About This Guide

This guide includes maps of coastal waters for St. Johns and Flagler counties that depict aquatic grasses, articial reefs, parks and preserves, shing piers, marinas, and boat ramps open to the public. Also featured is information on habitats and animals, popular sport sh, boating safety and protocol, and a resource directory. The Boating and Angling Guide to Flagler and St. Johns Counties was produced by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Please address any comments to: Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
Fish and Wildlife Research Institute 100 Eighth Avenue S.E. St. Petersburg, FL 33701 http://research.MyFWC.com/boating_guides boating_guides@MyFWC.com

SGEB-66

Maps designed and produced by Chris Anderson, Christy Fagundez, Kathleen OKeife, and Henry Norris, of FWCs Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. Maia McGuire of Florida Sea Grant provided additional text and reviewed the guide. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration provided partial funding for this guide. The Sport Fish Restoration Program collects money from taxes on shing equipment and boat fuel and then distributes those funds to projects that improve shing and boating opportunities. Additional funding was obtained from a Discover Floridas Oceans license tag grant through the Wildlife Foundation of Florida. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is not responsible for omissions, misrepresentations, or factual errors. Additional copies of this publication can be obtained from the the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. Contact information can be found in the Resource Directory of this guide. All photographs courtesy of FWC, unless otherwise specied.

lagler and t. ohns Counties

A Boating And Angling Guide To

Resource Directory
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) FWC Law Enforcement Hotline 1-888-404-FWCC (3922) Cell Phones *FWC FWC Law Enforcement (Ocala) 352-732-1225 To report oil spill, marine violations, boating accidents, and marine mammal injuries or strandings. Information also available on shing and shellsh harvesting. Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (St. Petersburg) For information about resources and research around Florida Marine Fish Kill Hotline To report a sh kill or red tide event in your area U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue Station (24 hr. emergency service) Marine Safety Ofce National Response Center To report oil spills and maritime emergencies Boat U.S. Foundation Hotline For information on boating skills and safety courses offered locally NOAA Weather Service Broadcast Jacksonville Palatka Daytona Beach 727-896-8626 1-800-636-0511

Welcome To

VHF channel 16 905-564-7500 1-800-424-8802 1-800-336-BOAT (336-2628)

lagler and Counties

t. ohns
only small vessels with experienced captains can navigate this inlet. Both inlets have shi ing sandbars which require boaters to stay alert in the area. Flagler County has no inlets through the barrier islandboaters must travel north to St. Augustine or south to Ponce de Leon Inlet to get out to the ocean. ere are some areas along the Intracoastal Waterway in St. Johns County which are classi ed as shell sh harvesting areas and many people travel from nearby counties to collect hard clams or oysters in these waters. e region has a rich maritime history. Coquina rock formations, which can still be seen as outcroppings along the barrier islands in southern St. Johns County and northern Flagler County, were used to build many historic buildings, including the Castillo de San Marcos in St Augustine. e coquina rock actually became stronger when hit by cannon re, as the so limestone rock simply absorbed the energy of the cannonballs, becoming more dense in the process.

904-741-4370 162.555 Mhz/VHF radio 162.425 Mhz/VHF radio 162.400 Mhz/VHF radio 904-461-2033 904-794-0997 386-446-6780 386-676-4050 386-517-2086 386-676-4050 386-517-2084 386-676-4050 904-823-4500

Castillo de San Marcos, St. Augustine

State Parks Anastasia State Park Faver-Dykes State Park Washington Oaks Garden State Park Bulow Creek State Park North Peninsula State Park Tomoka State Park Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park Haw Creek Preserve State Park For more information about Floridas state parks Aquatic Preserves (Guana River Marsh Aquatic Preserve, Guana Tolomato Matanzas NERR, Pellicer Creek Aquatic Preserve) For more information about Floridas protected coastal waters Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, Fort Matanzas National Monument For information about National Monuments in St. Johns County NOAA Fisheries Southeast Region Ofce For information about marine sheries in federal waters

