About this Guide St. Augustine, the oldest city in North America, lies at Mile 778 of the Atlantic , which runs 1095 miles from Norfolk, Virginia, to Miami, . This guide is designed to help boaters enjoy and appreciate the Chart Collection.

natural and cultural resources accessible from recreational ves- and

sels in the St. Augustine area. The maps and text display Map and describe features from the maritime history of St.

Augustine; resources important to boaters and anglers, Historical

including marinas, waterfront restaurants, and boat Survey, ramps; representative fish and wildlife; the distribution

Coast of natural resources, such as salt marshes, , and of

beaches; and sources of information and assistance. In ad- Office The chart to the left is a 1925 members nautical chart. This historical dition, the guide offers suggestions for safe navigation and were NOAA chart shows the St. Augustine Mary anchoring in area waters, which are subject to tidal currents The wife of Florida Governor LeRoy fleet (1962). Inlet in one of its more extreme due to the proximity of St. Augustine Inlet. Collins christens her namesake at shrimp Credit: configurations, appearing to and Princess the DESCO works in 1957. be wide open, but with shoals Do not rely on this guide for navigational purposes. Tom Augustine Little over much of that width. Instead, use the latest nautical charts. of the St. The St. Augustine Port, Waterway, and Beach Dis- Sales Diesel Engine trict Commission provided funding for this guide, The shrimping, Company’s DESCO which was prepared in collaboration with the Florida trawler vessels longlining, and of many the mainstay Sea Grant College Program. were for decades. commercial fleets (ca. 1960) shows This aerial view works on the the company’s River in full San Sebastian Luhrs production. The uses the Corporation now For information on obtaining a copy of large powerboats, this guide, please contact: site to build Society. mostly for fishing.

Historical

acquiring and Augustine favored St. St. Augustine Port, Florida Sea Grant the area (352) 392-1837 easingly posses- by Waterway, and Beach incr to control n District Commission I sentiment vided (904) 824-0113 inability in other incursions. Spanish o SGEB-59 APRIL 2005 by Spain’s unrest pr the , rowing contemplate endangered G of America, ending

