Half Moon Island Preserve Fishing

Half Moon Island Preserve is a city waterfront park that opened in January 2020 on the Nassau River, with wide views over the tidal marsh. Its fishing platform gives shore anglers direct access to the river.

• Redfish, seatrout and black drum in brackish, marsh-edged water
• Croaker, flounder and sheepshead in season
• A fishing platform, restrooms and picnic shelters
• Open from early morning into the evening

The preserve is in far north Jacksonville, off North Main Street (US 17) just before the Nassau County line. The city lists the address as 17847 Main Street North.

• Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Parking: the city lists car parking; no entry fee is listed
• The railed fishing platform stands on the riverbank a short walk southwest of the ramp and the parking area
• The boat ramp, open to any size of vessel, shares the site, so expect trailers on busy days
• The preserve covers 267 acres of river frontage and tidal marsh

The Nassau River here is brackish and tidal, edged by salt marsh, and the fish follow the bait along its edges.

• Spring (Mar-May): redfish and black drum, seatrout on the move, croaker arriving as the water warms
• Summer (Jun-Aug): croaker and catfish on the bottom, redfish and seatrout at dawn and dusk, jacks chasing bait
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the best season, with redfish, seatrout and flounder feeding on shrimp and finger mullet
• Winter (Dec-Feb): black drum and sheepshead around structure, seatrout in the deeper holes

Light to medium spinning tackle suits this river.

• Seatrout: live shrimp under a popping cork drifted along the current edges, or a soft plastic on a 1/4 oz jig head
• Redfish: cut mullet or shrimp on a fish-finder rig with 1 to 2 oz of lead, or a live finger mullet
• Black drum: shrimp or crab on the bottom in the cooler months
• Croaker: a two-hook bottom rig with small hooks and pieces of shrimp
• Flounder: mud minnows on a Carolina rig, moved slowly
• A long-handled net helps from the platform

The Nassau River rises and falls twice a day with the Atlantic tide, later than at Nassau Sound, and the tide drains and floods the surrounding marsh.

• The falling tide pulls shrimp and baitfish out of the marsh and often fishes best
• The first of the rising tide is good too, as fish follow the water back in
• Dry weather pushes saltier water up the river and brings more saltwater fish
• Heavy rain darkens and freshens the river, and the bite slows
• Dawn and dusk fish best in the summer heat

The city lists the park as wheelchair accessible and names the fishing dock and boat ramp among its accessible amenities.

• Keep clear of boats launching and loading at the ramp
• Never wade or swim in the river; the current and soft mud are dangerous
• Summer lightning: leave the exposed platform at the first thunder
• Bring insect repellent for the marsh at dawn and dusk
• Bring water and sun protection in summer

The city lists good facilities at the waterfront park.

• Restrooms and a drinking fountain
• Picnic shelters, picnic tables and a scenic overlook of the marsh
• A fishing platform, with the fishing dock listed among the accessible amenities
• A boat ramp and boat dock
• Car parking, security lighting and trash barrels
• No bait shop is listed, so bring bait and ice

• Fish the first half of the falling tide as the marsh drains
• Live shrimp is the best all-round bait here; keep it lively with a bait bucket
• Arrive early on weekends, when boaters fill the ramp and parking
• Watch the marsh edges for mullet showers and tailing redfish
• Pair the trip with the picnic shelters and their views over the marsh

Half Moon Island Preserve is run by the City of Jacksonville's Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department.

• Open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• City park rules post the boat-ramp approach, the shore within 30 feet either side of the ramp and floating docks meant for mooring boats as no-fishing areas, so fish from the platform
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Shore-based shark fishing needs the free FWC shore-based shark fishing permit
• Check current FWC rules (myfwc.com) for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything