Living in Jacksonville, there are many great boating destinations to enjoy in your own town. Of course everybody likes to hit the St. Johns River and the Intracoastal Waterway, both making Jacksonville a popular boating destination, but there are some other spots you may not have known about too.

Whether you want to dock and go explore your city, or make it all about fishing and relaxing in the sun, there are a variety of options for the boater in Jacksonville. Take a look at these top destinations for boating in the Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra Beach areas.

The St. Johns River and the Intracoastal Waterway

Jacksonville is one of those unique places that actually sits on the water, making it a boater’s paradise. You’ll notice how massive the waterway is here when you see the seven bridges that span across the Intracoastal and the St. Johns River. Jacksonville is a great boating destination for the access to amazing attractions from the water, such taking the river downtown to enjoy festivals, fireworks, and restaurants or take advantage of the amazing fishing opportunities.

Get your spot at the Metropolitan Park Marina downtown and walk over to a Jaguars game at the TIAA Field or enjoy your favorite bands during a downtown concert. Downtown you can also catch some of the amazing fireworks shows that take place here which are typically shot off at Main Street and Acosta Bridges creating a waterfall of fireworks. All of this can be accessed from your Metropolitan Marina slip where the marina has 78 boat slips available for boats up to 80 feet LOA. Then be sure to pop on over to take advantage of the boat slips at the River City Brewing Company downtown where you can enjoy live entertainment and a delicious menu.

The St. Johns River is known for excellent wildlife too because the unusual current flowing north, so you’ll likely spot gators, eagles, herons, and osprey. With the slow movement of the river and the large, wide area, sailing enthusiasts are always taking advantage of the excellent conditions. Don’t miss out on the Annual Mug Race here every spring, the world’s longest sailboat race. Enjoy being in a top fishing destination that sees tournaments like the largest kingfish tournament in Florida.

Nassau Sound

Don’t miss your chance to fish at one of the best fishing spots in Northeast Florida. Head out to the Nassau Sound Fishing Bridge spanning the Nassau Sound.  It’s right off the Intracoastal and you can access it by car through the Amelia Island State Park. You’ll find whiting, drum, tarpon, and jack while you fish from a boat [or the bridge].

Offshore

Of course you can boat off the coast and take advantage of the salt water sportfish you’ll find there. The biggest draw to the coast is fishing for dolphin, tuna, sea bass, grouper, and more. Fishing is huge in Jacksonville and it’s one of the perks of being a boater here. At the mouth of the St. John River and the Atlantic Ocean is the Mayport Jetties, one of the best spots for local anglers.

The Salt Marsh

Another great option is the Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve where you can get out and explore the salt marsh and wetlands. This area is full of wildlife from plants to unique birds and more. It’s a very unique part of Jacksonville and it’s great for those that want to get out and take a kayak or canoe tour since most of the area must be navigated by kayak. You’ll get another chance to experience the water and getting back to nature.

Living in NE Florida can make the dream of a boating life come true.  We have a lot of unique advantages. Be sure to check out the club cruising area for more info:  JBC Cruising Area.