How Is Canoeing On The St Johns River Florida?

The St. Johns River, 310 miles long, is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and is significant for commercial and recreational use. It flows north and winds through five separate waterways, including Hontoon Island. The river was inhabited by various Native Americans throughout history. The Three Forks Area, located on State Road 192, is the only clear kayak access point to the river’s headwaters.

The Ocklawaha River, a tributary of the St. Johns River, flows 74 miles from Lake Griffin in Lake County to the St. Johns River and is one of the few rivers in the U.S. flowing south to north. The Econlockhatchee River, a tributary of the St. Johns River, is one of the last unspoiled rivers in Central Florida and has been the center of many disputes between developers.

The river follows a meandering course parallel to Florida’s east coast, flowing through vast marshlands for its first 100 miles. Paddling against tidal surge can be difficult, so paddlers should stay out of the channel and along the shoreline where possible. Launch locations along the St. Johns River in Florida offer kayaking, canoeing, or stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) options.

In springs, popular activities include swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and canoeing. Kayaking and canoeing from Welaka along the St. Johns River provide up-close and personal views of wildlife and is recommended to stay to the beautiful shorelines.

Is St. Johns River good for boating?

St. Johns River Fun Facts. Known as the “Bass Fishing Capital of the World,” the river is rich in marine life including ample crappie, bluegill, catfish and other varieties of freshwater fish. In addition, visitors enjoy swimming, kayaking and boating along the river’s connected watersheds during the spring and summer months.

The St. Johns River is also linked to 14 lakes and numerous Florida springs including Blue Spring State Park, a protected manatee refuge. During the winter season, hundreds of these gentle sea cows inhabit the spring’s surface much to the joy of onlookers. To read more, visit our blog, St. Johns River Fun Facts.

Tips to Navigate the St. Johns River. Cell Phone Navigation. Many people decide to go “unplugged” while out on the water, and with good reason! Since there’s limited cell phone service on the St. Johns River, your device may not be much use for navigation. Additionally, taking in the surrounding beauty is a nice reprieve before heading back to the digital world. For these reasons, we don’t recommend relying on cell phones for navigation. Instead, use your phone to take pictures of the surrounding nature and the beauty of the area! Be sure to tag us with the hashtag #CastawaysontheRiver when you share your photos, and you might win a t-shirt in our photo contest.

Can you canoe on the St. Johns River?

Things to Do. Sometimes the best way to experience the St. Johns River and its tributaries is to take to the water. Browse launch locations where you can bring a kayak, canoe or stand up paddleboard.

Does the St. Johns River have bull sharks?

OCEARCH followed Mary Lee later that year and came to Jacksonville where they caught and tagged Lydia near the south jetty of the St. Johns River. She was a 14½-foot great white shark, tagged within sight of the Poles close to Hanna Park, one of the area’s most popular surfing and fishing spots.

Then, in February 2017, OCEARCH partnered with Jacksonville University and its Marine Science Research Institute, to establish an institutional base. Chris Fischer is Explorer-in-Residence at JU and is often on campus lecturing classes ranging from art to business to communications and yes, marine science. In 2018, Chris was awarded JU’s Marine Science Pioneer Award where he joined previous winner Bob Ballard of Titanic fame.

That relationship rose to a new level on Saturday, November 25th, when the OCEARCH ship docked at its new home port in Mayport. The ship was there to begin its 46th Expedition. This was marked with a Launch Kickoff Event on the dock on Monday, November 27th.

The celebration was attended by local, and state elected officials along with OCEARCH and JU leadership as they prepared, not only for the expedition, but also the establishment and construction of what will become the world headquarters of OCEARCH. Local and state funding has been secured to begin site development next year.

So why is the research that OCEARCH is doing important?

Sharks are the top-level predators in the ocean and as sharks go, so does the entire ecosystem, including the St. Johns River. They are analogous to the wolves of Yellowstone; the term keystone species applies to both sharks and wolves.

People have long misunderstood the role of predators and their importance to the entire food chain. But when you reduce or eliminate the top carnivore, the entire system is impacted.

Over many centuries, ecosystems have evolved with the birth and death of organisms reaching an equilibrium that is balancing the number of births to the number of deaths, be that from old age or being food for a predator.

When the top predator is reduced or eliminated, the level below it grows without constraint. That, in turn, causes the next lower trophic or feeding level to be severely reduced allowing the next trophic level down to expand. The entire system is suddenly out of balance. That top level predator is the keystone species. Just like the keystone in an arch is critical to the entire structure, so is the keystone species to the entire ecosystem.