904-471-0116

727-824-5301

Flagler and St. Johns Counties are sandwiched between the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the St. Johns River or its tributaries to the west. Both counties have welldeveloped barrier islands which are separated from the mainland by lagoons and rivers. is intracoastal region in both counties contains fringing mangroves (primarily black mangroves that only grow along the shoreline), but these give way to extensive salt marshes, especially on the western side of the waterway. ese estuarine habitats provide an important refuge for many juvenile and adult sport sh and invertebrates like white shrimp and blue crabs. is two-county region is home to the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR), the nations 25th NERR, which was designated in 1999. e name comes from the three main rivers that drain the area. St. Johns Countys two inlets are quite di erent from each otherthe St Augustine Inlet was dredged in 1940, resulting in the subsequent formation of Conch Island to the south of the inlet. Conch Island is now home to much of Anastasia State Park. e Matanzas Inlet is one of only a few undredged inlets in the state. It is very shallow, and

Florida Sea Grant St. Johns and Flagler counties 386-437-7464 For information about dune restoration/replanting, marine summer camps, and the Clean Marina Program. St. Johns Wildlife Care HAWKE For assistance with injured and orphaned wildlife 904-829-8291 904-692-1777

Your Purchase of Fishing Equipment and Motorboat Fuels Supports Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Access Facilities

NOT FOR RESALE

2009

St. Augustine and St. Augustine Inlet from the International Space Statuon, NASA.

Continued on the Boating and Angling Guide to Duval County

8140'W
Buckman B ridge
65

8130'W

8120'W

SIDE A

Show You Care About the Marine Environment

Residents and visitors alike share the waters of the First Coast with a magnicent array of birds and marine animals, including species that are threatened or endangered. Boaters should be on the lookout for these creatures and take special care to protect them and to preserve their habitats. Always stow trash carefully for disposal on shore, and make it a policy to pick up plastics and other marine debris encountered while underway. Carelessly discarded trash can trap and kill birds, sh, and other marine animals. When fueling boats, be especially careful not to top off the tank, allowing gas to spill. Small toxic spills add up quickly. Sewage from holding tanks should be discarded only at approved pump-out stations and marinas. The Monolament Recovery and Recycling Program (MRRP) is a statewide effort to educate the public on the problems caused by monolament line left in the environment, to encourage recycling through a network of linerecycling bins and drop-off locations, and to conduct volunteer monolament line cleanup events. Outdoor recycling bins constructed of PVC are mounted at many piers, boat ramps, and marinas throughout the state. Indoor recycling bins are hosted by tackle shops and department stores. To locate shing line recycling bins in your area, please visit www.shinglinerecycling.org.

3010'N

ABOUT THE ST. JOHNS RIVER

At 310 miles, the St. Johns River is the longest river in Florida and is one of only three rivers in the nation that ows north. e St. Johns River and its tributaries drain about one sixth of the state of Florida, or about 8,700 square miles. From headwaters to mouth, its elevation only drops 30 feet, about one inch per mile, making it one of the laziest rivers in the world. As the river ows north, salt water from the Atlantic Ocean mixes with the slow-moving fresh water, turning the river into an estuary over its nal 120 miles. e St. Johns River is often referred to as a black water river because it is naturally brown. e water appears brown because it ows through organic wetland soilss, which release natural tannin pigments. e process is similar to pouring hot water over tea leaves; as the tea leaves soak in the water, the natural tannins change the color of the water. e St. Johns River is the regions most signi cant source for shrimp, menhaden, blue crab, and other commercially important species. It supports regionally signi cant sport sheries such as largemouth bass, crappie, and bream. Shallow coastal waters near the mouth of the river serve as the only calving grounds for the North Atlantic right whale. e lower basin is a nationally important layover and wintering area for migratory waterfowl. e northeast portion of the basin is also home to some of Floridas most signi cant cultural and historic resources.

Stop the Release and Spread of Nonnative Species

Many nonnative aquatic species are nding their way into Floridas waters. When new animals and plants are introduced into an area, they often cannot survive there and die. However, if they can survive in the new area, they can begin to compete with native species and may end up displacing native plants and animals. This can result in major changes to the environment. If you have unwanted aquarium plants or animals, try to nd them a new home. Some pet stores may accept them, or they can be turned in at FWC Nonnative Pet Amnesty Day events. Unwanted aquarium plants can also be placed in plastic bags and disposed of into garbage bins. For more information about nonnative species, please visit www.MyFWC.com/nonnatives/ or visit http://nas.er.usgs.gov/.

