As many of my fishing buddies and World Golf Village neighbors know, our area offers a wide variety of ramps to get your boat in the water. I have a 22-foot Nautic Star Bay Boat with a Yamaha 150-4 stroke outboard that enables me to fish a variety of locations within the Intracoastal and bottom fish in the ocean. I love spending the day on the water with some friends and grabbing lunch or dinner at some of the best eateries in town.

My favorite ramp to use while fishing the River is the Trout Creek ramp. It’s a two-boat ramp with plenty of parking available. The ramp has a long dock, which makes it easy for tying up while putting the boat in and taking it out. I have caught some great bass and catfish in that area, and you might catch the occasional red fish.

If you are interested in fishing the Intracoastal, I would suggest putting in at Mayport ramp, the Beach Boulevard ramp or the Vilano ramp. Mayport offers the largest of the three ramps by far. It has the most parking, but it also has the worst currents, which can make it difficult for putting in and taking out. Mayport gives you access to a wide variety of areas including the northern section of the Intracoastal, the northern section of the St. Johns River, the Jetties, Sister’s Creek and the ocean. The Beach Boulevard ramp is situated in the Intracoastal almost directly between the Mayport ramp and the Vilano ramp. It’s the smallest ramp with the least amount of parking, so you will need to head out early if you want to get a parking spot. This is one of the best ramps for inshore fishing because it gives you access to both the northern and southern sections of the Intracoastal. The Vilano ramp is closest to World Golf Village and offers a large ramp and lots of parking. There is also a bait shop conveniently located at the ramp, which is great if you need to grab some shrimp or mud minnows before you go out. Vilano gives you access to the St. Augustine Inlet and the southern section of the Intracoastal.

If you go out of Trout Creek, be sure to head north towards Julington Creek and grab a bite to eat at Clark’s Fish Camp. Clark’s has great fried shrimp and delicious Prime Rib Au Jus depending on what you are in the mood for. The atmosphere is relaxed and the mounted animals are impressive. If you head out of Mayport, make sure to stop at Sandollar Restaurant & Marina and order the Sandollar Sandwich (grilled, fried or blackened redfish cooked to perfection). Be careful at Sandollar’s dock though, it is very shallow! If you find yourself in the Jax Beach area, you can grab some food at Nipper’s or Palm Valley Fish Camp, both excellent choices!  And, I recommend Cap’s on the Water or The Conch House if you are in the Vilano area.

Tight lines!