was States photos ce the mainland. States began to commer on the United of Spanish dominance. In the United to Maritime Florida the military presence 1823 historical deterioration of Florida. resources, and ceded in a strong Treaty appointed. All control lack of Spain’s lit. Beginning been by the first had bar: also stretched the Adams-Onis was keeper the The lighthouse that still sions Island light over official access sand- serves on Anastasia February 1821 Anastasia first for extent, security, and the limited world obstructed by of Island was two years Spanish control. tower on 1824 the in the Period: 1821-1861 watch by deep, with Island, are admitting but the largest of old when photographed, Maritime 30 feet the finest of Augustine fortified, and as of Anastasia the object Augustine Territorial the and harbor is one of St. the ships is along with the keeper, St. Augustine In 1821 the Island; South water, consequently number, ships, A Brief Maritime Augustine’s was rebuilt and a in 1876. Today the St. British, described Anastasia North merchant River; of structure by St. the to admit to St. Augustine Lighthouse and survey so as St. Johns Access History of periods War, An 1830 is covered that could shelter, in any the and Museum, Inc., First Spanish, harbor and a half a harborfeet over them mending, at low St. Augustine. River to Civil “This five for their Picolata, on to Matanzas Florida’s maintains the house principal anchorage...Both leave only channels, to at least and east the of six history: good of navigation or 18 miles advent as a living museum. The Territorial, these bars, some entering the banks, which description of between Savannah packets” until multicultural Industrial. smaller ran journey, steam town Spanish, The removing Florida the and econd class. survey.” complete S and Marine steamboat to vessels ’s end. The the present the required “small a somewhat isolated port war entry Resort In 1834 was wed to the and remain y. until against the The would held it of soldiers Spanish stagecoach ride the centur and to guard in 1867. force Augustine was also allo of 1862 war relit account Spanish to protect missionary St. St. Augustine turn of the was its shrill colony, south. at the in March and with viable to conduct the 1861-1865 town beginning a and Stream the the occupation, An 1863 newspaper the echoes Aviles landed to plant a small Gulf of railroad system Period: Federal makes de came St. Augustine. the flank War darkened atthe contact. 1565-1763 They especially , the Civil took possession was of outside transport settlement followed The troops Island throughout all ernment new, Pedro Menendez powers, this flotas To secure quickly dark almost Gov for a 1565 St. August- Federal Anastasia to land was lit irst Spanish Period: 8, in north Florida. European named pain. The Menendez and remained harbor The F inlet Spanish to S winds to Spain. north of the an occasional wer. On September shallow competing The bound trade ambitions, lighthouse vessels,on closed when to iron tower sextant, a from Caroline, of Union watch and clock, region shipping wing the religious Fort of brick With a colonists near inhabitants. follo and French conquest blockade“deserted, save 1865-Present coquina the in the native protected east and the the Spanish convoy route. Union as the 1874 Henry Flagler an accurate Nautical interests system economic ed to the was continually Francis Period: end of baron the navigator among the turning Spanish captur Together, Sir describes it y the oil and a work (convoy) until and threat St. Augustine 1586, colony’s whistle.” Industrial waters threatened b and construction people, led to bar the a ship’s A flota to fulfill south. In the steam and in 1880. and the The sextant, in Florida position to the Indians. and in by ship Marine in 1872, the sea Augustine, Transport of Almanac, as well as fortified mainland, well and turbulent into St. commerce, shipping. perfected century, establish sea. past northern shipwrecked France’s immediate hostile dwellings, brought the War, chased fell local major role can at routes, then from the now shifting Resort Civil pur visited wetlands. in place, although to the mid-18th trade removed forces the fort, the personnel the was old tower tourists Tourism, were access to position the fleet and and After The surrounding links assumed track established an earthworkexpedition French occupation French, earthwork independently of of winter town. the to block keep measures horizonangles of the the the on supplies sailed Furthermore, enter. the and railway Jacksonville could the ine. A French of French de stronger, it lighthousestands today. stream city continued daily with from bodies. the English, destroying relied generally privateers. of the by sea until while the destruction removal by colony, colony ships and Castillo where increasing vessels, almost celestial Despite the as the Supply of vessels that could prompting The construction on An alteration primarily town’s harbor ventured out attacked draft colony, still of the recreational who Beach, the bringing 1940s, and burned as Havana. the towers strict turned his focus toward wasdeveloping the By harassed and such accosted limited by pirates burned the entrance for small mariners Fernandina sacked was a bitter blow, and professional soldiers. exports, much environmental supplies the Local from Drake This colonies, frequently of Wooden watch and at stopover port. inlet. of shrimping. Tolomato supply. and were Augustine inlet attacked a garrison inlet. materials sands resort the Augustine years of the must food Spanish the St. and isolation, lackgrowth. of carrying shifting a to St. water a number of relative vessels, and became nearly 20 deep Corps stilland visit from other annual flotas bars artillery entrances the to the Augustine’s eight city safely navigate relocated from the The who privateer Robert with Searles with retained The commercial and international into deep. protected and shallow armed wer. Still, major sands families gained and 27 feet Augustine, tourists boaters English commanded the to limited St. attacked Spanish of of a three Augustine. Point and with power channels 1668, heavily coquina sharply British the the War shifting experience St. wide port in St. In fortress, a the and all of the 1920s, in home popular sailors and the colony hands, during granted In the through North to for of a coquina completed replaced in 1695, with Succession, in 1740, Paris techniques and cut River. Today, place were supplying and constructed stone fortification. The surrounding the vessels were based channel 200 continue feet San Marcos, Spanish Treaty of them Engineers Shipwreck St. Island difficulties of well-sited remained in Spanish Augustine the creating a shrimpers San Sebastian stopping-off Anastasia the War a castillo 100 shrimp Corps of 1940, Some the Augustine courtesy laws, and siege to the The in cut. on ell-known St. 38-68; trade during lay but raid againstThen, St. in 1763, the River operate a w The In 1702, to castillo. dredge the also III, 1996, pp. destroyed, the Island, barracks (North) marinas Waterway. Morris May ill-equipped easily Another British to Britain. built and Augustine is Inc., troops were Anastasia and periodically William Florida. to penetrate On boatyards Intracoastal John Research, structures northern mainland at 3046. cannon, with other of vehicle, St. and of Florida signal by motor Atlantic control was also on unable the with commerce a new the Ear, the population it t, and Archaeological Jenkins’ r, armed expor ver, when following Marianne Oceans Franklin Inc. possessions towe for Royal Navy’s howe vessels continued from Spanish 1763-1784 watch indigo the 1, Southern and Museum, St. Augustine estimated and moment, Condensed Phase Period: of the coquina and timbers for British census of planted rice Survey, Lighthouse height British stores under Augustine The 1763 The naval harbor force. economic success Spanish. was of little the increased the This to the continued British a defense Florida house Revolution. of to quickly increased. Exporting More vessels contributed entered to the colonies the American entrepot. The coquina watchtower during returned sovereignty trade of Paris 1784-1821 Spanish nationals likewise on was built by Treaty Period: as a foreign its role the Spanish, increased in height by the Spanish the influx of Second British, and first lit as a navigation aid in 1821. St. Augustine Spanish,resumed and Replaced by the present lighthouse in 1874, the flags than foreign old tower fell into the sea in 1880. The four-masted schooner Seth Parker berthed at the municipal pier in 1934. Built in 1918 as a lumber hauler, she was purchased in 1933 by radio personality Phillips Lord and named for his on-the-air character. St. Augustine has long been a recreational boating center. Lord sailed to various exotic ports, with a team of This 1947 photo shows the city docks, which were celebrities, to broadcast his radio programs. The immediately south of the present municipal marina. schooner, on her way to the South Pacific, stopped in St. Augustine for a nationwide broadcast.

