WATER ACTIVITIES

This St. Augustine fishing charter offers four, six and eight-hour inshore and backwater trips, as well as day and overnight excursions for offshore and gulf stream anglers. With the tagline “you hook it- we’ll cook it,” the marina’s fine restaurant is happy to cook your catch upon arrival.

Jim Hammond Fishing Charters supplies reels, tackle, flies, bait, fishing licenses and ice for surf, deep sea and fly-fishing excursions. In addition to fishing charters, staff will take you on guided eco-tours to view native wildlife and animal species.

Brian Walker Fishing Charters supplies all tackle and fishing licenses for light-tackle, inshore and coastal fishing. The charter also includes fish cleaning.

George Crady Bridge is a mile-long, pedestrian-only fishing bridge located over the Nassau sound. The Nassau Sound Bait and Tackle shop (904-277-9772), located on the north end of the bridge, is open year-round and offers live bait and snacks.

Newly renovated, the Jacksonville Beach Pier consists of a 20-foot wide wooden deck with several complimentary fish cleaning stations, restrooms, a concession area and bait shop. There is a limit of three rods per person.

Located on the northeast side of the Intracoastal drawbridge at Beach Marine, Atlantic Watersports rents jet skis, bowriders, pontoon boats, and fishing boats.

Nautical Escapes offers guided eco-tours tours through marsh creeks and the Intracoastal Waterway. The company is closed December through February.

One of only two rivers in the world that flows from South to North, the St. Johns River stretches 310 miles, starting on the Southern East coast and flowing up and out to the Atlantic Ocean just above the city. The brackish, brown water is home to major ports, marinas, cruise lines, fishing, boat tours, and even private residences, but the most popular inhabitants of the river are the Manatee and Dolphins that can be spotted gliding near the surface.

The Downtown Riverwalk is a great place to enjoy the river. As mentioned in the “Trails & Camping” section, it begins under the I-95 bridge, passes by The Landing, YMCA, performance art theaters and ends near luxury condos in Downtown Jacksonville. Walkers, joggers, and bicyclists frequent the well-maintained brick path.

The greater Jacksonville area offers many beaches, developed and undeveloped, for your enjoyment. All of our beaches allow no cars and are usually well-maintained.

Running north to south, Atlantic, Neptune and Jacksonville Beach are where most beach-goers plant their folding chairs. These beaches are all public and have condos, restaurants and shopping all around. The Jacksonville Beach Pier and Sea Walk Pavillion are located along this stretch. The southernmost beach in the area is Ponte Verda Beach. This exclusive shoreline is lined with private residences and country clubs, and is usually less crowded than the others to the North.

Speaking of north, the sleepy seaside town of Fernandina lays just below the Georgia border, whose beaches are mellow and quiet. Amelia Island and its environmentally-friendly resort beaches lay just south of Fernandina. There are a number of ecological preserves and state parks between Amelia Island and Neptune Beach, most of which have secluded and undisturbed beaches to enjoy.

This river is located in the aptly named Ichetucknee Springs State Park, which is Southwest about 1 ½ hours from Jacksonville. The park offers hiking trails, small clearings and picnic areas where visitors can enjoy the quiet, dense hammock forests, open sandy hills and local wildlife. The main attraction, however, is the crystal-clear natural spring which flows south for six miles through wetlands and shaded forests before finally feeding the Sante Fe River. Kayaking, canoeing, tubing and snorkeling are allowed year round, while certified scuba divers can explore the depths of the Blue Hole during winter and spring.