So goes sharks, so goes the ocean. The research that OCEARCH is doing is critical to understanding what we have come to describe as the Great White Shark Life Cycle Puzzle. And while people who are trying to catch fish may be frustrated when a shark devours their catch, the very fact there are more sharks means there are more fish. Ironic, isn’t it?

Glad you asked River LifeAre there sharks in the St. Johns River? The short answer is “Yes,” but they are largely limited to the regions with higher salinity. Occasionally some will wander further upstream, but they do not appear to stay very long. They are mostly small and young sharks with bull sharks being known to come into fresh water occasionally.

Are there Gators in the St. Johns River?

River Wildlife Alligators inhabit all 67 counties in Florida and it’s common to see them here on the banks of the St. Johns River too. Manatees, Florida’s state marine mammal also make the river their home.

At 310 miles long, theSt. Johns Riveris the longestriverin Florida. It’s also one of very few rivers in the United States that flows north. Flowing through 12 Florida counties, it moves from northeast Florida to the Atlantic Ocean, and at its largest point isalmost3 mileswide. Aside from its magnificence and uniqueness, it’ also a recreational delight.

The St. Johns River flows north?. Yep, you read that right!The vast majority of rivers in the world flow from north to south due to most river’s sources being mountains. However the St. Johns River goes against that flow. The reasoning behind the unusual flow is the slight slope in the river itself. Beginning in the Saint John’s Marsh, the rivers course slowly lowers about 30 feet to the mouth meeting the Atlantic Ocean.

Alligatorsinhabit all 67 counties in Florida and it’s common to seethem here on the banks of theSt. Johns River too. Manatees, Florida’s state marine mammal also make the river their home. In fact if you stay at The Club Continental, right on the river’s edge, you can seeSt. Johns River Manateesfrom your balcony! The St. Johns River is also known astheBass Fishing Capital of the World. Rich in fisheries it has crappie, bluegills, catfish and other varieties freshwater fish. Where the St. Johns River meets the Wekiva River, Rhesus Monkeys are found. It’s not known how they first got here, but they’re known for their swimming abilities and have adapted well to their home on the St. Johns River.

How deep is the St. Johns River?

Saint Johns River, navigable stream of northeastern Florida, U.S., the longest river in the state. It rises in swamps in Brevard county southwest of Melbourne, in the east-central part of the state and flows north parallel to the Atlantic coast until it turns at Jacksonville to empty into the ocean, 15 miles (25 km) to the east, after a course of 300 miles (485 km). The river forms several large lakes, including Lake George on the eastern side of Ocala National Forest. Its principal tributary is the Oklawaha River, which flows north along the western side of the forest before turning eastward. The St. Johns is navigable from Sanford to its mouth, a distance of some 200 miles (320 km). It becomes a broad estuary north of Palatka and east of Jacksonville, where it has its deepest channel at about 40 feet (12 metres) and is a marsh. Over its entire course it has a fall of less than 30 feet (9 metres), and tidal currents reach far upstream.

The St. Johns River drains an area with many swamps and lakes, a region of pine groves as well as farm- and pastureland. The river is important both for shipping and for recreation, especially fishing. It went through several names before finally being called San Juan by the Spanish in the late 16th century; the British translated it to St. Johns in the late 18th century. Recreation areas along its course, in addition to the national forest, include Blue Spring State Park, Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge, and Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.

Are there gators in the Saint Johns River?

The most common place that I’ve seen alligators. Is in Golf Course ponds and lakes. I’ve grown up playing all of the golf courses in town. So I’ve seen my fair share of alligators.

What is unusual about the St. Johns River?

Johns is one of only three rivers in the world to flow north, but there are actually dozens that do, with six in the U.S. Its small drop – and the fact the St. Johns is wholly contained in Florida – is also what makes our river special.

Is it safe to swim in the St. Johns River?

The presence of potentially toxic blue-green algae also poses a health threat to swimmers. Humans should avoid swimming in or near water that is “scummy,” colored green or reddish-brown, or where algae mats are present (FWC 2023b). Despite these hazards, some people do swim in the St. Johns River, though swimming in tributaries should be avoided. For more on this, see this story where a Lake Mary science teacher swam 164 miles of the St. Johns River (Woods 2018).

