Try Jacksonville Fishing:

Explore Amelia Island, Fernandina Beach
And Florida State Parks

"No wonder so many people vacation in Jacksonville - the fishing is absolutely the best!"

Jacksonville fishing has a lot of options to explore. Nearby Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach provide exciting day trips from the Jacksonville area to the northeast corner of Florida. There are more than a few Florida State Parks for even more fishing action, with both saltwater and freshwater varities.

But as for the city of Jacksonville...With one of the country's largest urban park systems, the fishing takes you to rivers, lakes, the Atlantic Ocean's many beaches, and further out, to offshore fishing. Deep sea fishing is nearly always rewarding, with proper knowledge and planning.

Even if you're not a novice, a good charter is well worth the money spent. The captain and crew take care of all the details for you. All you have to do is work on landing the fish you're after, and learn how it's done, before venturing out on your own.

Jacksonville fishing is centered around the St. Johns River, which runs through the heart of the city. This fishing-loving city has a total of 21 boat ramps and waterways access. Intercostal waterways and Atlantic ocean beaches are on the east side of the city.

The Cedar and Rebault Rivers are in the west part of town. Sisters Creek is northside, and Julington Creek is on the south side of the famous St. Johns River. Don't overlook the Jacksonville fishing pier, which is an amazing 983 feet long!

There are lots of waters to explore, both freshwater and salt water! Let's look at some of our options...

Jacksonville fishing is great fun! It can be done at 2 oceanfront parks:

Kathryn Abby Hanna Park

Hanna Park is located south of the St. Johns River. It's a 450-acre park, complete with wooded campsites and concessions.

There are about 1 & 1/2 miles of beaches for quiet surf fishing. A 60-acre freshwater lake is provided for fishing. There are picnic tables and grills, and trails to wander through the woods near the lake.

The lake has a quarter-acre water playground, for the kiddies to enjoy while you're fishing. The water park has colorful fountains and even water-squirting gizmos. (We always appreciate anything that keeps the children occupied and out of trouble while we are fishing! Know what I mean?)

Hanna Park is open daily from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. (April - October), and from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. (November - March).

AND...

Huguenot Memorial Park

The second of Jacksonville fishing's oceanfront parks, Huguenot Memorial Park is north of the St. Johns River. It is the only park in Duval County that permits vehicular access to its beach.

The park has an area where you may launch your boat, canoe, or kayak to fish the Ft George Inlet, the smaller creeks, or the Atlantic ocean.

There are waterfront campsites (how's that for convenient fishing?), plus the usual showers and restroom facilities.

Huguenot Memorial Park is a short drive from Fort Clinch State Park.

There is a small admission fee of 50 cents per person over the age of 6 years. Camping is available; tents cost $5 plus tax, RV's and riverside will cost you $7 plus tax.

Huguenot Memorial Park is open daily 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. (April - October), and 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. (November - March).

Lifeguards are on duty at both parks according to this schedule:

2005 Lifeguard Schedule:
• May 21 - May 22 - weekend only, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
• May 28 - July 31- seven days a week, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.,
• 7 - 9 p.m. (family swim)
• August 6 through September 5 - weekends only, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Amelia Island, and Fernandina Beach fishing is found about 33 miles from Jacksonville. Two deep inlets and lots of natural offshore live-bottom ledges provide lots of great fishing, while deep-sea charters will take you where the action is offshore. Amelia Island fishing is quite attractive for those who want to get away from the hectic pace of the city. The Florida state record for flounder was caught Nassau Sound, which the George Crady Bridge spans.

Surf fishing from the beach is popular, and rewarding, too.

Amelia Island State Park

Amelia Island is 7 miles north of Little Talbot Island State Park (or 8 miles south of Fernandina Beach), on S.R. A1A. That's about 33 miles from downtown Jacksonville, Florida.You can fish in Nassau Sound (remember that bridge?), where, in addition to species already mentioned, you may catch whiting, redfish, jacks, and speckled sea trout.

To find baitfish, you can cast your nets alongshore on Amelia Island to find mullet and shrimp. Some fish, such as redfish and speckled sea trout, are in Nassau Sound year round; however, you'll catch lots more of them in the spring and fall months.

Near the south end of the George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier, there are a few small grass flats that hold a wide variety of fish. The fall mullet run is a good time for tarpon fishing. Tarpon feed on the mullet before their voyage down to more southern waters.

