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FL Inlet Caution: St. Johns River Entrance
- Date Reported: Jun 2, 2022
- Reporter: Jani Parker
- Source: Waterway Guide Staff
- Description:
Overview: This is one of the safest and easiest gateways from the Atlantic Ocean. This entrance is used by ocean freighters, military vessels and recreational craft. Cruisers use this inlet as an entry and departure point for passages along the coast. Significant local traffic comes from the busy marinas at Mayport (2 miles upriver) and on the ICW (5 miles upriver). Operators should stay alert, especially when rounding curves and in poor visibility situations. It is 150 nm south from St. Johns River Entrance to the next big ship entrance at Port Canaveral Inlet.
Approach: St. Johns Approach Lighted Buoy "2SJA" is located at N 30° 22.043'/W 081° 12.292'.
Navigation: Approach from the east. Ocean approach landmark is St. Johns Light, which stands 83 feet above the shore and 1 nm south of the St. Johns north jetty. Use waypoint N 30° 23.860'/W 81° 22.000', which is located about halfway between flashing red buoy "4" and flashing red buoy "6" and over 0.25 nm from the jetties. Follow buoys in. Landmarks include a tower at Jacksonville Beach and a water tank (painted in a red and white checkerboard design) at the naval station. Inside the jetties the St. Johns River runs unobstructed and naturally deep past the Mayport Basin, which is usually occupied by enormous naval craft. The basin is off-limits to recreational craft except in extreme emergencies.
Cautions & Hazards: None, other than the large-vessel traffic, which can be heavy at times. Slower boats are well advised to pick their tide coming in here or prepare to settle down for a very long transit; the tide can run up to 3 to 4 knots.
ICW Connection: The jetties of the St. Johns River Entrance are 5 nm from Mile 738 of the ICW. If headed south, it is important to know that the entrance to the ICW is farther west than the original channel. Make sure that you continue in the main channel until you see green daybeacon "1" and red daybeacon "2" marking the beginning of a new chain heading south on the ICW. On a full outgoing tide expect to see currents in excess of 3 knots for the first 10 miles of your trip. If heading north into Sisters Creek, favor red daybeacon "88" as you enter so as not to attract the attention of the security boats guarding the restricted area on the eastern shore of the entrance.
- Lat / Lon: N 30° 23.994' / W 081° 23.663'
