St. Johns River fishing

St. Johns River fishing is stocked with Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Sunshine Bass, Grass Carp, and Striped Bass on a river section. It is stocked about 5.9 times a year since 2009. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Largemouth Bass and Striped Bass and dusk and night for Channel Catfish.

AI-generated illustration, not a photo of this lake
Last stocked
FY 2025
Striped Bass
Plants on record
100
Since 2009
Species recorded
5
Elevation
78.1 ft

Fish at St. Johns River

5 stocked · 0 confirmed present

Sunshine Bass Stocked · 69 plants · last FY 2025

Last stocked FY 2025 · 69 plants

Striped Bass Stocked · 18 plants · last FY 2025 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked FY 2025 · 18 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Striped Bass species guide
Channel Catfish Stocked · 10 plants · last FY 2023 Best: dusk, night

Last stocked FY 2023 · 10 plants

Best: dusk, night

Channel Catfish species guide
Largemouth Bass Stocked · 2 plants · last FY 2011 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked FY 2011 · 2 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Largemouth Bass species guide
Grass Carp Stocked · 1 plant · last FY 2011

Last stocked FY 2011 · 1 plant

How St. Johns River is stocked

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Fish stocked in 2009

10,000

Fish stocked in 2010

145,809

Fish stocked in 2011

832,869

Fish stocked in 2012

136,451

Fish stocked in 2013

20,154

Fish stocked in 2014

128,640

Fish stocked in 2015

270,390

Fish stocked in 2016

463,180

Fish stocked in 2017

79,662

Fish stocked in 2018

186,978

Fish stocked in 2019

241,882

Fish stocked in 2020

282,192

Fish stocked in 2021

686,736

Fish stocked in 2022

360,766

Fish stocked in 2023

438,394

Fish stocked in 2024

641,721

Fish stocked in 2025

383,592

Stocking history

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
FY 2025Striped Bass9,331–report
FY 2025Striped Bass8,229–report
FY 2025Striped Bass11,032–report
FY 2025Sunshine Bass355,000–report
FY 2024Sunshine Bass61,262–report
FY 2024Sunshine Bass54,115–report
FY 2024Striped Bass59,684–report
FY 2024Striped Bass40,460–report
FY 2024Striped Bass32,335–report
FY 2024Striped Bass13,480–report
FY 2024Striped Bass75,460–report
FY 2024Striped Bass59,548–report
FY 2024Sunshine Bass54,115–report
FY 2024Sunshine Bass61,262–report
FY 2024Sunshine Bass130,000–report
FY 2023Striped Bass416,078–report
FY 2023Channel Catfish4,280–report
FY 2023Sunshine Bass18,036–report
FY 2022Striped Bass103,157–report
FY 2022Striped Bass66,882–report
FY 2022Striped Bass88,556–report
FY 2022Sunshine Bass20,520–report
FY 2022Sunshine Bass57,465–report
FY 2022Sunshine Bass24,186–report
FY 2021Sunshine Bass80,397–report
FY 2021Sunshine Bass31,600–report
FY 2021Striped Bass294,745–report
FY 2021Sunshine Bass116,230–report
FY 2021Sunshine Bass65,750–report
FY 2021Sunshine Bass36,792–report
FY 2021Sunshine Bass45,672–report
FY 2021Sunshine Bass15,550–report
FY 2020Sunshine Bass32,585–report
FY 2020Sunshine Bass38,419–report
FY 2020Sunshine Bass24,205–report
FY 2020Sunshine Bass28,290–report
FY 2020Sunshine Bass15,097–report
FY 2020Sunshine Bass22,318–report
FY 2020Sunshine Bass58,653–report
FY 2020Sunshine Bass39,768–report
FY 2020Sunshine Bass22,857–report
FY 2019Sunshine Bass61,927–report
FY 2019Sunshine Bass62,092–report
FY 2019Sunshine Bass45,577–report
FY 2019Sunshine Bass14,369–report
FY 2019Sunshine Bass57,917–report