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10 11

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12

Manatee speed zones exist in Duval County waters. Please look out for signs and follow posted instructions. For more information about speed zones in Duval County, please visit MyFWC.com/WILDLIFEHABITATS/manatee_index.htm
1
15

Mandarin

3010'N

Fleming Island

13

Ju l

ington

Creek

15

DUVAL COUNTY ST. JOHNS COUNTY

Fishing Piers
16 17

Bla

No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

17A

Remington Park

3 2 3 4

18

19

FACILITY County Dock Knight's Boat Ramp and Marina Facility Governor's Creek Old Shands Bridge-West Old Shands Bridge-East Riverfront Park Palatka - West Palatka - East Crescent Lake
5

ADDRESS End of County Dock Rd. US-17 at Black Creek US-17 at Governor's Creek SR-16, north of Old Shands Bridge End of Shands Pier Rd. 300 River St. West end of Palatka Memorial Bridge East end of Palatka Memorial Bridge End of Central Ave.

CITY Mandarin Green Cove Springs Green Cove Springs Green Cove Springs Green Cove Springs Palatka Palatka Palatka Crescent City

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CATCH-AND-RELEASE INFORMATION
More and more anglers are practicing catch-and-release to do their part to preserve marine sheries while they enjoy their outdoor shing experiences. is information o ers tips on how you can properly handle and release saltwater sh. How to Begin Use tackle heavy enough to land a fish quickly to reduce its exhaustion. An exhausted sh is likely to be weak; making it vulnerable to predators or likely to die upon release. Use non-stainless steel hooks as they will dissolve if they remain in a sh. Use non-oset circle hooks when fishing with natural bait to avoid gut-hooking a sh. Circle hooks tend to hook sh in the jaw, making them easy to remove. Bend barbs down on hooks so they can be removed with less damage to a sh. Keep release tools handy. Handling Your Catch Handle fish as little as possible and only with wet hands never with a towel. If a fish must be lifted from the water, support its weight horizontally. 6 Use a venting tool if necessary to release pressure in a fish taken from deep water. Removing the Hook Back the hook out the opposite way it went in. If a hook is deep in a fishs throat or stomach, cut the line as close as possible to the hook the hook will eventually dissolve inside the fish. Use a de-hooking device if needed to help remove hooks safely. e Release Gently release a fish head first into the water. If a fish is exhausted, revive it before releasing it by passing water over its gills move it forward in the water with its mouth open.
Continued on Side B

St

300'N

Jo

Green Cove Springs

20

Trout Creek

POPULAR SPORT FISH (Fresh Water)

(Fish images Duane Ravers)
24

LARGEMOUTH BASS: Prefers clear, non owing waters with aquatic vegetation where food and cover are available; lives in brackish to freshwater habitats, including upper estuaries, rivers, lakes, reservoirs and ponds. Can tolerate a wide range of water clarities and bottom types, BLACK CRAPPIE: rives in clear, natural lakes and reservoirs with moderate vegetation and large slow-moving less turbid rivers. Often travels in schools. BLUEGILL: Prefers quiet, weedy waters where they can hide and feed. ey inhabit lakes and ponds, slow- owing rivers and streams with sand, mud, or gravel bottoms. CHANNEL CATFISH: Most common in big rivers and streams. Prefers some current, and deep water with sand, gravel or rubble bottoms. Also inhabits lakes, reservoirs and ponds. A shing license is required for freshwater shing. Log on to MyFWC.com/RECREATION/FW_index.htm for up-to-date information about license requirements, size and bag limits, and seasonal closures.

hn

s R iv 4 er 5
22
45

300'N

S i xm i
7

le

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Plecostomus (top) and brown hoplo( bottom). Fish images Diane Rome Peebles

25

Kilometers
2 2 0 0 2 4 4 6

Miles
2

Manatees
The Florida manatees year-round range is typically restricted to Florida waters including both fresh and salt water. In warmer months some manatees may venture as far north as New England and as far west as Texas. The Florida manatee has a large, spindle-shaped body with a round, paddle-shaped tail and relatively short front ippers. As adults, they grow to an average length of 10 feet and 1,200 pounds. Collisions with watercraft are a critical source of manatee injury and are the single greatest known cause of mortality. An important FWC conservation objective is to reduce humancaused annual manatee mortality by minimizing human related threats.

