Helen Cooper Floyd Park (Little Jetties) Fishing

Helen Cooper Floyd Park is the spot Jacksonville anglers still call the Little Jetties: a small city park with a fishing pier where the Intracoastal Waterway meets the St. Johns River, just upriver of Mayport. The tidal current here brings fish past the pier and the line of rocks off the shore on every tide.

• Redfish, black drum and sheepshead are the main targets
• Seatrout, flounder and croaker in season
• A fishing pier renovated in spring 2024
• A simple park with parking, open from sunrise to sundown

The park sits on a peninsula southwest of Mayport Village, at the junction of the Intracoastal Waterway and the St. Johns River. The city lists its address as 3600 State Road A1A.

• Hours: the city lists the park as open at sunrise and closed at sundown
• Parking: the city lists car parking; no entry fee is listed
• Ground: the FWC's older pier survey warned of soft sand and mud in the parking area, so take care after heavy rain
• The pier runs out from the river side of the peninsula, past a line of rocks, to an L-shaped end
• Plan to arrive and leave in daylight, since the park closes at sundown

The current near the river mouth keeps fish moving past the pier through the year.

• Spring (Mar-May): black drum and redfish, sheepshead finishing their spawning run, bluefish passing through
• Summer (Jun-Aug): croaker, flounder and jacks, redfish on the falling tide, and the odd tarpon rolling in the river
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the best season, when the mullet run brings redfish, flounder, jacks and seatrout
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum around the pilings and rocks, with seatrout on milder days

Heavy lead and strong line are the rule in this current.

• Redfish and black drum: cut mullet, blue crab or shrimp on a fish-finder rig with 3 to 5 oz of lead and a 5/0 to 7/0 circle hook
• Sheepshead: fiddler crabs or shrimp on a short leader and a small, strong hook, dropped tight to the pilings
• Flounder: mud minnows or finger mullet on a Carolina rig, dragged slowly along the bottom
• Seatrout and jacks: live shrimp under a popping cork, or bucktails and soft plastics swung through the current
• Bring a long-handled net or drop net for landing heavy fish from the pier

This is Atlantic tidal water close to the mouth of the St. Johns River, with two high and two low tides a day and a strong current.

• The turn of the tide and the first hours of the outgoing tide usually fish best
• Slack water is the easiest time to hold bottom; mid-tide can sweep light rigs away
• Wind against the tide makes this stretch of river rough and choppy
• Heavy rain upriver stains the water and pushes it fresher for a few days
• Early morning and evening are the best times in the summer heat

The water here is powerful, so fish it with care.

• Strong currents: never wade or swim off the park; the FWC's survey flagged strong currents at this pier
• The rocks off the shore are slippery and uneven; the pier is the safer place to stand
• Heavy boat traffic uses the Intracoastal and the river; keep lines clear of passing boats
• Summer thunderstorms build quickly over the river; leave at the first thunder
• Shade is limited and no restrooms are listed, so bring water and sun protection
• The city does not list the park as wheelchair accessible

The park is basic, so bring what you need for the session.

• Car parking and trash barrels are the amenities the city lists
• No restrooms, drinking water or bait shop are listed
• No lights are listed, and the park closes at sundown
• The fishing pier was renovated in spring 2024
• Buy bait and ice before you arrive
• Pack out old line, hooks and bait bags

• Time your visit for the turn of the tide and the first half of the outgoing
• Fresh cut mullet usually outfishes frozen bait for redfish and drum
• In winter, fiddler crabs on the pilings are the way to catch sheepshead
• Watch for diving birds and bait showers, a sign that jacks or bluefish are feeding
• Carry a range of sinkers; you will need more weight as the current builds
• Arrive early on weekends to get a place on the pier

Helen Cooper Floyd Park is run by the City of Jacksonville's Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department.

• The city lists the park as open from sunrise to sundown
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt
• Shore-based shark fishing needs the free FWC shore-based shark fishing permit
• Tarpon have their own handling and release rules; check with the FWC
• Check current FWC rules (myfwc.com) for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything