Ponte Vedra Beach Fishing Charters & Guides

Ponte Vedra Beach Fishing Charters

On the coast of Florida, just East of Jacksonville, is a string of beach towns. From Atlantic Beach to Ponte Vedra Beach, these cities are known as the beaches of Jacksonville (the city in the middle is called Jacksonville Beach, so that helps). Ponte Vedra is the southernmost beach in this string of beach towns, and is a great place to visit. Ponte Vedra (pronounced Ponti Vee-Dra) is known as the “Palm Beach of North Florida,” another luxurious city for adults to golf, boat, swim, and fish. Golfers know all about Ponte Vedra, home of the famous 17th-hole island green at TPC Sawgrass. This resort town is known for hosting executives and high rollers, with fine dining and elegant shopping as part of the norm. Anglers looking to do some fishing in Ponte Vedra will appreciate the nearby intercoastal waterways, freshwater creeks and lagoons, and the bountiful Atlantic Ocean. You don’t need to have any fishing gear, local Ponte Vedra Beach fishing charters will provide everything you need for a great day on the water.

Ponte Vedra Beach Inshore Fishing

Kayak fishing is very popular in Ponte Vedra Beach waters. Whether you drop into the river, or fish the ocean during calm seasons (late spring or early summer), kayaking and paddleboarding is a unique way for anglers to get into the action. Good balance and minimal gear is a must for those wanting to try kayak fishing. Cast your line and wait for redfish, snook, or trout to take the bait. Redfish like to hide out in the shallows looking for their next meal. Often times they will show their backs and tail fins in the shallow waters. Use top water lures, very light lures, or live and cut bait with no weight or weight well above the hook. In the deeper waters use live and cut bait or lures fished under a popping cork. The popping cork bobs at the surface, and “pops” as the rod is twitched. This imitates a wounded baitfish, acting as a dinner bell to bring the reds to the line. Fishing guides in Ponte Vedra Beach will also fish from the surf. No boat is required and you just need a bucket full of bait. Visit the local tackle shop for a bag full of frozen shrimp or live bait. Get to the beach in the early morning hours or just before sunset, when there are less people along the shore. Or visit during the offseason when there’s not as many tourists. Some anglers will use pompano rigs with spin drifters and can catch pompano, jack crevalle, speckled seatrout, sting rays, whiting, and more. Sharks are also an option when surf fishing in Ponte Vedra Beach. You’ll need a permit, per the new FWC shark regulations. But it’s an exciting trip when you reel in the “tax man” himself. When shark fishing in Ponte Vedra you can expect to catch blacktip, tiger, bull, nurse, and lemon shark, to name a few. Use medium or heavy-action rods with 50+ pound braided line and a steel leader. As you will not have the luxury of chasing the fish down with a boat, ensure that you are using a high capacity reel with enough line to survive the runs of a large shark. Menhaden is a popular bait for sharks, and are sure to bring them to the line. Chumming on the shoreline is not allowed. Once you have a shark reeled in, take a quick picture before releasing back into the ocean’s waters.

Ponte Vedra Beach Offshore Fishing

Ponte Vedra Beach offshore fishing can range from fair to excellent, depending on the season. Nevertheless, Ponte Vedra Beach charters are running year round, unless there’s a hurricane or tropical storm brewing in the Atlantic. You can target open water species such as marlin, sailfish, mahi mahi, or tuna. Or check out the local reefs for snapper, grouper, and amberjack. If you’re after a delicious dinner, hire a charter that can hook you up on mahi mahi. Mahi Mahi are also known as dolphin or dorado. They are a colorful fish with bright yellows, greens, and blues across its body. Offshore species typically round up baitfish near the surface and attack it in a school. This makes for easy pickings for the birds. Your Ponte Vedra Beach captain will often keep an eye on the sky when looking for mahi. Once a mahi is on the hook, keep it in the water to hook the others in the school. You’re bound to have a nice boat-full of mahi in no time. Some anglers will opt for charters who fish for sailfish in Ponte Vedra. Sailfish are one of the fastest swimmers in the ocean and can jump and thrash, making for a nice acrobatic show. Captains will typically troll the open waters, dragging bait through the waters to give sailfish something to chase after. Heavy tackle is needed, and typical bait includes threadfin herring, cigar minnows, and large pilchards. Around the reefs and wrecks of Ponte Vedra Beach you can hook on grouper or snapper. These are bottom dwelling species and will hide in the nooks and crannies provided by structure. Bottom fishing for grouper will often involve heavier tackle and strong fluorocarbon leader. Wait for the grouper to hit the bait and get ready to reel as soon as you feel the strike. This is where the heavier tackle comes in, as grouper will often strike and immediately attempt to return to their hole.

Book A Ponte Vedra Fishing Charter

After your done hitting the links in Ponte Vedra Beach, consider a day on the water. There’s a ton of fishing to choose from, and you’re sure to get some rod-bending action. Find a local Ponte Vedra Beach charter today and get the adventure started!