220 Nix Boat Yard Road . Saint Augustine . Florida . 32084 . 904-824-3328
Fishing Report
As the seasons change, so do the types of fish we catch. The Sea Love captains will regularly provide up-to-date fishing reports on what is biting, types of trips we are running, and the techniques we are using. Even though the fishing is excellent this time of year, the weather is not, and each trip must be planned around the approaching cold fronts. Call several days in advance for information on what the ocean forecast will be and when we will be fishing next.
Mid April 2021 - The all day fishing is on fire!
Big red snapper and sharks
Big red snapper and sharks
Big red snapper and sharks
Trophy red snapper have been common on the all and half days. We are hooking 10-20 large sharks each all day and getting several to the boat. The half day has yielded a number of keeper black nose sharks up to 4 ft. Keeper snapper have included several nice mangos, a 5 lb. yellowtail, and a handful of 2-3 lb. lane snapper.
Limits of stringer fish
Big red snapper and sharks
Big red snapper and sharks
Limits of vermilion snapper (5/person) have been common and many are in the 2-3 lb. range. Almaco/bar jacks are filling up the stringers and we have seen some upwards of 7 lbs. Other stringer fish have included triggers, spade fish and seabass. Double rigs will get the job done quick.
April 1st Half-Day - The fish have started biting again!
Sheepshead
Monster Red Snapper
Monster Red Snapper
We usually only catch a few a year, and this lucky lady caught this beauty in 60 feet of water on a piece of squid.
Monster Red Snapper
Monster Red Snapper
Monster Red Snapper
The bigger red snapper have moved into the shallow water. Drift lining usually gets the bigger fish but all techniques work.
White-Bone Porgy
Monster Red Snapper
White-Bone Porgy
This species of porgy eats great and they bite anything.
March 2021 - The water got cold and the fishing slowed down.
Redfish
Red Snapper
Redfish
Some nice bluefish can also be found along with the usual porgies and grunts on the half days. Almaco jacks are schooling underneath the boat but are slow to bite.
Sharks
Red Snapper
Redfish
This unknown shark species broke the leader at the boat. We are usually hooking into several a day. Bring your big tackle to battle a monster.
Red Snapper
Red Snapper
Red Snapper
As the month went on, the red snapper got bigger. Some were pushing 20 #. The vermilion bite is slow, but a lot of undersized seabass are being caught.
Early February 2021
This is the time of year for keeper sea bass on the all day trip in 100 ft. Weed thru the numerous shorts with big baits such as squid, cut fish and Fish Bites on bottom to get some really nice stringers of this tasty fish . Handful of almaco/bar jacks are being caught anywhere in the water column. They love jigs.
The vermilion are still hanging in the 100' range but with the colder water temps, the bite has slowed down. Bigger red snapper up to 20 lbs are now being caught and released. Triggers, porgies and tomtates continue to be regular catches, and every trip we are hooking monsters we never see. Bring your own big tackle and give it a go.
Late January 2021 (all day trips)
Bonita and Pelagics
Vermilion Snapper, Triggers and Seabass
Vermilion Snapper, Triggers and Seabass
The Sea love III has run three all day trips the past few weeks. On every trip somebody hooks something big and gets spooled. This is the time of year and place for big tuna, wahoo and sharks. There is plenty of bait around.
Vermilion Snapper, Triggers and Seabass
Vermilion Snapper, Triggers and Seabass
Vermilion Snapper, Triggers and Seabass
Boat limits of vermilion have been the norm. They are high off the bottom. Throw in a few keeper seabass, porgies, and triggers and the stringers have been good.
Sharks
Vermilion Snapper, Triggers and Seabass
Sharks
Big sharks are usually the case, but this is one of the few we can keep and makes great eating. The Atlantic Sharpnose has been a rare site this past year.
Early January 2021 (half day trips)
Bull Reds
Stringer fish
Stringer fish
Redfish up to 30 lbs. are now schooling on the live bottom reefs in 60 feet of water. They will bite anything on the bottom that looks tasty. On this particular half-day trip we caught nearly 30 of these beauties. All redfish must be released in federal waters, but they certainly make for a great fight and trophy pictures.
Stringer fish
Stringer fish
Stringer fish
Safely say the bull redfish were feeding on these stringer fish. A small piece of squid or cut bait on the bottom yielded all the fish you want to keep. Great eating and the crew will clean. There is no size or bag limit on weakfish, pigfish or grunts and we are now starting to see the keeper seabass show up in the 60 foot half-day areas as well. The all day trips should produce even more keeper fish.
December 2020
Nice vermilion snapper up to 3 pounds are now biting on the all day trip in the 100 foot range. Catching your limit of 5 should not be a problem. The fish are suspended in the water column and a small piece of squid off the bottom should do the trick. Wait for a gentle pull on the rod, lift up and wind the reel. The bigger cut baits are certainly catching the share of snapper up to 10 pounds while monster sharks are doing their part to bust your tackle. Hooking plenty of them but it's tough getting them to the boat. They are either breaking lines or taking it all. The larger seabass, probably the tastiest fish in the ocean, have started showing up and we've been getting a handful of keepers.
TROPHY SNAPPER EVERDAY
25 lb plus fish are swimming up to the boat. Pick your trophy and cast to them. Hard to find a better fishery. Currently due to Federal regulations, all red snapper must be released, but this won't prevent you from getting a memorable photo of a world class catch. In 2020, federal fisheries managers opened up the red snapper fishery for five days, so please monitor our website for news of the 2021 openings.