Coming in the St. John’s River from offshore you will cross the IntraCoastal Waterway (Sister’s Creek on the north) about 2 miles up river, and then, continuing west, you will go up the Saint’s John River to Arlington and on to Jacksonville. After about 6 miles you will pass dowtown Jacksonville and slowly turn to the south heading down into Florida to Green Cove Springs, Palatka, and beyond. Depending on the height of your flybridge, tower or mast you can travel about 150 miles south from Jacksonville on the St. John’s river.

You will find some great fishing, wonderful restaurants and real “ol’ Florida” places. I really enjoy the “mom and pop” businesses of “old” Florida.

The Ortega river, just past downtown Jacksonville heading off to the west, is one of my favorites, and where the home of the old Ortega River Marina and Boat yard used to be. This neighborhood is one of my favorite parts of Jacksonville. There are still some good ol’ marinas there, although the Ortega Boat Yard is gone. Sadler Point and Lamb’s are still running strong, and there are a couple others over there. There is some good fishing up the Ortega River sometimes, and you can load up on some good bait fish and shrimp at certain times of the year.

Click on the following link to find addresses and phone numbers of  Jacksonville marinas. The previous link will take you to a good resource page on the premier watersports E-magazine and marine resource for the Jacksonville area, www.JaxBoating.net / www.Jacksonville-Boating.com.

If you do happen to bend over at the helm to pick up your fork, or your cell phone, etc. back down on the throttle before you take your eyes off the waterway. It may save a few hours of waiting for the tide to lift you off the shore. If you do happen to slide upon the bank of the riverside or the “ditch” reverse your engine(s) and back off the way you went on, or in as the case may be. If there is no backing out, or off, whichever the case may be, have patience. The tide will come in eventually and you will float again. If you went up at high tide you may have to empty the vessel of the passengers and push the yacht back into deeper water. You all may have to wait on the water to rise some to accomplish the task. In any case, be patient, Mick is right, time is on your side (usually).

P.S. If you are in the area of The Turner Butler Bridge the tide station to get your information from is the Oak Landing station. In the area of the Palm Valley Bridge, which is south of the Turner Butler Bridge, the station for tide info in that area is The Palm Valley station. If you are north of the Turner Butler Bridge the tide station to get info on the tides from is Jax Beach station.

Sincerely,
Capt. Curtis

I noticed when I was heading west on the St. John’s River from Blount Island the other day, going to help someone on a house boat up near the Navy base, that there were some big cans, 55 gallon drums, with eyebolts in the top of them, anchored in the river off of the construction area on the north side of the river, west of the Dames Point Bridge, and on up the river, on the west side right next to the port near the Crowley Co., right before the Mathews Bridge. The cans are painted white it seems but they are in the channel and have no lights or markings of any kind. During the day they are fairly easy to notice, if you are paying attention but at night a radar picks them up as small, very small objects right on the water if there is no chop and if you are paying close attention. Please beware of these mooring (appearantly) bouys for ships(?) is what they seem to be.

Sincerely,
Capt. Curtis

Thanks to Maxie Gregory for sending this nice photo of Jim and Kevin Gregory at Kingsley Lake Spring 2007!

A sailing yacht (40+ ft. Vagabond, ketch rigged) coming from Green Cove Springs, FL sailed out of the St. John’s river, Jacksonville, FL and headed south with a gentle NE breeze of about 12-15 knots. As she was cruising along nicely at about 4 knots, a mile off the beach the crew settled in for a leisurely first leg of their sail down the eastern shore of Florida, through the Okeechobee and across the Gulf of Mexico to Pennsicola, FL.

Then the wind eased around to the east as the sun dropped below the horizon and she started inching towards the beach. Trying to keep her pointed south/southeast became more difficult. The captain finally decided that they were being forced to tack offshore. He had a hard time getting the genoa to come around the forestay and the engine was not starting. It appeared to have a fuel clog. She was approaching the beach more with every breath of the easterly breeze. Finally the crew decided that the anchor had to go over board, be set and that would give them the time they needed to get everything straightened out. So the 45 lb. CQR dropped to the sand off the bow sprit in the 10 depth. 60 ft. of chain went out and that was all they could spare from the looks of how close the beach was now. The swells were pretty high, 4 - 5 ft. now with an occassional breaker. Wait a minute. They were dragging and with a couple of bumps and bangs they were tossed onto the beach right on the highest tide of the month, a day after the new moon, and at midnight. 

As an offshore master captain working for Tow Boat US, I was out there on Mon. to assist a 500 hsp tug boat in dragging the big ol’ heavy cruisin’ gal off the beach. A little late, after the high tide, which barely touched the shoal keel of the Vagbond, a little short on line with the tide falling and the waves beggining to roll in, and a little short on horsepower appearantly, after a little more than an hour we only budged the ol’ gal about 6 inches. Being parallel to the surf, the goal was to get her turned into the waves and drag her in. Not on that day but we are moving on to plan C tomorrow. Stay tuned, same Tow boat US captain and same watersports E-Magazine channel.

Fair winds, tight lines and following seas.