Finally, please note that blue-green algae are also hazardous to pets and livestock. Animals should not be allowed to drink from or swim in water that is foamy or “scummy,” likely signs of blue-green algae. For more on the dangers of blue-green algae to animals, see: myfwc.com/research/redtide/general/cyanobacteria/.

IV. How Can You Get Involved with the St. Johns River?

Is the Saint Johns River clean?

Bacteria. Fecal coliform bacteria are microorganisms associated with the intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals that can contaminate our waterways and drinking water. The tributaries of the St. Johns River often contain dangerous levels of fecal coliform from failing septic tanks, poorly treated wastewater, broken sewer lines, and animal waste. In the Lower Basin (Welaka to Jacksonville), 75 streams are listed as “impaired” due to elevated levels of fecal coliform bacteria, with most of those located in Duval County.

Water Withdrawals. Central Florida is already reaching the sustainable limits of its predominant source of water, the Floridan Aquifer. As a result, the threewatermanagement districts in this five county area – the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), South Florida Water Management District and Southwest Florida Water Management District – created the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) to identify alternative sources of water to meet demand.

In 2015, the CFWI released water supply plans that include projects that could remove up to 160 mgd of surface water from the St. Johns River at a cost of up to $1.79 billion. Removing millions of gallons a day from the flow of the St. Johns will worsen existing pollution problems, increase salinity levels, and adversely impact the fisheries, wildlife, and submerged vegetation in and along the river. We are committed to preventing withdrawals and advocating for more sensible solutions, such as water conservation and the responsible use of reclaimed water.

Are there manatees in the St. Johns River?

Manatees frequent the St. Johns River and nearby springs. As air temperatures dip, they stay close to the springs, seeking warmer water. November is Manatee Awareness Month, and we were thrilled to be visiting the manatees then.

Our club members have a lot in common with manatees. Much like the gentle giants, we can be found having fun on or in the water and eating (when not working or sleeping). During our trip, we did both.

The fun. We spent Friday and Saturday getting to Hontoon Landing Resort & Marina. It’s about a seven-hour drive from Atlanta if you eat in the car and plan bathroom stops during gas stops. Commander Dave and Nan Ellen Fuller trailered the Lees’ pontoon boat (plus the couple’s own dinghy) from Lake Lanier. Denny and Nancy Warren trailered their Cutwater to a point north on the river and cruised south to Hontoon Landing.

Can you swim in St. John River?

It’s surrounded by lush green rolling hills of farmland. It’s perfect for swimming, boating, kayaking, canoeing, and even water-skiing. At points along the river, cable ferries will take you to friendly communities across the water. And, to top it off, it has the prestigious designation of being the 38th waterway named to the Canadian Heritage Rivers System.

Plan to take in the beauty of each of the 400 km (250 mi.) of water, stretching from Edmundston in the north, through the Grand Falls Gorge, then all the way down to the riverfront capital city of Fredericton and the Reversing Falls Rapids of Saint John in the south.

Visit the St. John River Society for more information on the beautiful Wolastoq/Saint-Jean/Saint John River.

Are there stingrays in the St. Johns River?

This stingray is euryhaline and can maintain adequate physiological functions at varying degrees of salinity. Stingrays found in the St. Johns River system, Florida, represent the only permanent fresh water population of an elasmobranch in North America.

Biology. Distinctive FeaturesThis stingray is one of the smallest rays in the family Dasyatidae. The flattened pectoral fins of the disc are continuous and extend anterior to the head and posterior to the pelvic region. Unlike most rays, the snout is elongated. The head is slightly elevated and contains spiracles that enable the ray to take in water dorsally while lying on the seabed. The gills, which expel the water, are located ventrally. The disc is approximately 1.1 times as broad as it is long. The tail is long and tapered, oval in the cross section, and extends behind the body like a whip. Dorsal and ventral tail folds are present. The dorsal fold is located posterior to the tail spine. For additional assistance in identification, see the Coastal Western North Atlantic Stingray Identification Key.

The tail spines of stingrays are thought to be modified scales, tapering to a sharp point with retrorse serations along the lateral margins. Venom is produced along two narrow grooves on both the dorsal and ventral sides. At full length, the Atlantic stingray’s tail spine is approximately 25% of its disc width, with females having longer tail spines than males. The distance between the outer margins of the eye orbits is about the same length as the tail spine. The spine is generally round but slightly flattened dorso-ventrally to a breadth of 4-5% its length. A study has shown that freshwater rays replace spines on an annual basis, usually between the months of June and October.