Sea Turtles
Nesting season, which stretches from May to the end of October, brings sea turtles ashore on Atlantic beaches, where people and predators may pose a threat. Although three species (loggerhead, green turtle, and the leatherback) commonly nest along Floridas coastline, most nests found on our beaches belong to loggerheads.

27 29

31

2950'N

8
33

If a released fish does not swim away, recover it and try to revive it again.

2950'N

SHARE THE NAUTICAL ROAD

Pleasure boats share the waters of the St. Johns with commercial barges transporting petroleum and fuel oil from Jacksonville up river to Palatka and Sanford. While quite large in terms of the square miles it covers, the river is, in places, very narrow, which restricts navigation for larger vessels. Barges have a limited ability to maneuver and stop in the narrow con nes of the St. Johns River. ey may require a mile or more to come to a complete stop. Stay clear of the main channel when barges are approaching. Views from the pilot house may be obstructed up to three-fourths of a mile away. In case of emergency, use VHF Channel 13 for bridge-to-bridge communication with barges. Keep transmissions short and simple, and never tie up the frequency. Exercise caution when boating around barges involved in docking or under way. eir prop-wash can easily capsize small vessels or send them into the path of oncoming tra c. Be sure that your boat is visible at night and in poor weather conditions.

36

Matthew Godfrey

YOU CAN HELP:

Observe and follow all speed zone signs. Slow down. Reducing speed allows boaters to avoid manatees. Use marked channels whenever possible. Channel depth reduces the likelihood of pinning or crushing manatees. Wear polarized glasses. Polarized lenses make it much easier to see objects beneath the surface and the swirling that occurs when a manatee dives. Designate a person on board to look out for wildlife, other boaters, swimmers, or obstructions when the vessel is underway. Stow trash and properly discard monolament shing line. Manatees may swallow or become trapped in lines and other plastic debris. Obey state and federal laws that make it illegal to harass, capture, hunt, or kill a manatee. To report violations, manatee injuries, or deaths, call FWC Law Enforcement at 1-888-404-FWCC (404-3922).

37 38

40
2 45

16 18

14

2940'N

Rice

k r ee

9 7 6 5

64 3 1

2 3

10

44

43

47

PUTNAM COUNTY ST. JOHNS COUNTY

12

42 8

41

YOU CAN HELP: Never approach sea turtles coming ashore or disturb nesting sea turtles or hatchlings. Do not cast shing line toward a swimming sea turtle because it could become entangled. Preserve nesting beaches by leaving the beach as you found it. Beachfront property owners should turn off or redirect exterior lights. Bright lights discourage nesting sea turtles from coming ashore and may disorient hatchlings. Turtles produce many eggs, but only a few hatchlings survive the difcult journey back to sea. Support public and private efforts to protect sea turtles and their habitats.

2940'N

48 1 2 4 3 6

Palatka
11 8

65

8 10 11

12

St.
27 28 30 26 25 23 22 20 19 29

Jo h n R i ve s 18
16

12

ST. JOHNS COUNTY FLAGLER COUNTY

Native Habitats
The coastal waters of St. Johns and Flagler counties are a rich mosaic of sh and wildlife habitats that form life-sustaining links in an ecosystem as biologically productive as some of the worlds most celebrated rain forests. From river grasses to coastal marshes, from the St. Johns River to the Atlantic Ocean, each interdependent habitat plays a vital role in this estuarine machine. Marshes and aquatic grasses contribute signicantly to a dynamic food chain that draws nutrients from the estuary oor. As aquatic grasses and saltmarsh leaves decay, they provide food for small creatures that are ultimately consumed by sh and larger predators in an endless circle of life.