Inc.

Museum,

and

Lighthouse

All historical photos provided by St. Augustine Historical Society.

Powerboats ready for the Augustine St. start of a 1912 race. In the The

background is an early edit: Fish Illustrations by Diane Rome Peebles. bridge to Anastasia Island; Cr Provided by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Thomas Jeffreys, British Geographer to the King, created this map in 1763. The coquina watch- Division of Marine Fisheries Management. an electric trolley is near the center. Beyond, the tower is labeled “the Lookout” (circled in red). The distinctive shape of the lighthouse is visible. and the streets of the Old Town are immediately recognizable today. Natural Features of the Area Resource Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Directory Commission, St. Augustine separates the northern and southern portions MANATEES RECYCLE Northeast Region YOUR Information: (352) 732-1225 Fishing of the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research West Indian manatees are large, Fish Kill Hotline: (800) 636-0511 Fish tag r regs: (850) 488-6058 Reserve. Vessels using the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway are in gray aquatic mammals. An FISHING Violations: (888) 404-3922 To eports: (800) 367-4461 License & species identification info: xic spills: (800) intimate contact with this rich environment, over 60,000 acres of adult manatee may be LINE 320-0519 Florida Department of Environmental Protectionwww.myfwc.com/marine/ publicly owned uplands, tidal wetlands, and , as well as almost 10 feet long and Monofilament Clean Marina Program: (840) 245-2847 offshore seas. weigh 800-1200 pounds. fishing line can last for Incident Reports: (800) 320-0519 (24 hr) Salt marsh dominates. Tidal flats appear relatively barren, but Manatees live in rivers, centuries in the water, Monofilament Recovery & Recycling Program teem with life. Tidal beaches on the Atlantic side of the barrier estuaries, saltwater bays, and out of the sun’s ultra- www.fishinglinerecycling.org/index.asp U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary islands are beautiful white quartz sand over coquina bedrock. canals. Manatees have no violet rays. Each year, Flotilla 07-014-07 Oyster bars are common in the estuaries. On land are coastal strand, natural enemies; however, thousands of animals St. Augustine Port, Waterway, and Beachwww.uscgaux.org/~0701407 District Commission grassy scrub, flatwoods scrub, and xeric hammock habitats, along with many deaths result from P.O. Box 4512, St. Augustine, FL 32085-4512 A manatee and many boat propellers shell mounds created by early human residents. The diversity of collisions with watercraft. and her calf. become tangled in dis- A Brown pelican at rest. Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research(904) 824-0113Reserve communities in this system provides habitat for 240 plant species Manatees are protected under carded fishing line. www.nerrs.noaa.gov/GTM/ and a wide variety of wildlife, at least 20 mammal, 200 bird, 30 federal and Florida state law. It Shorebirds, sea turtles, and manatees Florida Sea Grant (904) 461-4054 reptile, 7 amphibian, and 75 fish species. is unlawful to feed, touch, or disturb any manatee. State penal- can starve to death, lose limbs, or drown P.O. Box 110400, Gainesville, FL 32611-0400 (352)www.flseagrant.org 392-1837 Sport fishing opportunities are plentiful in the rivers, ties are a maximum fine of $500 and/or imprisonment for up because of entanglement. Human divers St. Augustine Police Department estuaries, and ocean. Other recreational possibilities include beach to 60 days. A federal penalty may be $100,000 and/or one year can also become tangled in line. Dial 911; non-emergency: (904) 825-1074 St. Augustine Beach Police activities, birding, picnicking, swimming, camping, hiking, in prison. Please deposit used fishing line in the Department Dial 911; non-emergency: (904) 471-3600 biking, water-skiing, horseback riding, canoeing, and kayaking. Some helpful tips for boaters: designated recycling containers at St. St. Johns County Sheriff’s Department • Wear polarized sunglasses and look for a snout, back, tail, Augustine’s ramps and fishing piers. Dial 911; non-emergency: (904) 824-8304 OYSTER BARS or flipper breaking the surface. A swimming manatee’s St. Augustine Fire Department tail creates whirls or flat spots on the water. Dial 911; non-emergency: (904) 