Ok question about where to park..

D

Dragonfly

New member
Hi all, Tracy here again...This is for all the florida folks.. where's the safest place to leave the truck and trailor while cruisen around Jacksonville and St.Augustine? We find either some place good for the boat but not the truck and trailor or vice verse a... help ! I know a lot of you all have been down there.. where did you leave your truck and trailors at ? Thanks ! Tracy 8)
 
If you want to leave your tow rig around Jacksonville the Sisters Creek Boat Ramp is good. It's at the intersection of the ICW and the Saint Johns on the North side of the Saint Johns. There are actually two ramps chose the one on the North. It's a city owned ramp and is fenced and pretty secure. They have a police officer that lives on site. This is the site where the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament is staged from. No accomidations other than the ramp but it's a nice one. From I-95 you take the Hecksher Drive exit and go about 10 miles ramp is on the left. I've left my rig here four and five days at a time with no problems. I can't really recommend any around St Augustine. If you plan on visiting St Augustine they have a city owned Marina right in the heart of town on the west side of the ICW right after you go under the Bridge of Lions.
 
A word of caution, there is an anchorage near the fort, but DON'T anchor right in front of it, although it is allowed.

Years ago I stopped there for a few days while heading south on Spirit, my sailboat. There was a great spot open right in front of the fort so I dropped the hook, but noticed other boaters looking at me strangely, almost with anticipation. I found out why a short while later when the fort fired off a BIG cannon very close to me. My reaction amused more than a few.

I then changed my spot in the anchorage and waited for the show when the next guy dropped his hook exactly where I had been. I wasn't disappointed.

Nick
"Valkyrie"
 
They have been rebuilding the Bridge of Lions in St Augustine so if you anchor very close expect it to be loud with the jack hammers and such. The waters North of the Bridge have a lot of shoaling so be careful to stay in the channel. An anchorage I really like is south of St Augustine about 10 miles at Fort Matanzas. It's a well protected anchorage and walking distance to the beach. There's a small resturant on the south side of the bridge and thats about it other than the Fort itself. The St Aug City Marina is pretty nice and has hourly dockage ($4 and hour) if you just want to visit the city for a few hours but the current can be pretty tricky getting in and out of the Marina depending on the tide. Unbelievable how loud that cannon is!!!
 
Nick I once went to a Civil War reenactment at Lorretta Lynn Campground in TN. I got there a little late and got a nice spot for my 5th wheel real close (about 75') to the festivities. I thought man what luck, wrong! Unknown to me they fire those cannons at 6 AM to begin the war. I was asleep and thought the propane tanks had blown up. The picture is 5 of the cannons being fired at once later that evening. Awesome sight.

CivilWar.jpg
 
:D Wow thanks for the information ya'll ! I loved the stories.. makes me wonder what other stories we haven't heard yet ?! Anyone else have any thing to add about staying down around St.Augustine / Jacksonville ? Thanks again
Take care, Tracy 8)
 
Capt Mac I gigged them mostly where the Nassau River meets the ICW on the southwest corner. I live about 1,000 yds south at the green boat house. I've seen your flounder boat out there a few times. Picture is a few years old health restraints don't allow me to go much anymore. Gotta love flounder gigging!
 
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