Water Sports Activities
Sport Fishing
Let's begin at the World's Second Largest Ocean. Part of Northeast and North Central Florida's Charm is its variety of things to do and bountiful areas to do them in. Sports Fisherman come in droves to this area to grapple with "The Big One". Imagine Bluefish, Cobia, Dolphin Fish, Flounder, Grouper, Mackerel, Sea Trout, Shark, Snapper, Snook, Tarpon, and Tuna - all catches possible from a day at the beach surf casting to grappling and netting from your very own charter tour boat booked for the day. The Flagler County Sport Fishing Club promotes area fishing by sponsoring trips, seminars and tournaments!
For anglers who enjoy competitive fishing, numerous annual sport fishing tournaments are conducted in St. Augustine, some offering prizes valued up to $50,000. Major tournaments conducted annually in the St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra Beach area include:
El Pescado Grande Tournament, mid-April
Blue Water Tournament, early May
Fightin' Gator Tournament, Memorial Day Weekend in May
Ponce's Bill fish Invitational, early June
King buster Classic Tournament, mid-June
A.C.G.F.A. King fish Challenge, early August
Boating and Sailing
Of course, many of the Sportsmen and women in Florida have their own vessels designed to their needs. Some are for fishing and others are for cruising the channels and lakes from the intra coastal waterway to many of this area's incredible inland waterways to include the famous St. John's River which flows on the western edges of St. John's, Flagler, and Volusia Counties down to the northern part of Orlando. Tie up at any of the fabulous marinas and restaurants that greet you along the these waterways enjoying a meal or live music from many of the waterfront band stands.
Small personal Watercraft spritz along both the intra coastal and St. John's Rivers, and various lakes. They too enjoy the amenities along the various waterways, launching from a myriad of boat ramps to enjoy the splendor of a day on the water.
Sail Boaters and motor boaters alike find serenity in the many channels and byways offered and, after a full day on the water, arrive home aboard their watercraft - mooring up to their personal dockage along the waterfront home sites designed for their particular boating tastes.
SCUBA
Many wrecks, natural reefs and artificial reefs provide shelter for viewing bottom fish off Flagler County. Main Flagler Reef (loran 44711.0 and 62028.2; lat. 29-31.65'N, long. 80-57.00'W) is a good place to start. Flagler Reef offers a series of coquina rocks, ledges and shelves. South Flagler Reef (44692.5 and 62014.2) lies two miles due south of the main Flagler number. Check this entire area for scattered bottom marks. All can hold fish.
Three main wrecks lie north/northeast of Flagler Reef. They are Gordon's (44744.3 and 61895.5; 29-44.67'N, 80-46.77'W); Sailboat (44717.1 and 61982.1; 29-35.528'N, 80-54.313'W); and St. Augustine Shipwreck (44818.7 and 61962.5; 29-46.375'N, 80-55.968'W). Gordon's lies in 72 feet of water, the Sailboat is 65 feet deep and the St. Augustine Shipwreck is in 80 feet of water.
The two new artificial reefs are George's Reef (44717.4 and 61977.7; 29-35.863'N, 80-53.829'W) and Hunter's Reef (44673.1 and 62030.7; 29-27.42'N, 80-57.12'W). Note the proximity of George's and the Sailboat. George's lies about 3/4 mile to the northeast. Hunter's Reef lies a short jog southwest of South Flagler Reef.
Follow Bottle Nosed Porpoise along both the shore and intra-coastal, along with manatee and a myriad of water fowl. Watch loggerhead turtles lay their eggs along the shore and, if you're fortunate enough, witness the hatchlings emerge from their tiny nests finding their way into the vast Atlantic Ocean.
There's lots to do in this area to appease even the most avid Water Sports Fan.