To get to Amelia Island from Jacksonville: Take A1A north of Jacksonville to the Mayport auto ferry, which crosses the St. Johns River. Alternately, follow A1A north to J. Turner Butler Boulevard; then travel north on 115 over the Dames Point Bridge. Either route you choose will continue on A1A north over Big and Little Talbot Island onto Amelia Island.

Driving on I-95? Just follow I-95 to old 129 at Exit 373; turn east onto A1A, drive 15 miles, and cross the Intracoastal Waterway and you'll be on Amelia Island.

Fernandina Beach fishing Amelia Island's only city, Fernandina Beach, has a lot of history, and plenty of fishing adventures, too! Fernandina Beach fishing, or Surf fishing, in the Atlantic Ocean is also quite popular. Fernandina Beach charter fishing is top-rated.

Are you planning on booking a hotel or resort for your stay in Jacksonville? Some of the most popular accommodations in Jacksonville are:

• Extended Stay America Jacksonville / Riverwalk

• Hilton Garden Inn Jacksonville JTB / Deerwood Park

• La Quinta Jacksonville Orange Park

• Omni Jacksonville Hotel

• Riverdale Inn

• Suburban Lodge of St John's Road South

Please see our Jacksonville hotels page for our reviews of other lodgings.

Looking for a hotel on the beach? You're invited to visit our Jacksonville Beach hotels page to learn more about the beachfront hotels.

Private homes and townhouses can also be rented. For more information, please visit our Florida vacation rentals page, and the Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach vacation home rentals page.

Maybe staying in a hotel isn't your style....If you prefer to relax and unwind in the peaceful beauty of Florida's breathtaking outdoors, let's talk a little about the fishing and camping in Florida's state parks.

Jacksonville fishing vacations get even better, thanks to several state-operated parks in the Jacksonville area. Traveling north/northeast of the superb Jacksonville fishing, you'll find a series of great state parks to find more Jacksonville fishing!

Little Talbot Island State Park

Little Talbot Island is 17 miles northeast of Jacksonville. It is one of the few remaining undeveloped barrier islands in Northeast Florida. The island has 4 1/2 miles of gorgeous white sand beaches for surf fishing. Tidal streams offer excellent fishing, too.

If light tackle fishing is more to your taste, the coastal salt marsh on the western side of the island offers superb light tackle angling.

Kayaks are available to rent. Lessons are available,

Little Talbot Island State Park has full facility camping. Myrtle Creek, a scenic tidal estuary, winds along the western part of the campground. There are about a dozen campsites available for RV's.

To get there from Jacksonville, follow I–95 to Heckscher Drive at Milepost Exit 358A (aka as the Old Exit 124A); drive east for another 17 miles to the park.

Admission Fees: $4.00 per vehicle (up to 8 passengers). Single Car Occupant: $3.00, Motorcycle Fee (one or two persons):$3.00

Camping fees are a flat rate of $19 per night.

Beach fishing at Little Talbot Island

Photo credit: Florida State Parks

There's more great Jacksonville fishing ahead! Just north of Little Talbot Island state park is:

Big Talbot Island State Park

Just north of Little Talbot Island State Park on A1A North, you'll find Big Talbot Island State Park; it's just 20 miles east of Jacksonville's fishing.

There is a deep-water boat ramp complete with floating dock, making it simple to put into the waters of the intercoastal waterway and Nassau Sound. You'll find the ramp at on the north end of the island.

Boat Ramp at Big Talbot Island

Photo credit: Florida State Parks

The boat ramp area is open 24 hours a day; however, there's a fee of $3.00 to launch, regardless if your boat has a motor or not.

While there is no camping directly on Big Talbot Island (but is available right next door at Little Talbot), there is plenty of great fishing!

• Near the north end of the island, by the boat ramp, there is a small parking lot, for access to the southern end of the George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park.
• Fish by canoe or kayak in the marshes. Canoes and kayaks are available to rent. Or, bring your own canoe or kayak, and launch it from the hand launch ramp available for a $1 fee per boat.
• Fly fishing has become very popular in the marshes. "Tailing Reds" come up the various creeks during the fall and spring flood tides.

There are also breathtaking scenic trails, loads of natural beauty, a picnic area, and wildlife to discover while you're there. Take a camera!

Admission Fee: $1.00/person to fish or enjoy the park.

Picnicking Fee: $2.00/vehicle entrance fee for the Bluffs picnic area.

Connecting Big Talbot Island to the next island north, you'll want to take the day for some deep-sea fishing from...

George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park

This fishing bridge spans Nassau Sound. It's a mile long, and is pedestrian-only, which means it is closed to motorized traffic.