FY 2018Sunshine Bass25,760–report
FY 2018Sunshine Bass43,680–report
FY 2018Sunshine Bass10,362–report
FY 2018Sunshine Bass18,909–report
FY 2018Striped Bass5,730–report
FY 2018Striped Bass7,600–report
FY 2018Striped Bass3,417–report
FY 2018Striped Bass71,520–report
FY 2017Sunshine Bass14,877–report
FY 2017Sunshine Bass6,292–report
FY 2017Sunshine Bass31,930–report
FY 2017Sunshine Bass12,663–report
FY 2017Sunshine Bass1,445–report
FY 2017Sunshine Bass12,455–report
FY 2016Channel Catfish37,642–report
FY 2016Sunshine Bass31,007–report
FY 2016Sunshine Bass38,974–report
FY 2016Sunshine Bass63,204–report
FY 2016Sunshine Bass60,360–report
FY 2016Sunshine Bass6,000–report
FY 2016Sunshine Bass57,309–report
FY 2016Sunshine Bass59,830–report
FY 2016Sunshine Bass75,374–report
FY 2016Sunshine Bass33,480–report
FY 2015Channel Catfish37,642–report
FY 2015Sunshine Bass42,325–report
FY 2015Sunshine Bass16,921–report
FY 2015Sunshine Bass22,288–report
FY 2015Sunshine Bass28,692–report
FY 2015Sunshine Bass24,746–report
FY 2015Sunshine Bass97,776–report
FY 2014Sunshine Bass60,600–report
FY 2014Sunshine Bass14,580–report
FY 2014Sunshine Bass53,460–report
FY 2013Channel Catfish8,050–report
FY 2013Channel Catfish12,104–report
FY 2012Sunshine Bass52,351–report
FY 2012Sunshine Bass84,100–report
FY 2011Grass Carp62–report
FY 2011Channel Catfish85,717–report
FY 2011Sunshine Bass615,000–report
FY 2011Sunshine Bass27,269–report
FY 2011Sunshine Bass33,144–report
FY 2011Sunshine Bass22,220–report
FY 2011Sunshine Bass7,900–report
FY 2011Sunshine Bass35,557–report
FY 2011Largemouth Bass6,000–report
FY 2010Sunshine Bass14,818–report
FY 2010Sunshine Bass27,261–report
FY 2010Channel Catfish5,080–report
FY 2010Channel Catfish46,785–report
FY 2010Channel Catfish5,080–report
FY 2010Channel Catfish46,785–report
FY 2009Largemouth Bass10,000–report

Access and facts

Water type
river section
Nearest town
Palatka, FL
Facilities
dock

At Palatka (Putnam County pin), City of Palatka boat ramps at Riverfront Park, 301 River Street, are free and open 24 hours with deep concrete access, paved parking for about 70 vehicles and 40 trailers, and staging docks. Riverfront Park also has kayak launch plus boat and fishing piers.

Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.

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Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission before you go.

Nearest lakes

Lake George 19.8 mi last stocked FY 2021 Horseshoe Lake 20.2 mi last stocked FY 2021 South Twin Lake 22.7 mi last stocked FY 2024 Lake Eaton 22.9 mi last stocked FY 2017 Lake Bryant 29.6 mi last stocked FY 2025

Common questions

What fish are at St. Johns River?

Fishing St. Johns River usually means Sunshine Bass: Sunshine Bass accounts for 69 of 100 plants on record, ahead of Striped Bass and 3 more. Sunshine Bass was last stocked FY 2025. Striped Bass was last stocked FY 2025. Channel Catfish was last stocked FY 2023. Largemouth Bass was last stocked FY 2011. 1 more species is on the stocking report.

When is St. Johns River stocked?

Last stocked FY 2025. It is stocked about 5.9 times a year since 2009.

How do you get on St. Johns River?

The nearest town is Palatka, FL. Facilities include dock. At Palatka (Putnam County pin), City of Palatka boat ramps at Riverfront Park, 301 River Street, are free and open 24 hours with deep concrete access, paved parking for about 70 vehicles and 40 trailers, and staging docks. Riverfront Park also has kayak launch plus boat and fishing piers.

Sources (1) +