825-1098 In their grayish-white, NORTHERN RIGHT WHALES St. Augustine Historical Society • Stay in deep-water channels. For high-speed water sports, irregularly shaped shells, 271 Charlotte St., St. Augustine, FL 32084 choose areas that manatees do not or cannot frequent. Rare Northern Right Whales migrate to waters off north immobile oysters filter water National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration(904) 824-2872 • Remain at least 50 feet away from manatees. Stop your Florida to calve. You may see them within a mile of shore. (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service as they feed. Live oysters and Characteristics include white spots on the head, no dorsal fin, (NOAA) VHF Weather www.nmfs.noaa.gov prop if you must go closer. Obey speed zone signs and Extended tide empty oyster shells form bars Oyster bars and a V-shaped blow. It is il- 162.55, 162.425 exposed at low tide. avoid posted manatee sanctuaries. forecasts www.saltwatertides.com/dynamic.dir/florida/atlanticsites.html or reefs, most prevalent near David Fann, Florida Sea Grant. legal to approach within 500 NOAA/NOS tides • Recycle your litter or throw it in a proper trash container. www.srh.noaa.gov/jax/+Saint_Augustine.shtml river mouths and in locations that receive a steady inflow yards of a whale, for the St. Augustine Information Websites Debris such as discarded plastic bags or six-pack holders www.staugustine.com (Service of the St. A of fresh water. Common around St. Augustine, they are popular whale’s safety and yours. If www.oldcity.com ugustine Record newspa is dangerous to manatees and other wildlife. Properly (Information portal) fishing spots that attract adult snook and redfish. Exercise cau- www.visitoldcity.com per) discard or recycle monofilament line and fishhooks. you see a whale, please call (Information offered in Dutch, French tion in these areas; oyster bars severely damage boat hulls and props, and Spanish) • Feeding, providing water, or touching manatees may 1-888-979-4253, and the and the sharp shells are treacherous for people wading or swimming. A Northern Right U.S. Navy will alert Art production by Tom Cross Inc. Art & illustrations by encourage them to approach people who might harm them. Whale and calf. Patti and Tom Cross. (941) 966-3843. www.tomcross-artist.com nearby ships. NOAA/Department of Commerce. NOAA/Department St. Augustine St. Johns River mouth In the , the swift current reverses with each Municipal Anchorage tide cycle, and a vessel riding to a single anchor may break the (approx. 34 nmi on hook loose at an inopportune time. The “Bahamian Moor” is a relatively simple way to set two anchors, each oriented to Intracoastal Waterway) hold in one of the opposing current directions, especially im- portant if the vessel is left unattended. Wind direction is a wild 55 card, but a properly set Bahamian Moor lets a vessel swing in a controlled circle under the infl uence of all wind and current direction combinations. 1. Drop the fi rst anchor where you would normally set a single hook in the prevailing conditions. 2. Fall back on the wind and/or current, letting out Tolomato River about twice the usual scope. Snub up and set the an chor. Now, let down the second anchor. Nor 3. With the second anchor rode running free, pull forward to midway between the two anchors. If using power, haul in th River the line from the fi rst anchor, taking care not to foul the prop. 4. Cleat off the second anchor line on the stern, go ahead to set that anchor, then move the rode to a bow cleat. 5. Adjust the scope for each anchor so the keel or prop clears the slack rode as the boat swings and pivots. The riverbed sand is covered in many places by compacted silt that resists anchor fl uke penetration. This inset map shows the bottom characteristics in the municipal anchorages near the 57 . It is essential to ensure the anchor is fi rmly Usina (Vilano) Bridge set through the silt into the sand. Note the obstruction in the north anchorage, a masonry block, about 3 feet square, with (65 ft at center, protruding metal pieces, which has permanently snagged many Idle/ mean high water) No Wake an anchor. (GPS: N29 53.649, W081 18.555). The St. Johns River Water Management District provided the depth data. Black and white aerial photograph courtesy St. Johns County Geographic 2 Submerged Information Systems. 4 6 1 Concrete 3 A1A 5 d erge ubm 11 S crete Con 2 Idle/ 57 A No Wake

