Upper St. Johns River Marsh WMA consists of more than 119,000 acres in Brevard and Indian River counties. Currently, the Water Management District is restoring 150,000 acres of marshlands, re-creating fish and wildlife habitat, and improving water quality. Sixty-two miles of levees offer a wide range of recreational opportunities, including fishing, wildlife viewing, hiking, bicycling, and paddling. Hunting on the areas is good to fair for migratory bird, fair for deer and hog hunting, and poor for small game, turkey, and squirrel hunting. Birds are abundant on the area and include snowy egrets, great blue herons, white ibis, glossy ibis, great egrets, limpkins, night herons, osprey, and bald eagles. The endangered snail kite is often observed in the Blue Cypress and the Fort Drum Marsh conservation areas. During hunting seasons tent camping is permitted at designated campsites. During periods closed to hunting camping is regulated by the St. Johns River Water Management District.
Lower
St. Johns River and Lakes:
Until summer
rains bring water levels up, anglers should be
careful as low water conditions in the river may
present obstacles to navigation and launching.
Largemouth bass should continue to be caught
following the schools of baitfish present in the
river. Anglers should plan on being out early as
recreational boating reaches its peak during
this time of year making many areas of the river
difficult to fish even in the late evening. The
redear sunfish (shellcracker) and bluegill spawn
comes to an end but fishing should remain good
early this period. Lake Jesup (currently
extremely shallow) and Lake George are among the
most popular bream fisheries on the river.
Striped bass seek cool water in the summer and
should be congregating near the mouth of Blue
Springs, the Wekiva River, the Croaker Hole in
Little Lake George, and at other thermal refuges
in the river. Grass shrimp, small shad and eels
(when available) are the preferred baits for
these fish.
Upper St. Johns River and Lakes:
Water levels in the upper St. Johns River were
lower than normal throughout Spring due to low
rainfall but should rise during this quarter as
the summer rainy season begins. The river
sections between lakes Winder and Poinsett and
from SR 520 to SR 46 have been restricted to
smaller, shallow-draft boats and airboats but
should become accessible to all types of fishing
boats if seasonal weather conditions prevail.
As long as the river remains inside its banks,
fish will be concentrated in the deeper holes
and sandbar drop-offs where clean water can be
found. As water levels begin to rise, anglers
should find bass and panfish catches improving
without having to motor great distances. Moving
water resulting from seasonal rainfall usually
stimulates feeding activity in the river and in
the entrances and exits of lakes. Anglers should
target the edges of submerged vegetation along
banks, sharp bends, and drop-offs near shallow
bars. Traditional methods for taking all species
will work. Swimming plastic worms/jerk baits and
twitching shallow-running minnow imitations are
preferred tactics among many bass anglers here.
Fly-fishing with a surface popper is also a very
popular and productive way to catch both bass
and panfish in these sections of the river. Lake
Washington will be the best choice for those
anglers with larger boats because the lake has a
dam at its outlet and is typically deeper. The
south entrance to the lake and its northern exit
above the dam are two top spots to try for all
species. Bass and panfish fishing should be good
among the mixed bulrush, bonnets, emergent
grass, and hydrilla located along the deeper
eastern shoreline. Crappie anglers should take
fair numbers of fish by slow-trolling
artificials or by drifting with live minnows in
the deeper, open water areas of Lake Washington
and in Lake Poinsett, too, if adequate rainfall
raises that lake.
St. John's Fishing
Anglers are reminded that a saltwater fishing
license is required to possess shad when fishing
from a boat, and the bag limit is 10 fish.
In the world of bass fishing,
there are several names synonymous with the great
expectations of trophy largemouth bass. It has
been one of the most successful bass waters in
the World of famous Florida fishing locations,
the St. Johns River.
Located in the Northeastern part of Florida and stretching nearly one
half its length, the St. Johns River is one of
Florida greatest for local bass fishermen.
The fact that, year after year, it continuously
produces such excellent anglers and trophy bass results
It has help lead Florida to be deemed the "Bass
Fishing Capital of the World" and
the name fits this river system! It is one of those rare
bodies of water that produces both quantity and
quality, along with a never ending
breath of beauty. The 300+ miles of the St.
Johns River system is a study in diversity and
unlimited fishing options. Whatever type of
fishing water the angler desires can readily be
found along its river system. This famous river has a character and series of
different traits compared to most Florida bass
fishing lakes or rivers.
The St. Johns river always flows from
South to North, a bit of an weirdness in itself. The first quarter of the St.
Johns, up to Lake Harney, is dependent upon
rainfall for its flow, with a small bit of
assistance from a few springs and some natural
water table. . In times of drought or
reduced periods of rainfall, this part of the
river often goes nearly dry, usually between May and July. This upper portion of the river
is a series deferent banks, thick
aquatic growth and endless marshland.
