — hours vary by season. Call (904) 241-1515 for current hours.
Beach Bait & Tackle (333 1st St N) is within walking distance for additional gear and live bait.
Parking at the pier lot fills early on weekends. Arrive before 7 AM or use the lots on 2nd/3rd Avenue.

Hazards

Water is cooler here than central Florida — species windows shift 2–3 weeks later in spring and earlier in fall.
Strong NE swells can shut down the pier or make it unfishable. Check NWS Jacksonville surf forecast.
King mackerel anglers claim the T-end spots early. Coordinate around their live bait setups.
Strong longshore current during NE wind events. Adjust sinker weight and casting angle accordingly.
Seagulls and pelicans are aggressive bait thieves. Don't leave anything unattended.

Highlights

Excellent pompano and whiting during spring (March-May) and fall (October-November) migrations.
Flounder run in October-November is one of the best in Northeast Florida. Target pilings and sand transitions.
King mackerel and cobia from the T-end in April-October. Fish in the 20–40 lb class.
Black drum hold on the pilings year-round — reliable winter bite when other species are slow.
Sheepshead season (January-March) produces consistent catches on the barnacle-covered pilings.
Spanish mackerel blitzes from May-September provide fast-paced action from mid-pier.