Blue Cypress Park Fishing

Blue Cypress Park is a neighborhood park in Arlington whose river corner holds a T-shaped fishing pier on the St. Johns River. It suits a relaxed family session more than a big-fish trip.

• A city fishing pier and a riverside boardwalk, both finished in 2001
• Croaker, redfish and drum make up most catches
• Winter sheepshead, and trout and flounder in the cooler months
• Restrooms, drinking water, picnic shelters and a playground in the park

Blue Cypress Park fronts the St. Johns River on the Arlington side, east of downtown. The city's address for the park is 4012 University Boulevard North.

• Hours: daylight hours, according to the city
• The city lists car parking and bike racks, and no entry fee
• The pier runs out from the south end of the park's river frontage, a short walk from a small parking area
• The riverside boardwalk continues to neighboring Arlington Lions Club Park
• Golf, courts and the community center take up the rest of the park

This brackish reach of the St. Johns turns saltier in dry spells and fresher after heavy rain.

• Spring (Mar-May): drum and redfish on crabs and shrimp, and the first croaker of the year
• Summer (Jun-Aug): croaker and saltwater catfish on the bottom, redfish when the tide runs, and jacks busting bait on the surface
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the busiest months, with redfish, trout and flounder following bait up the river
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and drum near the pier supports, and trout on warm afternoons

Simple bottom fishing works best from this pier.

• Croaker and catfish: a small-hook two-drop rig with a 1 to 2 oz sinker and pieces of shrimp
• Redfish and drum: a 2 to 3 oz egg sinker sliding above a 5/0 circle hook, baited with crab or mullet
• Sheepshead: a fiddler crab on a short leader lowered beside the supports
• Trout: a live shrimp under a float, drifted with the tide
• A 7-foot medium spinning rod and 15 lb line cover most of it
• A net on a long pole helps land fish from the deck

Two tides a day reach this far up the St. Johns, arriving later and smaller than at the ocean, and the flow can still pull hard at the end of the pier.

• The hour on each side of high and low water is usually the most productive
• Dry weather brings saltier water and more saltwater fish
• Heavy rain upriver dilutes and darkens the water, slowing the bite
• Wind against the tide roughens the river off the pier
• In summer, fish early or late to avoid the midday heat

The FWC's 2011 pier survey noted strong currents at this pier and described it as handicap accessible, and the city lists the park as wheelchair accessible.

• Never wade or swim from the pier or the bank
• Summer lightning: leave the exposed pier at the first thunder
• Golf is played in the park, so watch for balls near the fairways on the way to the pier
• Watch children closely on the pier
• Bring water and sun protection

The park has plenty of facilities, though most are away from the pier.

• Restrooms and a drinking fountain
• Picnic shelters, picnic tables, grills and a playground
• A riverside boardwalk and scenic overlook
• A kayak and canoe launch from the shore
• Car parking and bike racks
• No bait shop is listed at the park, so bring bait and ice

• Shrimp is the one bait that catches almost everything here
• Save the pier for the tide changes; mid-tide current makes holding bottom a struggle
• Fiddler crabs are the winter sheepshead bait
• Arlington Lions Club Park, at the far end of the boardwalk, also lists fishing if the pier is crowded
• Bring the family: the park has a playground and picnic shelters

The City of Jacksonville's parks department manages Blue Cypress Park.

• The park is open during daylight hours
• City park rules can post No Fishing signs on walkways and picnic areas and near playgrounds, so fish from the pier
• A saltwater fishing license is required in Florida unless you are exempt
• A free FWC permit is needed to fish for sharks from shore
• Current FWC size, bag and season limits are posted at myfwc.com; check them before keeping fish