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

SGEB-66

A Boating And Angling Guide To

�laglerand

�t. �ohnsCounties

Castillo de San Marcos, St. Augustine

About This GuideThis guide includes maps of coastal waters for St. Johns and Flagler counties that depict aquatic grasses, artifi cial reefs, parks and preserves, fi shing piers, marinas, and boat ramps open to the public. Also featured is information on habitats and animals, popular sport fi 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 CommissionFish and Wildlife Research Institute

100 Eighth Avenue S.E.St. Petersburg, FL 33701

http://research.MyFWC.com/boating_guidesboating_guides@MyFWC.com

Maps designed and produced by Chris Anderson, Christy Fagundez, Kathleen O’Keife, and Henry Norris, of FWC’s 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 fi shing equipment and boat fuel and then distributes those funds to projects that improve fi shing and boating opportunities. Additional funding was obtained from a Discover Florida’s 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 specifi ed.

NOT FOR RESALE

2009

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

and Boating Access Facilities

Resource DirectoryFlorida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)FWC Law Enforcement Hotline 1-888-404-FWCC (3922)

Cell Phones *FWCFWC Law Enforcement (Ocala) 352-732-1225To report oil spill, marine violations, boating accidents, and marine mammal injuries or strandings. Information also available on fi shing and shellfi sh harvesting.

Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (St. Petersburg) 727-896-8626For information about resources and research around Florida

Marine Fish Kill Hotline 1-800-636-0511To report a fi sh kill or red tide event in your area

U.S. Coast GuardSearch and Rescue Station (24 hr. emergency service) VHF channel 16Marine Safety Offi ce 905-564-7500National Response Center 1-800-424-8802

To report oil spills and maritime emergencies

Boat U.S. Foundation Hotline 1-800-336-BOAT For information on boating skills and safety courses offered locally (336-2628)

NOAA Weather Service Broadcast 904-741-4370Jacksonville 162.555 Mhz/VHF radioPalatka 162.425 Mhz/VHF radioDaytona Beach 162.400 Mhz/VHF radio

State ParksAnastasia State Park 904-461-2033 Faver-Dykes State Park 904-794-0997Washington Oaks Garden State Park 386-446-6780Bulow Creek State Park 386-676-4050North Peninsula State Park 386-517-2086Tomoka State Park 386-676-4050Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park 386-517-2084Haw Creek Preserve State Park 386-676-4050For more information about Florida’s state parks

Aquatic Preserves (Guana River Marsh Aquatic Preserve, 904-823-4500Guana Tolomato Matanzas NERR, Pellicer Creek Aquatic Preserve)For more information about Florida’s protected coastal waters

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, 904-471-0116Fort Matanzas National MonumentFor information about National Monuments in St. Johns County

NOAA FisheriesSoutheast Region Offi ce 727-824-5301For information about marine fi sheries in federal waters

Florida Sea GrantSt. Johns and Flagler counties 386-437-7464For information about dune restoration/replanting, marine summer camps, and the Clean Marina Program.

St. Johns Wildlife Care 904-829-8291HAWKE 904-692-1777For assistance with injured and orphaned wildlife

Welcome To

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 well-developed 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 nation’s 25th NERR, which was designated in 1999. � e name comes from the three main rivers that drain the area.St. Johns County’s two inlets are quite di� erent from each other—the 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

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 island—boaters 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.

�lagler and �t. �ohnsCounties

Aquatic GrassesAquatic grasses are fl owering underwater plants found at shallow depths in the St. Johns River. As a nursery environment, aquatic grasses support small fi 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 fi ne sediments and particles.

Oyster BarsOysters are immobile shellfi sh that fi 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 fl 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 fi shing spots.

Native Habitats The coastal waters of St. Johns and Flagler counties are a rich mosaic of fi sh and wildlife habitats that form life-sustaining links in an ecosystem as biologically productive as some of the world’s 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 signifi cantly to a dynamic food chain that draws nutrients from the estuary fl oor. As aquatic grasses and saltmarsh leaves decay, they provide food for small creatures that are ultimately consumed by fi sh and larger predators in an endless circle of life.

Marshes and Mud FlatsMarshes provide food and cover for a vast array of small fi sh and wildlife. These marshes, which periodically become submerged, nourish and protect many fi sh and birds. Marsh areas also buffer upland areas from storms and help fi lter pollutants from water that runs off the land.

Mud fl ats may be completely exposed at low tide. Although these fl 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.

SJRWMD

ManateesThe Florida manatee’s 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 fl 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 human-caused annual manatee mortality by minimizing human related threats.

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 monofi lament fi 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).

Sea TurtlesNesting 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 Florida’s coastline, most nests found on our beaches belong to loggerheads.

YOU CAN HELP:• Never approach sea turtles coming ashore or disturb

nesting sea turtles or hatchlings. Do not cast fi 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 diffi cult journey back to sea.