58 C Vilano 1 Beach S Submerged 58 D Water depths in and near St. Augustine Inlet vary an Rock frequently, and channel marks may not be where shown. S eb Shoaling North Do not rely upon this map for navigation. Consult the a s Point t 58 most recent nautical charts and sources of local knowl- i a 5 n edge for navigational information.

R Note: Buoys near the Shoaling i inlet are shifted as 60 v e conditions change. r St. Augustine Inlet

2

2A 1 1 Atlantic 2 Ocean

4

3 4

1

5 5 6 6 1 Temporary Bridge (2005 to 2010) 8 7 Vertical clearance with lift span 10 9 raised: 65 feet St. Augustine 6A lowered: 18' 7" Normal (mean high water) Safe 7 Operation Slow/ Minimum Wake 12 Note: Head of Idle/ navigation for all No Wake but the smallest 3 13 vessels

Submerged Jetty Bridge of Lions Salt Run 1 A1A 14 Idle/ Anas 10 No Wake Conc Rock 15 8 tasia State Park Bridge of Lions 9 6 25 feet at center (MHW) h Island 37 Openings: Rock Slow/ Mon.–Fri., 7 AM to 6 PM: Minimum Wake 17 35 On hour (:00) & half hour (:30) 10 16 No openings at 8 AM, 3 8 12 noon, and 5 PM 33 Sat., Sun., and federal 18 Slow/ holidays, 7 AM to 6 PM: 10 A Minimum Wake On hour (:00) and half hour 32 2 29 (:30) 2 Rock 30 All other times, on demand Call Ch. 16/9 Boats & kayaks 4 26 11

