June 2026 Amelia Island Fishing Report

June 2026 Amelia Island Fishing Report

Redfish & Flounder Take Center Stage

AIBT Anglers Shine at the Fernandina Beach Rodeo

Summer fishing has officially arrived on Amelia Island, and what a way to kick off June.

The Fernandina Beach Rodeo wrapped up on May 30th with another successful event, and we're proud to report that Amelia Island Bait & Tackle anglers were well represented at the top of the leaderboard. The AIBT/Amelia Backwater team took home 1st Place Flounder and 2nd Place Redfish, while the AIBT/Anglers Mark team took 1st Place Redfish.

Having AIBT anglers on winning teams in both categories speaks volumes about the quality of fishing we have right now throughout Nassau County.

As we move into June, two species stand above the rest for local anglers: Redfish and Flounder.

June Fishing Conditions

Water temperatures continue to climb into summer patterns, and bait activity is exploding throughout the marshes, creeks, beaches, and inlets.

Water clarity has been somewhat inconsistent lately, with recent rains and changing wind directions creating varying conditions from day to day. One tide may bring beautiful clean green water, while the next may be stained from runoff or wind-driven sediment. Successful anglers are adapting and moving to cleaner water whenever possible.

Fortunately, both redfish and flounder remain active regardless of slight water color changes as long as bait is present.

Redfish Report

June is one of my favorite months to target redfish because fish begin settling into predictable summer feeding patterns.

The Fernandina Beach Rodeo showcased two very different but highly effective approaches to targeting redfish.

The AIBT/Anglers Mark team, captained by Lawrence Piper, found success fishing live shrimp under popping corks around oyster beds. This remains one of the most productive techniques available when fish are feeding aggressively around shell structure.

Meanwhile, the AIBT/Amelia Backwater team, captained by Brad Ecklof, relied heavily on artificial presentations, catching the majority of their fish on topwater plugs before switching to live bait later in the day.

High Tide Strategy

During higher stages of the tide, focus on flooded grass edges, shallow flats, and oyster points.

Redfish use these areas to hunt shrimp, crabs, and baitfish that become accessible as water rises.

Topwater fishing can be absolutely explosive during this period.

Some of our favorite June producers include:

  • MirrOlure Top Dog

  • MirrOlure She Dog

  • Rapala Skitter Walk

  • Heddon Super Spook Jr.

Work these baits with a steady walk-the-dog cadence. Early mornings with light winds often produce the most violent strikes of the year.

Outgoing Tide Strategy

As water begins falling, redfish are forced to leave the flooded flats and move toward deeper water.

This creates predictable feeding opportunities around:

  • Dock pilings

  • Creek mouths

  • Oyster bars

  • Secondary points

  • Drainages

Many of our better tournament fish came from docks during the falling tide.

Live mud minnows and live blue crabs are excellent choices when targeting larger fish around structure.

Recommended Redfish Tackle

Rod & Reel

  • 2500–4000 size spinning reel

  • 7' to 7'6" medium or medium-heavy rod

Line

  • 15–20 lb braided line

  • 20–30 lb fluorocarbon leader

Best June Baits

  • Live shrimp

  • Mud minnows

  • Live blue crabs

Best June Artificials

  • Top Dog

  • She Dog

  • Super Spook Jr.

  • Rapala Skitter Walk

  • Gulp Swim Mullet

Flounder Report

If there was one fish that stole the show during the Rodeo, it was the flounder.

June marks the beginning of some of the best flounder fishing of the entire year around Amelia Island.

The winning flounder were caught primarily on:

  • Live mud minnows

  • Finger mullet

  • Gulp Swim Mullet (White)

  • Red jig heads

The key area was the extensive sand flats surrounding the inlet systems.

Where to Find Flounder

Flounder are ambush predators.

Rather than chasing bait, they position themselves where current naturally delivers food.

Focus on:

  • Sand flats

  • Drop-offs

  • Creek mouths

  • Dock edges

  • Channel ledges

  • Current seams near inlets

Look for areas where current sweeps across a flat and dumps into deeper water.

Best Tides for Flounder

The falling tide remains king.

As water drains from the marshes, baitfish are forced through funnels and drains where flounder can ambush them.

Target:

  • Creek mouths

  • Sand pockets

  • Troughs

  • Drainage cuts

A slow presentation near the bottom is critical.

Most anglers work their baits too quickly.

Allow your bait to stay near bottom contact and move it with short hops and pauses.

Recommended Flounder Tackle

Rod & Reel

  • 2500–3000 size spinning reel

  • 7' medium action rod

Line

  • 10–15 lb braid

  • 20 lb fluorocarbon leader

Top Baits

  • Live mud minnows

  • Finger mullet

  • White Gulp Swim Mullet

  • White Gulp Swimming Jerk Shad

Jig Heads

  • Red jig heads

  • 1/4 oz

  • 3/8 oz

  • Adjust weight based on current

Trout Update

While redfish and flounder are grabbing most of the attention, don't overlook the trout bite.

We're continuing to find quality trout feeding during the first part of the outgoing tide, particularly around creek mouths and shell edges.

One of the most exciting bites happening right now is along the beaches during west wind conditions.

Calm surf and clean water have produced some outstanding topwater trout action.

There are few things more exciting than watching a big speckled trout explode on a topwater plug with the Atlantic Ocean in the background.

Look for:

  • First of the outgoing tide

  • Clean water

  • Early morning periods

  • West wind conditions

Topwater favorites include:

  • Top Dog Jr.

  • She Dog

  • Super Spook Jr.

  • Skitter Walk

Red Snapper Update: What Anglers Need to Know

Red snapper has become one of the biggest stories in Florida fishing this spring.

Florida anglers were originally expecting a greatly expanded Atlantic red snapper season after NOAA approved a special Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) program that would have created a 39-day recreational season. However, just hours before the season was scheduled to open, a federal court issued an injunction that temporarily halted the permit program. NOAA subsequently suspended the EFPs while legal challenges continue. Florida officials, charter captains, bait shops, and recreational anglers have strongly opposed the decision, while commercial fishing interests and conservation groups argue that a longer season could exceed federal harvest limits. For now, Atlantic anglers should closely monitor current regulations before heading offshore, as the situation continues to evolve. (NOAA Fisheries)

What's Working Right Now

The hottest products leaving the shop lately have been:

Live Bait

  • Live Mud Minnows

  • Live Shrimp

Artificial Baits

  • Gulp Swim Mullet

  • Gulp Swimming Jerk Shad

Topwater Lures

  • MirrOlure Top Dog

  • MirrOlure She Dog

  • Heddon Super Spook Jr.

  • Rapala Skitter Walk

If you're targeting redfish, flounder, or trout this month, these are the baits we'd start with.

June Outlook

June offers some of the most consistent inshore fishing of the entire year around Amelia Island.

Redfish are feeding aggressively on the flats and around oyster bars. Flounder are stacking up around inlet sand flats and creek mouths. Trout continue to crush topwater plugs around the beaches and marsh systems.

Pay attention to your tides, focus on moving water, and don't be afraid to adjust locations based on water clarity.

As always, stop by Amelia Island Bait & Tackle before your next trip. We'll get you rigged up with the latest fishing report, fresh bait, and the tackle that's producing right now.

Good luck on the water, and we'll see you at the shop.

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