• Support public and private efforts to protect sea turtles and their habitats.

Matthew Godfrey

Show You Care About the Marine Environment

Residents and visitors alike share the waters of the First Coast with a magnifi cent 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, fi 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 Monofi lament Recovery and Recycling Program (MRRP) is a statewide effort to educate the public on the problems caused by monofi lament line left in the environment, to encourage recycling through a network of line-recycling bins and drop-off locations, and to conduct volunteer monofi lament 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 fi shing line recycling bins in your area, please visit www.fi shinglinerecycling.org.

Stop the Release and Spread of Nonnative Species

Many nonnative aquatic species are fi nding their way into Florida’s 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 fi 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/.

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

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DUVAL COUNTYST. JOHNS COUNTY

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ST. JOHNS COUNTYFLAGLER COUNTY

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FLAGLER COUNTYVOLUSIA COUNTY

Lake Disston

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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

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Haw Creek PreserveState Park

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(Fish images © Duane Ravers)

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.

POPULAR SPORT FISH (Fresh Water)

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 region’s 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 Florida’s most signi�cant cultural and historic resources.

ABOUT THE ST. JOHNS RIVER

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-offset 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.

• 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 fish’s 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.

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

CATCH-AND-RELEASE INFORMATION

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.

SHARE THE NAUTICAL ROAD

Continued on theBoating and Angling Guide to Duval County SIDE A

Continued on Side B

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

Spoil Area

Dredged Channel

0 to 3 feet3 to 6 feet6 to 12 feet12 to 18 feetGreater than 30 feet

WATER DEPTH

Fixed Bridge(Vertical Clearance)

Bridges

Bascule Bridge(Vertical ClearanceWhen Closed)

Legend

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

State Park

MANAGED AREAS

NavigationMarkers

Boat Ramps

Fishing Piers

No FACILITY ADDRESS, CITY1 Mandarin Park 14780 Mandarin Rd., Mandarin 1/2 Y N Y Y2 Hood Landing 12903 Hood Landing Rd., Jacksonville 1/1 Y N Y Y3 Knight's Boat Ramp US-17 at Black Creek, Green Cove Springs 1/3 Y N Y Y and Marina Facility4 Governor's Creek US-17 at Governor's Creek, Green Cove Springs 1/2 Y N Y Y5 Old Shands Bridge SR-16, north of 1/1 Y N Y N Old Shands Bridge, Green Cove Springs 6 Trout Creek Park 6795 Collier Rd., Orangedale 1/1 Y N Y Y7 Palmo Cove CR 13 South of SR 16, Palmo 1/1 Y N Y Y8 Riverdale Park CR 13 South of SR 214, Riverdale 1/1 Y N Y Y9 Palmetto Bluff End of Boat Ramp Rd., Palatka 1/1 Y N N N10 Elgin Grove End of Magnolia Ave., East Palatka 1/1 Y N Y N11 Riverfront Park 300 River St., Palatka 2/4 Y N Y Y12 East Palatka End of Pico Rd., East Palatka 1/1 Y N Y N13 Browns Landing End of Lundy Rd., Palatka 1/2 Y N Y N14 Shell Bluff Off CR 100, Andalusia 1/1 N N Y N15 Crescent Lake End of Central Ave., Crescent City 1/1 Y N Y N16 Bull Creek Campground End of CR 2006 , West Flagler Co. 1/2 Y N* Y Y17 Russell Landing End of CR 2007, Haw Creek Preserve 1/1 Y N Y Y18 Disston Boat Launch End of CR 2009, Lake Disston 1/1 N N N N* - No ramp fee for county residents

Paved RampRamp Fee

DocksRestroom

Ramps/Lanes

Public AccessBoat Ramps

ST. JOHNS COUNTYST. JOHNS COUNTYST. JOHNS COUNTYST. JOHNS COUNTYST. JOHNS COUNTYST. JOHNS COUNTYST. JOHNS COUNTYST. JOHNS COUNTYST. JOHNS COUNTYST. JOHNS COUNTYST. JOHNS COUNTYST. JOHNS COUNTYST. JOHNS COUNTYST. JOHNS COUNTYST. JOHNS COUNTY

No FACILITY ADDRESS CITY1 County Dock End of County Dock Rd. Mandarin2 Knight's Boat Ramp and US-17 at Black Creek Green Cove Springs Marina Facility 3 Governor's Creek US-17 at Governor's Creek Green Cove Springs4 Old Shands Bridge-West SR-16, north of Old Shands Bridge Green Cove Springs5 Old Shands Bridge-East End of Shands Pier Rd. Green Cove Springs6 Riverfront Park 300 River St. Palatka7 Palatka - West West end of Palatka Memorial Bridge Palatka8 Palatka - East East end of Palatka Memorial Bridge Palatka9 Crescent Lake End of Central Ave. Crescent City

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