There's a bait and tackle store at the north end of the bridge, at the Amelia Island State Park entrance. The really great thing about this is that it's open all the time. 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Cool, huh? How's that for Jacksonville fishing variety?

Admission fee: $1.00 to fish off the pier.

A little further north of the fishing bridge, you'll want to take your time to discover and explore....

Fort Clinch State Park

Fort Clinch State Park has pier & surf fishing available. You may fish along the Amelia River on the west side of Amelia Island. Fish Cumberland Sound where finger jetties provide excellent habitats for game fish.

On the east side of the park, fish off the half-mile long fishing pier that divides Cumberland Sound from the Atlantic Ocean.

Fort Clinch State Park

© Photographer:Ron Chapple Studios | Agency: Dreamstime.com

Two full-facility campgrounds are available. Atlantic Beach, and Amelia River campgrounds have lots of amenities, even washers & dryers! Camping fees are $22 per night, plus tax.

Admission Fee - $5.00 per vehicle (limit 8 people per vehicle).

Florida state parks are open from 8 a.m. until sundown 365 days a year.

Have you had enough Jacksonville fishing in state parks yet? Now, this last one is not a Florida state park. However, it is so very close that you just might catch a glimpse of some wild horses roaming the beaches there, seen from the beach at Fort Clinch State Park.

Cumberland Island National Seashore

It's just a short hop across the Florida/Georgia state line, to St Mary's, where you may take the ferry to visit theCumberland Island National Seashore park.

If you're going, remember that the only facilities there are restrooms and water fountains. Public docking is available if you're out boating and want to take a look for yourself.

There is plenty of good camping and fishing at Cumberland Island, too.

Mainland Visitor Information Center - located at St. Marys, GA.
Open All Year 8:15 am - 4:30 pm
Phone 1-877-860-6787
Camping Fees for Back Country: Fees are $2.00 person per Day. Camping is further out from the ferry, is primitive, no campfires are permitted. (but you may have cookstoves) Campsites are first come, first choice, located 3.5 to 10.8 miles from the ferry dock.

Camping Fee for the Sea Camp: Fees are $4.00 per person per Day. Camping area is developed, has rest rooms, cold showers, and drinking water. Each campsite has a grill, fire ring, food cage, and picnic table.

Fees

Day Use Fees $4.00 person/visit
FERRY PRICES: $15.00 Adult, $10.00 Child [12 and under],
$12.00 Senior [65 and over]
Reservations are required for camping, up to 6 months ahead of time, 7 day stay limit
Campers also need to pay Day Use Fee.

Now that we've talked about Jacksonville fishing, and fishing in parts north of Jacksonville, let's see what kinds of fish you might catch.

• Jacksonville fishing: grouper, sailfish, yellow fin, wahoo, sea bass, red snapper, amberjack, cobia, jack cravelle, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel
• Amelia Island fishing & Fernandina Beach fishing: grouper, kingfish, cobia, black sea bass, sheepshead, red snapper, Florida pompano, bluefish, flounder, white and speckled trout, amberjack, black drum
• Little Talbot Island State Park fishing: Bluefish, striped bass, redfish, flounder, mullet, and sheepshead
• Big Talbot Island State Park fishing: Whiting, Redfish and Speckled Sea trout year round

Jacksonville fishing Vacations Guide

Other fishing destinations in northeast Florida

Florida fishing is awesome, as you're sure to agree! Did you know that there are some spectacular beaches less than an hour's drive south of Jacksonville? About a 41-mile drive south, the town of St Augustine has many beaches, and lots of great fishing, without the crowds and noise of the much bigger Jacksonville area.

For the Jacksonville resident searching for new freshwater fishing spots, a short drive south down Hwy 17 will bring you to Green Cove Springs Florida, a pretty little town with lots of great fishing!

Bringing your own boat? As long as its licensing is current in your home state, and you will be in Florida waters less than 90 days, you won't need additional licenses for your boat while in Florida.

Tired of the costs and hassles of owning power boats? Jacksonville, Florida, kayak fishing is immensely enjoyable. With so many rivers, salt marsh areas, tidal creeks, and small inlets and bays to explore, kayak and canoe fishing is gaining popularity steadily in the Jacksonville area. For a new flavor of Jacksonville fishing, try kayaking!

Kayaking at Big Talbot Island, photo credit Florida State Parks

We trust that you have found the Jacksonville Fishing Vacations Guide to be useful. Enjoy your Jacksonville fishing vacations, and, as we like to say...

Tight lines, and Happy landings! - John & Laurie, FFVA

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