The main trace of the St. Johns is nearly
indistinguishable and forms a maze of drainage
arms and sloughs. While the fishing is excellent
here, it presents the readily apparent danger of
getting lost, so GPS is highly recommended for
new anglers.
This headwaters portion of the St. Johns offers
excellent angling experiences, especially when
its waters are low, but still navigable. Low
water levels bring the bass out of the endless
miles of vegetation and to the edges of the main
channel and the deeper holes. Although very few real trophy bass over ten pound come from this
section, the numbers of one to five pounders are often
staggering. Lake Harney on North to Lake Monroe,
the river starts a major transition. The banks
are well defined and high, while at the same
time the vegetation starts to thin dramatically.
Florida Game and
Fresh Water Fish Commission biologists said, that
the fresh water fish, particularly the usually
well-traveled largemouth bass, will not migrate
from the Northern portions of the river into the
Southern sections. The salt
content seems to form a natural barrier.
Consequently, the headwaters are entirely
dependent upon the success of the spawn to
sustain populations. However, the salinity does
have its positive influences. The stretch of
river between Lakes Harney and Monroe is a
principle spawning ground for the tremendous
numbers of big American Shad, which annually
make the long journey from the Atlantic. The
months of December through March find hundreds
of anglers casting small jigs and spoons to
partake of the harvest.
Lake George is noted for its
excellent largemouth bass fishing lake. Bass seem to
congregate in this lake. The reason,
mouths of the many small feeder streams, and the
points and deep holes in the bends of the river,
are great places to work a plastic worm and a
crankbait. Areas of lily pads are
excellent in the spring and early summer months,
especially if grass is also present. Largemouths
readily spawn and feed in the beds of eelgrass,
which predominate the flats. Look for that grass
and you are almost certain to find the fish.
Lake George is the widest and largest lake on
the St. Johns River. Approximately 12 miles long
and 6 miles wide, it has a very remarkable, averaging about ten feet
deep. Lake George also has a significant salt
content, primarily from the large Salt, Silver
Glen and Juniper springs which discharge through
massive saline marine deposits. Additionally, if
there are strong, sustained Northerly winds, the
incoming tidal flow from the North can reach the
lake.
Lake George provides excellent largemouth bass,
along with great brim fishing, particularly along the
vegetation areas. Other good
places are the mouths of the spring runs.
Crappie fishing is very good and can be
exceptional when drifting the open water areas
in mid-Summer. Striped bass, both stocked
hybrids called Sunshine bass by many and a few
ocean veterans, provide spectacular angling
experiences when they start their surface
feeding in huge schools. Look for the Stripers
in the area of the old military practice bombing
range, just to the East of the main channel
markers. It is a time you won't forget anytime
soon!.
Just North of Little George, another major
change occurs. The 125 mile long
Oklawaha River,
the largest tributary along the St. Johns,
empties a vast amount of pure, fresh water into
the system, significantly diluting the salt
content. Flowing out of man-made
Rodman
Reservoir, the Oklawaha river is a fishing
paradise in itself. The river channel is a
beautiful stretch of water that often pleases as
much with scenery as with its fine fishery. City
of Palatka, the river is narrow again. The banks
are high and well defined, with a number of
mid-channel islands. The depth has a major change in
this area, with portions of the main St. Johns
channel reaching 35 feet. Some of the creeks,
such as Cross and Dunn's, have holes reaching 45
and 50.
Crescent Lake has long been a great bassin'
location. Its eelgrass beds beckon to the
spawn-ready, lunker females. Dead Lake, at the lower end of Crescent is
also an excellent bass spot, especially when you
can locate running water.
The beautiful St. Johns River continues to earn
its reputation as the bass fishing paradise of
the World. Let us hope that the progress of Man
never changes it.
Fishing Guides
If you want to catch
big fish and fish where big fish are! St Johns
River is prime waters for the trophy largemouth
bass fishing. Many catches in the 10-pound range
are taken each year. Come join us for the trip
of a lifetime. You have earned it!
Our fishing guides are hand picked from the best in
the area, so you don't have to. They have fished
these Central Florida waters for no less then 20
years. During this time our team have developed
there skills and experience necessary to provide
you with that fishing trip of a life time. In
order to insure your trip will be a safe and
memorable trip, all of our guides are insured
and US Coast Guard licensed captains.
Not only will you fish with a professional guide, all of our trips
include: Fully equipped Bass boats, fuel and
tackle. Everything you need for that trip you've
been waiting for. The only thing you will need
to have is a
Florida fishing license.
Corporate trips are welcome and very common for
us, because of our size. We can accommodate your
fishing needs from one to hundred. We also can
provide everything from breakfast and box
lunches to a southern BBQ to end the day.
Additional links;
http://myfwc.com/fishing/forecast/ner.html#st_johns
http://www.theriverreturns.org/visit/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Johns_River
