Fishing in Jacksonville (how much, hotels, home)

[terry baughan]

Can anyone suggest a place to stay and fish for a few days in north Jax. Will be bringing my 17 foot semi v boat,looking to try some flats or river fishing somewhere that boat will be safe to store or dock a few days. Thanks

[EricBoyd]

I can't talk specifics on whether it'll be "safe to store" your boat at these places, but there are several places along Hecksher Dr where you can put in with access to the river and also some flats. A few of those place also have what appear to be a fenced in storage area. Again, not sure how secure they are. Sisters Creek has a nice boat launch area, too. That's where they host the annual kingfish tourney.

[Chh2]

I couldn't give you an answer, but I think a good place to inquire would be with The Outdoors Show. (Outdoors Show Web Site Home) Its the home of a weekly radio report of former Jag and NY Jet Jeff Lageman and some other local aficionados on fishing in NE Fla. You can even communicate with Lageman there. They have an active forum, I'd suggest giving it a shot at some more specifics and tips from the hosts and the others in the area to make sure its the best trip possible.

Good Luck to ya!

[bobsim]

New Berlin Boat and RV is a nice place, storage, cleaning, bait and tackle. Very close to Dames Point.

(904) 696-6596

[Robyn55]

Parts of the St. Johns River have been experiencing an algae bloom and fish kill. I'd check about local conditions before planning a trip. Robyn

[EricBoyd]

Originally Posted by Robyn55

Parts of the St. Johns River have been experiencing an algae bloom and fish kill. I'd check about local conditions before planning a trip. Robyn

This article says it's happening south of the Buckman Bridge. And, that's no where near where the OP is wanting to do some fishing.

[parks71]

There are no hotels that I know of other than the airport on the northside of Jax. Sisters creek boat ramp is a good ramp but it is on the northside of town.

The closest hotel/boat ramp combo I can think of would be mayport comfort inn which is about 5 mins from oak harbor boat ramp and you have B&M bait and tackle right there to get bait if you use bait. You are also about 10 minutes from mayport boat ramp which is a few miles from the ocean but has good fishing along the jetties. If its nice enough which it usually is during the summer mornings (thunderstorms roll in almost every afternoon), right now the sting rays are running the beach line with cobia following them.

I dont know how much you know about fish around here, but cobia are really fun to catch and great eatting. My friend caught 30+ last week running the beach line but you can only keep 2 per person.

If your looking for reds/trout/flounder stick to the river for best results IMO and not the intracoastal. Blount island is a great place to catch all these types of fish.

Some of the best fishing in Jax IMO on a HIGH TIDE ONLY (or u will get stuck) is mill cove which is right across from blount island. Once you get in millcove which is a large bay, stay about 10 feet right of the powerlines and you can run full speed with out any issues. Once you get to the end of the powerlines, use a trolling motor with a *** head and shrimp or artificials to work that bank, focus on mouths of the feeder creeks you see. You will not strike out here if you fish it properly. You can enter this place about 2 or so hours before high tide and get out soon after the tide turns depending on the tide change.

North Florida has some of the most drastic tide changes in all of florida so look that up before you go each day.

[EricBoyd]

There's a newer hotel right at the Hecksher Dr exit, off 9A. It's next to Wendy's, NW corner of the interchange.

[bobsim]

Hey Terry, Not knowing where you're from or what type of water you're used to I will caution you about our inlet/jetties. It can and does get sporty out there during tide changes.

Here's a link to a local fishing forum:Northeast--Fishing Reports (http://forums.floridasportsman.com/forum/main-forums/northeast-fishing-reports - broken link)

EricBoyd's suggested hotel is close to lots of good fishing, boat storage and bait/tackle shops. Plenty of other activities across the Dames point bridge.


Here's the hotel:http://www.hiexpress.com/hotels/us/e...s-_-ex-_-jaxsn