Chicopit Bay

I seriously doubt there’s a more diverse water body in Florida than the St. Johns River at Jacksonville. One would have to include the maze of shallow and deep spartina grass and oyster-lined tidal creeks in the Hannah Mills and Sisters Creek area, to the main ship channel from the Mayport Jetties to below Buckman Bridge. Also the shallow, oyster-laden flats around Mill Cove, the array of docks, and the Intra-coastal Waterway from Chicopit Bay to the Atlantic Boulevard Bridge. That’s just about any inshore angling situation one could find.

It’s an interesting area to fish, and for those chasing big trout, it can be a very rewarding one.There are a number of noted areas along the intra costal Waterway and the St. Johns River in metropolitan Jacksonville that can provide outstanding redfish habitat. Beginning in the north on the ICW, Big and Little Talbot islands are surrounded by a labyrinth of creeks, marshes and shell beds. Between these islands, both of which are state parks, lie Simpson and Myrtle Creeks. These small streams often hold pods of reds at anytime of the year. The same is true of Sawpit Creek, near the northern end of Big Talbot Island. On a fishing ide, check out the mouth of any small feeder that has shell beds where it joins Sawpit.

As the ICW nears the mouth of the St. Johns River, to the east of the waterway lies the Fort George River. From the inlet at the south end of Little Talbot Island, concentrate on the river's northwest shore as you move inland. On the west of the ICW lies the Sisters Creek area. Arguably the best red-fish habitat in this region, its marsh grass edges and oyster bars teem with reds.

To the south of the mouth of the St. John's, Chicopit Bay forms a crescent running parallel to the river where the ICW continues south. This is another region noted for producing reds. Again, look for the shell beds and target them on rising tides.