Green Cove Springs Florida, is an attractive little town on the west bank of the St Johns River, and is well-known for its warm sulfur springs. You may want to start your visit there at the municipal pool, open to the public and fed by the 78-degree spring, which shoots up from underground at about 3,000 gallons of water per minute! The spring water flows from the public pool to empty into the St Johns River.
The St Johns River and fishing pier at Green Cove Springs
It's just a short drive west from St Augustine or south from Jacksonville. So, if you're going to be in the area on your Florida fishing vacation, try to include a visit to Green Cove Springs. If you're a Florida resident, explore Green Cove Springs fishing for a quick Florida getaway!
Maybe you'd rather savor the warm, refreshing pool after a long day of fishing! Because Green Cove Springs Florida, is off the beaten path, in a county that hasn't been overdeveloped by the tourist industry (yet), you'll find a lot that is still Florida in its natural state.
There's plenty of wildlife to see while you're enjoying the freshwater fishing found on the St Johns River; or at one of the parks, creeks, and fishing piers.
Green Cove Springs Florida fishing
What are We Fishing For?
Freshwater recreational fishing in the Green Cove Springs Florida area is primarily for the renowned Florida largemouth bass, as well as striped bass (striper), redear sunfish, crappie, and big channel cat; the St Johns River, with the many smaller tributaries, lakes, and creeks in the Green Cove Springs Florida surrounding areas will provide many hours of exploration and excitement on your Florida fishing getaway.
Black Bass, also known as largemouth bass, are fished most easily in the spring spawning season, when the fish move to more shallow water. Lots of large bass are caught during the peak spawning months of March and April. If your preference is for live bait, golden shiners are most rewarding! For artificial lures, the ever-reliable plastic worm is either Texas-rigged or Carolina-rigged for weedless fishing around the heavy plant cover areas. Fish the banks of the St Johns river at Green Cove Springs Florida, in or around submerged vegetation for best results.
Striped bass are maintained by annual stockings from Florida and federal hatcheries, and are found mainly in the St Johns river and the river's tributaries. Top striper fishing happens in the fall through spring as the fish are actively feeding; the summer months will see a decrease in fish activity as stripers seek cooler water (75 degrees Fahrenheit or below) to survive. During the stripers active season, live shad work quite well, as well as live golden shiners (goldfish), croakers and eels. Artificial lures that mimic baitfish will reward you with hard-hitting strikes; striped bass favor floating or sinking lures and heavy jigs,too. Stripers can reach top weights of 60 pounds, so prepare your fishing gear accordingly for a big fight!
Channel catfish are a longtime favorite of fishers in Green Cove Springs Florida. Cats spawn in holes and crevices located in flowing water, and become active just before dusk and extending into the nightime hours. Because of the catfish's keen sense of smell, the most successful baits are those that, um, well....stink!
We like to use chicken livers (especially overripe ones!), though commercially prepared stinkbaits work well, too. Gizzards, cut mullet, night crawlers, and shrimp will also attract feeding catfish. We've even had luck using minnows, and plastic worms, too. Channel cat, white catfish, also brown and yellow bullheads are fished on the bottom, most commonly in deeper water, but we've caught them in shallow water, too. If you've never fished for catfish, a word of caution is appropriate here - watch out for the catfish 'whiskers'; those spines can give an angler a nasty sting that hurts like crazy, so handle your catch with caution!
Bluegill, the most common panfish, are found abundantly in rivers and lakes, frequenting shallower waters. Bluegill have a small black smudge low on the back edge of their dorsal fin, which distinguishes them from other panfish. They scoop out nests during the summer spawning season; fishers might find as many as 30 to 40 nestholes in a shallow water location. Bluegills eat mostly insects and insect larvae; crickets and grubs work well fished under a float, with a split-shot sinker about 6 inches up the line.
Redbreast sunfish also called river bream or redbellies, are more often found in rivers than their bluegill cousins; redbellies are also found in backwater areas. Like bluegills, the redbreast sunfish diet is mostly insects and larvae, and the live baits used for bluegill work well to catch river bream, too.
Shellcracker, or redear sunfish, is another panfish that is most active during the spawn months of March and April, particularly during the full moon. Earthworms work well during this peak season; at other times, shellcracker prefer clams and snails. Redear gather in deeper water than bluegill, preferring hard bottom. Redear sunfish will grow bigger than bluegill; it isn't unusual for a shellcracker to reach a weight over 1 1/2 pounds.
Green Cove Springs Florida fishing
Where's the Fish?
Freshwater fishing is found mainly in the nearby St Johns River, and its tributaries. There are local fishing piers and access points to the river, as well as lakes and creeks, and nearby Florida state parks. Let's explore a little...
Spring Park Gazebo in Green Cove Springs
Start your Green Cove Springs Florida fishing getaway at Spring Park, which is where the spring is...and the public swimming pool (heated, of course!). In addition to the naturally heated public pool, the park has a rustic gazebo, and of course the St Johns River is nearby. You might even see a riverboat traveling the St Johns downriver from Jacksonville.