24

9 22 7

20 18

17 r 15 e v

i 12 R 4 13 s

a

nz Jet-skiing and a t shellfishing a are prohibited south 207 M of these signs. Anastasia Island

11 10 3 9 San Seb asti Canoes, kayaks 8 an 6 4 R & windsurfers 7 5 ive 3 r Idle/ Idle/ Slow/ No Wake No Wake Minimum Wake 5 2

1

312 MARINAS & BOAT RAMPS SR 312 Bridge (65 ft at center, Rent Idle/ mean high water) Transient Repair Motor Pumpout No Wake Reported Reported Slips Hull Haul Sail Restaurant Toilets Water Approach Alongside Elec Engine Out Row Lodging Showers Wet Slips Propane Bait Gas Contact Marina Depth (ft) Depth (ft) Water Electronics Tons PWC Snacks Laundry Dry Storage Charts Ice Tackle Diesel (Area Code 904) Address 829-9041 1 Dolphin Drive 1 Anchorage Inn 17 13 E W M R R L S T S L W www.stayatanchorage.com St. Augustine, FL 32080 829-5676 H En P T 3070 Harbor Drive 2 Camachee Cove 76E W 50 M S R L S WYW IB TG [email protected] St. Augustine, FL 32084 1 El S L www.camacheeisland.com (800) 940-6256 M S P T 57 Comares Avenue 3 Conch House 76E W R L WYW IBG [email protected] St. Augustine, FL 32080 R P S L www.conch-house.com 509 S. US 1 4 English Landing 10 8 E W T S W D W 814-7068 15 St. Augustine, FL 32084 12–16 State Road 312 5 Fish Island 3 E W T S W 471-1983 3.5 (basin) St. Augustine, FL 32086 10 Prawn Street 6 Hidden Harbor 8.5 16 E W T S W W 829-0750 St. Augustine, FL 32084 H En 256 Riberia Street 7 Oasis 20 20 50 W D 824-2520 El St. Augustine, FL 32084 H En P T 827-0520 65 Lewis Blvd. 8 Oyster Creek 78E W R S W W I G D El S L [email protected] St. Augustine, FL 32084 St. Augustine 975 S. US 1 9 Sebastian Harbor 15 4 E W 6 T W D W G 825-4666 16 St. Augustine, FL 32084 10 St. Augustine P T 825-1026 111 Avenida Menendez 20 3 - 15 E W R L S WYWBeach P IG D 17 Municipal S L [email protected].fl .us St. Augustine, FL 32084 824-3328 ICaughtABigOne@ 250 Vilano Road 11 Sea Love 15 15 E W M R S T S W Y W I B T G D sealovefi shing.com Vilano Beach, FL 32084 4 www.sealovefi shing.com By awarding the Clean Marina designation, the Points of Interest Picnic state recognizes a marina that takes extraordinary Ramp Piers Parking Facilities Restrooms LEGEND 1 Castillo de San Marcos 1 Vilano Floating 100+ rigs Y Y measures to help protect coastal waters. Only Day 2 St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum 2 Lighthouse Park (boats & kayaks) Floating 12 rigs Y N Marina designated marinas may fl y the Clean Marina fl ag. 3 Site of early coquina watchtower/lighthouse 3 (canoes, Beacons None 10 vehicles Y Y 4 Luhrs Corporation (former DESCO works) kayaks & windsurfers) SIGNS 4 Doug Crane, Sr. Park None 20 rigs Y Y (These sites are discussed on the other side of this guide.) Anchorage Buoys Hazard 18 Warning Danger, cable crossing– Boat Lighthouse do not drag anchor. Ramp Regulatory

Point of Mooring Manatee Advisory 20 Interest Dolphin (approx. 53 nmi on Intracoastal Waterway) 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 feet 21 Aerial photographs courtesy of St. Johns River Water Management

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