Saint Johnn River trip

pcs9119

Cadet
Joined
Sep 26, 2002
Messages
13
I am starting to plan a trip to the saint john's river florida for next summer and would appreciate and information, tips, etc. on the following:<br />- Good boat ramps<br />- Best crusing areas of river<br />- Information sources (websites, etc.) for river cruising info, including maps, charts, etc.<br /><br />Thanks in advance,<br />pete in SC
 

lovell

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
May 25, 2002
Messages
38
Re: Saint Johnn River trip

try myflorida.com or marinefisheries.org. plan trip north of lake monroe at sanford. south you need knowledge of area beyond maps.
 

jeff_nicholas

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Aug 2, 2002
Messages
174

pcs9119

Cadet
Joined
Sep 26, 2002
Messages
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Re: Saint Johnn River trip

Originally posted by lovell:<br /> try myflorida.com or marinefisheries.org. plan trip north of lake monroe at sanford. south you need knowledge of area beyond maps.
Lovell - Thanks for the great information. I am planning to drive down to the lake monroe/deland area in early march to get familiar with the area, check out ramps, get info, talk to boaters,etc., and later in the early summer, take my C-Dory down to this area for a 2-3 day cruise.<br />Your caution to keep north of lake monroe is much appreciated. I will check out other websites you suggested!<br />Regards,<br />Pete in SC
 

gatorboaterUF

Seaman
Joined
Nov 8, 2004
Messages
69
Re: Saint Johnn River trip

lake monroe is a VERY nasty lake you come out smelling like a septic tank and it leaves a nasty brown film on the hull made the mistake one time of jumping in for a swim and i stunk for the rest of the day if you go a few miles north there is blue spring (i think thats the name) the ramp is not near as nice but the spring is really nice and it has a good run to swim or float down on a tube but i would sigjest avoid that area all together to many manatee zones and they are really bad in the srping time it gets really annoying if you like to go fast the min wake zones can go for miles at a time plus hiting a manatee can do damage to your boat and the fine for hiting one sucks palatca is a good place to put in but if you ask me the Suwannee river is my favorit spot head out there a few time a month
 

beniam

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Feb 2, 2005
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113
Re: Saint Johnn River trip

Was in Florida month ago. Surprised to be sharing the St John near Jacksonville with an aircraft carrier.<br />Also did a few day on the Suwannee, upper part. Liked it best. Lotts and lotts of gators. <br />Used Florida De Lorme for info, also internet search using D L. launch areas indicated helped.<br />Good luck, be happy and enjoy life. Batavier
 

gatorboaterUF

Seaman
Joined
Nov 8, 2004
Messages
69
Re: Saint Johnn River trip

on the suwanne its not the gators you should worrie about the stergins are more dangerous and they will attack unprovoked the gators just try to avoid people i've seen a stergin take a skier down they had to airlift him to shands in gainesville but they have also been know to sink small boats and take people overbord
 

captharv

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 26, 2005
Messages
187
Re: Saint Johnn River trip

Gators are only dangerous during football season when The UF is playing FSU or UG.<br />What is a stergin?<br />Captharv
 

gatorboaterUF

Seaman
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Nov 8, 2004
Messages
69
Re: Saint Johnn River trip

its a big heavy fish that jumps into small boats or skiers they hit really hard
 

gatorboaterUF

Seaman
Joined
Nov 8, 2004
Messages
69
Re: Saint Johnn River trip

i've only seen one guy get hurt when he got jumped into while sking but some of the old timers will tell ya about people getin knocked overbord or small jon boats geting swamped when one jumps into it
 

Captn Dave

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Dec 5, 2001
Messages
176
Re: Saint Johnn River trip

I thought Gator was baiting us but he's right on. <br />I did a search on the web and found a story by National Geographic about them jumping and injuring people. They migrate between the rivers and the gulf. <br />As you probably know, caviar is the roe from sturgeons. Those fish are mostly from Eastern Europe though. <br />I saw a gill netter on Long Island bring some in back in the 80's. I never knew they existed offshore. Ugly fish. I think in some areas they are on the endangered list.
 

phatmanmike

Captain
Joined
Oct 24, 2003
Messages
3,869
Re: Saint Johnn River trip

it gets really annoying if you like to go fast the min wake zones can go for miles at a time plus hiting a manatee can do damage to your boat
not to mention you could hurt or kill the manatee, but i see some of us are more concerned with paying fines than kleeping nature, natural!
 

Karen Just

Recruit
Joined
Apr 22, 2005
Messages
2
Re: Saint Johnn River trip

GREAT TRIP! My husband & I have done it twice. Jacksonvilles Metro Park Marina (protected slips) or Jacksonville Landing (on the river) are both good stops and dockage is free. You can fo to www.COJ.net & plan to stop when there is an event going on. Holiday Inn at Palatka has docks but check to make sure they have completed work on them. Acosta Creek in Welatka is a good stop. They have fuel & a B&B with a pool. We ran from there to Hontoon Island State Park (full hook-up marina), south of Lake George. We went on to Sanford. With a short stop in between at Blue Springs State Park.<br />Enjoy a beautiful trip<br />Karen Just<br />Jacksonville, Fl<br /><br /><br />
Originally posted by p schmidt:<br /> I am starting to plan a trip to the saint john's river florida for next summer and would appreciate and information, tips, etc. on the following:<br />- Good boat ramps<br />- Best crusing areas of river<br />- Information sources (websites, etc.) for river cruising info, including maps, charts, etc.<br /><br />Thanks in advance,<br />pete in SC
 

BillP

Captain
Joined
Aug 10, 2002
Messages
3,290
Re: Saint Johnn River trip

Karen,<br />Tell us more about the waterway. What speeds are normal along the way? How many miles did you travel per day? Is finding fuel easy?<br />Thanks,<br />Bill
 

captharv

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 26, 2005
Messages
187
Re: Saint Johnn River trip

Most of the no wake/slow zones are south of Lake George. One right at the S. lake entrance, others at: Half Moon fish camp, astor, jungle den, Huntoon, blue springs.<br />Not to be missed: Dine at Blackwater Inn. Right at the Astor bridge, and you may even get a free slip for the night (without electric and water).Great food at reasonable prices. <br />Also, not to be missed: Burger King dock at Palatka. Only one I know of. <br />Huntoon Island state park marina. About $13 with electric and water.<br />Gas available at:<br />Palatka, astor, huntoon area, Sanford area.<br />Captharv
 
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