YMCA certified lifeguards are on duty at Spring Park's public swimming pool.
The park's hours of operation are: Open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EXCEPT for Wednesday, when the pool is closed for cleaning.
Admission to the Green Cove Springs Florida municipal pool is only a dollar for ages 2 thru 18; only $2.00 for 18 and up. Kids under 2 years old get in free, but please note that children 12 and under need to be supervised by their parent or guardian. No drop-off's of your kiddies, please!
Spring Park is found on Magnolia Avenue in Green Cove Springs Florida. If you like festivals and parades, a good time to visit is in May, when the well-known Memorial Day RiverFest is held.
If you're traveling by boat on the St Johns River, the city of Green Cove Springs Florida has a 500-foot fishing pier with 12 boatslips, so you can dock your boat, and spend some time exploring. Or, just fish off the barrier-free fishing pier; there's also restrooms available.
You can stay a minimum of 48 hours, at a charge of $10 per overnight stay, plus $10/night for electric and water use. However, if you just want to dock for the day, and use no electricity or water, you won't be charged, as the pier fees are based on usage from after twilight until dawn.
Reservations aren't taken; it's first come, first serve only. Call Green Cove Springs Florida city hall at (904) 284-6378 for more details.
Another community fishing area is found at Ronnie Van Zant Park, which has a three-acre fishing pond with four fishing piers, is barrier free and has a fish attractor. There are covered picnic pavilions and public restrooms, too.The 85-acre park is at 2760 Sandridge Road, and is found on CR 739-B near the Penney Farms and Lake Asbury.
If you're driving and bringing your own boat, there's plenty of public ramps and fishing piers available at area lakes and creeks near Green Cove Springs Florida, to put into waters along the St Johns river.
Boat Ramp Locations
The Governor’s Creek Boat Ramp has 2 lanes and is niversally accessible. It's about a half-mile north of downtown Green Cove Springs Florida, on Route 17; the ramp is on the east (right) side of the road, just across Governor's Creek Bridge. There's a paved parking lot, a fishing pier, as well as a covered picnic area.
Knight’s Boat Ramp and Marina is on Black Creek at Highway 17 north of Green Cove Springs Florida. It's a nice one - there's 3 boat ramp lanes, slips for 40 boats that you may lease, and a 250-foot fishing pier. If your family is like our family, you'll want to pack a lunch and enjoy your picnic at the pavilion which overlooks Black Creek and the St Johns river. The fisherwoman of your family, as well as your kids, will appreciate the restrooms - how much time have you spent driving around looking for a potty? Ah, kids....
The marina also has a bait & tackle shop and you can gas up your boat, too.
Green Cove Springs city pier; Knights Boat ramp and Marina photo credit: city of Green Cove Springs Florida
Green Cove Springs Florida
More Boat Ramps, Lakes, Rivers
Lake Brooklyn Boat Ramp is at Keystone Heights, on Kings Street off State Road 100. The ramp and immediate area is located beneath a photogenic canopy of live oak. The only paved surface is the ramp itself, the parking isn't the best, so be careful! This ramp might be closed when water levels are too low but hey, you can always enjoy fishing on Lake Brooklyn's white sand beach if you can't put your boat out in the water from there!
Further down SR 100, at CR 214, the Lake Geneva Boat Ramp is found. The ramp and parking lot are paved and in great shape; again, when the water levels get too low, the ramp might be closed. This boat ramp is in Keystone Heights off SR 100 at CR 214. The parking area and ramp are paved and in excellent condition.
Lake Shore Boat Ramp, which has 2 lanes, is at the northern end of Lake Shore Drive, accessing Doctors Lake. Both the ramp and parking lot are paved, and in nice shape. If you don't have time to get out in the water, just fish off the pier.
Middleburg Boat Ramp is appropriately found at the end of Middleburg's Main Street just north of Green Cove Springs Florida, off Blanding Blvd (SR 21). This is an excellent facility; with a play area, restrooms, picnic areas, wetlands boardwalks, and not one but two fishing piers, as well as a good number of parking spaces.
If the ramp at the Knight's Marina has too much traffic, try the Old Ferry Boat Ramp. That ramp puts your boat into Black Creek, and is situated in the Doctors Inlet near Ridgewood (great bass fishing there!) off CR 209, at the end of Old Ferry Road.
Shands Bridge/Boat Ramp is located southeast of Green Cove Springs Florida following Rt 17 to Rt 16 east, where the county park and pier is on the left before you get to the bridge. Parking is scattered here and there in the grass.
While there is a boat ramp available, bigger boats may have problems as the water is quite shallow. However, shallow waters makes for good wade fishing.
Fish the banks of the St Johns river, or use the fishing pier. Mom will be happy with this choice because of the availability of restrooms and picnic areas, too.
