St. Marys and Nassau Rivers

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. Check the local tide charts and plan your trip accordingly. Fish tend to be more active during rising and falling tides, as opposed to slack water times. The St. Mary’s River is known for its healthy populations of bluegill and redbreast sunfish. The shallower, vegetated banks are the most productive sunfish habitats in both these rivers. Live baits, such as worms and crickets, are great choices when fishing for sunfish. Trolling plugs and casting shad-imitating jigs in deeper holes should attract almost any fish in these areas. The St. Mary’s and Nassau Rivers are productive systems for bass with anglers consistently hooking plenty of nice smaller bass. As water temperatures rise, look for bass to move from deeper holes to inundated cypress stands and other woody structures. Fish these areas and with soft plastics or jigs as well as along the river shorelines. The lower stretches of the river will provide an opportunity for anglers to catch various estuarine species such as drum, sea trout, and striped bass. Live bait is an effective way of taking these species, with mud-minnows, shrimp, and crabs being popular choices.