Aquatic Grasses
Aquatic grasses are owering underwater plants found at shallow depths in the St. Johns River. As a nursery environment, aquatic grasses support small sh, shrimp and crabs that hide among the blades and feast on decaying leaves. Aquatic grasses also help stabilize shifting sands on the bottom of the bay and improve water clarity by trapping ne sediments and particles.

13

13

15

33 33A

31

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n s

PUTNAM COUNTY FLAGLER COUNTY

Mur phy Cr eek

Public Access Boat Ramps

No 1 2 3 4 5 FACILITY Mandarin Park Hood Landing Knight's Boat Ramp and Marina Facility Governor's Creek Old Shands Bridge ADDRESS, CITY 14780 Mandarin Rd., Mandarin 12903 Hood Landing Rd., Jacksonville US-17 at Black Creek, Green Cove Springs US-17 at Governor's Creek, Green Cove Springs SR-16, north of Old Shands Bridge, Green Cove Springs 6795 Collier Rd., Orangedale CR 13 South of SR 16, Palmo CR 13 South of SR 214, Riverdale End of Boat Ramp Rd., Palatka End of Magnolia Ave., East Palatka 300 River St., Palatka End of Pico Rd., East Palatka End of Lundy Rd., Palatka Off CR 100, Andalusia End of Central Ave., Crescent City End of CR 2006 , West Flagler Co. End of CR 2007, Haw Creek Preserve End of CR 2009, Lake Disston

Ram

om tro Res cks Do ee pF Ram p Ram ed Pav es Lan ps/

Cr

ee

1/2 1/1 1/3 1/2 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/1 2/4 1/1 1/2 1/1 1/1 1/2 1/1 1/1

Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y Y N

N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N* N N

Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N

Y Y Y Y N Y Y Y N N Y N N N N Y Y N

Legend
MANAGED AREAS WATER DEPTH 0 to 3 feet 3 to 6 feet 6 to 12 feet 12 to 18 feet Greater than 30 feet Dredged Channel Spoil Area

State Park
Boat Ramps Fishing Piers Navigation Markers Bridges Fixed Bridge
(Vertical Clearance)

14

6 Trout Creek Park 7 Palmo Cove 8 Riverdale Park 9 Palmetto Bluff 10 Elgin Grove 11 Riverfront Park 12 East Palatka 13 Browns Landing 14 Shell Bluff 15 Crescent Lake 16 Bull Creek Campground 17 Russell Landing 18 Disston Boat Launch * - No ramp fee for county residents

2930'N

Marshes and Mud Flats

Marshes provide food and cover for a vast array of small sh and wildlife. These marshes, which periodically become submerged, nourish and protect many sh and birds. Marsh areas also buffer upland areas from storms and help lter pollutants from water that runs off the land. Mud ats may be completely exposed at low tide. Although these ats are barren of vegetation, they are teeming with life. Small crabs, clams, and worms, which burrow in the mud, supply a feast for birds wading at low tide.

Cr

es
Crescent City

SJRWMD

ce
nt

2930'N

Oyster Bars
Oysters are immobile shellsh that lter water as they feed. Their gray-white shells are irregular in shape. Live oysters and dead oyster shells form in mounds and ridges on the bay oor, creating bars or reefs. More prevalent near river mouths and in sections of the bay that receive a steady supply of fresh water, oyster bars attract adult sheepshead and red drum, making these structures popular shing spots.

La
ke
Crescent Lake

Miles
15 9 16
2006 2009

.25
18

.25

Bascule Bridge

(Vertical Clearance When Closed)

is guide is not intended for navigational use. For local navigation, see NOAA Charts 11487, 11492, and 11495.

Lake Disston
2007

Data Sources: Saltmarsh - Aids to Navigation - 2002, U. S. Coast Guard; Boat Ramps - 2009, FWC Center for Spatial Analysis

17

Lake Disston

Haw Creek Preserve State Park

FLAGLER COUNTY VOLUSIA COUNTY

8140'W

8130'W

8120'W

SIDE B, PANEL A

SIDE B, PANEL B