If you're in the area in the fall, winter, or early spring months, this is an excellent fishing spot for striper, especially around the bridge pilings.
The Blackwater River is a popular site for anglers who travel by canoe and kayak. This river is among the purest sand-bottom rivers in the country, with shady campsites nearby and a picnic pavilion overlooking the river. Unwind among the Atlantic white cedars lining the river and try your skills along the banks of the Blackwater River. Driving northeast along U.S. 90, the riverfront park is just 15 miles northeast of Milton, Florida. Call (850)983-5363 for more information.
Green Cove Springs Florida
Florida State Parks and Conservation Areas
Bayard Point Conservation Area is just south of the Green Cove Springs Florida area, and is found on the west bank of the St Johns River; the river is deep and broad as it flows through the park, and there are excellent fishing opportunities. While hiking the 15 miles of developed wilderness trails in the 10,000 acre park is a big draw, there are other activities like swimming and picnicking. IF you enjoy hiking in to isolated fishing spots, there is a popular primitive campsite on the St Johns at Davis Landing. You don't need a permit unless there are more than seven in your group; however, please do a check in for safety's sake by calling (904) 529-2380 to let them know you'll be camping there.
To get there from the Jacksonville area, follow US 17 south to Green Cove Springs Florida. The north portion of the park, which has the most far-reaching hiking trails, is reached if you turn left on SR 16; travel east 2 miles and the entrance is on the right. The south part of the park can be reached from SR 209, just a mile south of the US 17/SR 16 intersection. For more information, please contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at (386) 758-0525.
There's about 7 miles of riverfront available in the park for bank fishing. Get back to nature, and don't forget your camera and binoculars - you just might catch a glimpse and take a pic of some of the local residents, like the blue heron, manatee, bald eagle, or gopher tortoise while you fish the waters of the St Johns river.
Black Creek Ravines is a smaller, 973-acre park situated on the southern bank of Black Creek. Black Creek Ravines offers fishing, canoeing and boating on Black Creek, along with horseback riding, quality hiking, and picnicking. You'll find the park about a mile east of Middleburg, a Clay County community residing northwest of Green Cove Springs Florida. The park can be reached on Green Road, north of County Road 218.
The park has a barrier free fishing pier, and restrooms are available, too. There is plenty of wetland and woodlands wildlife to keep you happy as you fish Black Creek. While you may boat and canoe on Black Creek, there aren't any boat ramps in the park.
Camp Blanding Wildlife Management Area is a 56,197-acre park just south of Green Cove Springs Florida . Because of the National Guard camp the park is named for, the center of the park is always closed due to the military operations based there; at times the entire park may be closed for security reasons. Hunting is also very popular in the park, in season, but there are plenty of fishing opportunities.
There are eight lakes, many streams and small ponds to choose from. The biggest lake, Kingsley Lake, is springfed, with an area of over 1,600 acres, and provides the headwaters for the abundant Black Creek and Rice Creek lake and river systems. Smaller lakes include Magnolia Lake and Lowery Lake. Sunshine bass are stocked semiannually, and channel catfish are found in the lakes, too. There's a small dock on Lowery Lake, as well as boat ramps provided. The only access to the fish management area is from SR 21 to Treat Road.
Jennings State Forest, located a short distance northwest of Green Cove Springs Florida, is about 24,000 acres. The fishing is on the north fork of Black Creek, and also on Yellow Creek, mostly by canoe but there is some bank fishing, too. For those who enjoy truly getting back to nature, there is primitive camping (permit required) and plenty of hiking.
To get there from Green Cove Springs Florida, take S.R. 218 northeastward, and look for the signs pointing to the five different entrances.
Canoe launch areas are reached from Nolan Road and Hattie Nolan Road; however, two launch areas require that canoes be carried over rough terrain. For details call the Division of Forestry at (904) 291-5530.
Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park, Clay County's stellar park, is located east of SR 21, north of Keystone Heights. The park's springfed Little Lake Johnson offers fishing for pan fish, bass, and catfish. Swim from the lake's beach, rent a canoe or bring your own canoe or kayak. Full-service camping under plenty of shade is ready for your stay. For the more experienced hiker, there is also a couple of primitive camping sites at the south end of the park, just off the Florida Trail, 3 miles of which cuts through the park, covering some of the high country.
If you like to pamper yourself a little more, cabins are on the lake and come fully equipped for your enjoyment; some of the newer cabins are even ADA accessible. You can reserve a cabin up to 11 months in advance by calling 1-866 I CAMP FL (1-866-422-6735), or call 1-800-326-3521.
Moccasin Slough is a 255-acre area located on the heavily developed Fleming Island; from Highway 17 east to the St. Johns River, and contains 3,000 feet of river frontage. It is one of the biggest undeveloped areas on the St Johns river between Jacksonville and Palatka.
Finished learning about Green Cove Springs? Would you like to learn more about the fishing in Florida's Panhandle region? Go to the Northwest Florida Fishing Guide.
