St. Marys and Nassau Rivers

Both coastal rivers give anglers the opportunity to catch a variety of freshwater species.  When fishing the Saint Mary’s River, be sure to keep current on both Florida and Georgia regulations as rules change depending on your location.  In the more freshwater, upper reaches of these rivers, black bass, panfish, and catfish can all be taken.  Panfish should remain active throughout the summer months.  The shallower, vegetated banks are the most productive sunfish habitats in these rivers.  Woody snags or downed trees in deeper holes should be targeted as well.  Live baits, such as worms and crickets, are great choices for sunfish in these waters.  Artificial flies like poppers and rubber spiders as well as small spinners and jigs can be productive.  Both the Nassau and the St. Mary’s River have good populations of bass.  Targeting cypress stands and other woody structure with soft plastics or jigs along river shorelines is a great way to fish for bass. Good bass fishing can be found in the areas around King’s Ferry, Boulogne and St. George.  In the lower stretches of these rivers, anglers can fish for a variety of saltwater species including drum, sea trout, and flounder. Live bait is an effective way of taking these species, with mud-minnows, shrimp, and crabs being popular choices.  Artificial jigs and plugs are two effective ways to target these fish as well.  Areas to target include current breaks, woody structure, and areas of hard bottom. Anglers looking to tangle with powerful striped bass should concentrate their efforts in the lower stretches of the St. Marys River, between I-95 and the town of St. Marys.  Trolling plugs and casting shad-imitating jigs in deeper holes should produce fish.  Anglers bouncing bucktail jigs under the I-95 bridge pilings have an excellent shot of hooking up with stripers.