St. Marys River Fishing
5 public launches spread over 2 counties.
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Fishing the St. Marys River
Boaters and paddlers have 5 public launches on the St. Marys River, 4 upstream on fresh water and 1 on salt. Launches sit in Baker County and Nassau County.
FWC lists Florida bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, redbreast sunfish and striped bass for the St. Marys River. The St. Marys River area has produced 2 documented bass logged with TrophyCatch. Flow on the St. Marys River comes from 1 USGS gauge, shown below.
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What is biting on the St. Marys River
“Anglers looking to tangle with striped bass should concentrate their efforts in the lower stretches of the St. Marys River, between I-95 and the town of St. Marys.”
Quoted from the FWC forecast: FWC page 1. Checked October 2026.
Where to launch on the St. Marys River
Baker County
- John M. Bethea State Forest – Maple Set Recreation Area – Canoe Launchpaddle launch
- St. Mary's Cove Public Boat Ramp (Steel Bridge Road)1 lane ramp, free, 6 trailer spaces, portable toilet, temporarily closed
Nassau County
- Kings Ferry Boat Ramp1 lane ramp, free, 12 trailer spaces, portable toilet
- Walker Landing (aka. Scott's Landing)1 lane ramp, free, 8 trailer spaces
- Egans Creek Marina Inc1 lane ramp, fee, 14 trailer spaces, flush toilet
FWC Florida Boat Ramp Inventory, grouped by the water body name FWC gives each ramp. Checked October 2026.
How the St. Marys River is running
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| St. Marys River Near Macclenny, Fl | 107 cfs, 2.94 ft gage height | Nov 13 9:45 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 2026 10:34 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
The St. Marys River in TrophyCatch
St. Marys River
TrophyCatch counts from FWC site pages for the St. Marys River.
Bag limits on the St. Marys River
FWC special rules for St. Marys River and its tributaries:
- 10 black bass, each must be 12 inches or greater in total length
- two striped bass, sunshine bass or white bass, both of which must be at least 22 inches in total length
- 30 crappie (speckled perch)
- 50 panfish (does not include crappie)
- 15 pickerel (chain, grass and redfin)
- Georgia fishing license accepted (not including tributary creeks in Florida)
Tidal St. Marys River, FWC Northeast region
| Species | Bag | Size | Season | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red drum | 1 a day | 18-27 in. TL | Open year-round | Northeast Region |
| Snook | 1 a day | 28-32 in. TL | Closed December 15 – January 31, and June 1 – August 31 | Northeast Region |
| Spotted seatrout | 3 a day | 15-19 in. TL | Open year-round | Northeast Region |
| Flounder | 5 a day | 14 in minimum | Closed annually Oct. 15 through Nov. 30 | Statewide |
| Sheepshead | 8 a day | 12 in minimum | Open year-round | Statewide |
FWC regulations checked October 2026. All Florida limits.
Along the St. Marys River
River towns, St. Marys River
- Fernandina Beach
Bait near the St. Marys River
- DICK'S Sporting Goods Jacksonville, 14964 Max Leggett Parkway, Suite 300sporting goods store, Jacksonville, 19 miles
- Jones Road Outpostbait and tackle, Jacksonville, 21 miles
- Academy Sports + Outdoors Yuleesporting goods store, Yulee, 22 miles
- Seafarers Marinamarina, Jacksonville, 23 miles
- Bill Dye Marinamarina, Jacksonville, 23 miles
Neighboring rivers to the St. Marys River
- Nassau River6 launches
- Ortega River4 launches
- Black Creek4 launches
- Santa Fe River17 launches
Piscifun reels for this water
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Species to look for at St. Marys River
Photo: Steve Hillebrand, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: jose_colorado-dapa, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
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The St. Marys River, questions and answers
How much public access does the St. Marys River have?
5 launches in the FWC inventory: 4 fresh and 1 salt or brackish.
Where does the St. Marys River flow?
Launches are in Baker County and Nassau County.
What can I catch in the St. Marys River?
Mainly Florida bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, redbreast sunfish, striped bass and channel catfish, per FWC.
Is there a flow gauge on the St. Marys River?
USGS runs 1 USGS gauge on it; readings are on this page.
Is the St. Marys River regulated differently?
Yes. 10 black bass, each must be 12 inches or greater in total length
Are there canoe launches on the St. Marys River?
FWC lists 1 paddle-only launches on the St. Marys River.
What license do I need on the St. Marys River?
On the St. Marys River, carry the license for the fish you target; tidal stretches need saltwater.
Do St. Marys River ramps charge a fee?
FWC shows 3 free launches out of 5.
Where do I buy bait near the St. Marys River?
Closest shops: DICK'S Sporting Goods Jacksonville, Jones Road Outpost and Academy Sports + Outdoors Yulee.
Get on the St. Marys River
Each named launch has its own page with lanes, parking and fees.