About Goodbys Creek, FL

Goodbys Creek is a tributary of the St. Johns River located in Duval County, Florida. The creek was formerly known as Azza Creek; later on, it was changed to Goodmans Lake and then Goodbys Lake and is now called Goodbys Creek. The creek flows from and ends in Jacksonville, dividing the communities of San Jose and Mandarin. It is also connected to Christopher Creek. It rises to an elevation of 3 feet.

A 250-acre farm owned by Joseph Goodbee was located on the northern side of the creek. It was developed in 1766 by Goodbee himself. Meanwhile, on the southern shore of the stream is where Beauclerc Bluff is situated. Both lands were acquired by a London merchant named Henry Strachey.

All About Fishing in Goodbys Creek, FL

Goodbys Creek offers excellent fishing for anglers looking for an extraordinary fishing experience. The fish found here include largemouth bass, red drum, and bluegill. Blue catfish, alligator gar, mangrove red snapper, sheepshead seabream, and southern flounder are also caught in the creek. Largemouth bass eats fish, crayfish, and frogs. Mangrove red snapper are carnivorous and usually eat at night on fish and crustaceans. Aquatic and terrestrial insects are the food eaten by bluegill. Alligator gar prey on fish, but they also eat small turtles, crabs, and waterfowl. Red drum are bottom feeders that target small fish, crabs, and shrimp. Blue catfish have an insatiable appetite that they could devour plants, fish, and even other catfish, too. Sheepshead seabream are omnivorous; they feast on invertebrates, small vertebrates, and plants. Southern flounder consume invertebrates and smaller fish.

The creek has available boat ramps as well as banks for inshore fishing. Drift fishing is an excellent technique to use while fishing in the stream. Other fishing techniques such as fly fishing, flounder gigging, surf casting, spinning, and baitcasting are also perfect to use land trophy fish present in the creek. Anglers are advised to check the water, weather, and wind conditions in the area before going fishing.

Fishing Seasonality

Largemouth bass and blue catfish are available in Florida all year round. Largemouth bass spawn from late November until April, while the spawning season for blue catfish occurs in late May or early June when the water temperature reaches 70 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit. Bluegill fishing are best from April until August, but their spawning season begins in late November through May. The balmy months of June, July, and August are dubbed as the best time to fish for alligator gar. Springtime is the time when alligator gar start to breed. Red drum are best caught during September, noting that it is the peak season for redfish fishing. Like bass and catfish, mangrove red snapper are ready to be caught all year round. They spawn during the summer months. While they are available to be caught throughout the year, sheepshead seabream are easiest caught during December to April, especially when high tide. They usually spawn from February to June. Anglers target southern flounder during winter and early spring. They conduct a mass migration to start their spawning season from the middle of October until the middle of November.

Fishing Seasonality

Largemouth bass and blue catfish are available in Florida all year round. Largemouth bass spawn from late November until April, while the spawning season for blue catfish occurs in late May or early June when the water temperature reaches 70 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit. Bluegill fishing are best from April until August, but their spawning season begins in late November through May. The balmy months of June, July, and August are dubbed as the best time to fish for alligator gar. Springtime is the time when alligator gar start to breed. Red drum are best caught during September, noting that it is the peak season for redfish fishing. Like bass and catfish, mangrove red snapper are ready to be caught all year round. They spawn during the summer months. While they are available to be caught throughout the year, sheepshead seabream are easiest caught during December to April, especially when high tide. They usually spawn from February to June. Anglers target southern flounder during winter and early spring. They conduct a mass migration to start their spawning season from the middle of October until the middle of November.

All About Fishing in Goodbys Creek, FL

Goodbys Creek offers excellent fishing for anglers looking for an extraordinary fishing experience. The fish found here include largemouth bass, red drum, and bluegill. Blue catfish, alligator gar, mangrove red snapper, sheepshead seabream, and southern flounder are also caught in the creek. Largemouth bass eats fish, crayfish, and frogs. Mangrove red snapper are carnivorous and usually eat at night on fish and crustaceans. Aquatic and terrestrial insects are the food eaten by bluegill. Alligator gar prey on fish, but they also eat small turtles, crabs, and waterfowl. Red drum are bottom feeders that target small fish, crabs, and shrimp. Blue catfish have an insatiable appetite that they could devour plants, fish, and even other catfish, too. Sheepshead seabream are omnivorous; they feast on invertebrates, small vertebrates, and plants. Southern flounder consume invertebrates and smaller fish.

The creek has available boat ramps as well as banks for inshore fishing. Drift fishing is an excellent technique to use while fishing in the stream. Other fishing techniques such as fly fishing, flounder gigging, surf casting, spinning, and baitcasting are also perfect to use land trophy fish present in the creek. Anglers are advised to check the water, weather, and wind conditions in the area before going fishing.