Joe Carlucci Sisters Creek Park Fishing

Joe Carlucci Sisters Creek Park is a City of Jacksonville park and boat ramp at the junction of Sisters Creek and the St. Johns River, with shoreline fishing on strong tidal water.

• Redfish, black drum and sheepshead in the current
• Seatrout and flounder along the edges
• Croaker and jacks in summer
• Open around the clock, with restrooms and parking

The park is at 8414 Heritage River Road off Heckscher Drive in northeast Jacksonville, about a mile down the road with the St. Johns River on your right.

• Parking: a large lot for cars and boat trailers
• Entry: the city lists no fee
• Hours: the city lists the park as open 24/7; city code otherwise closes parks at sunset unless other hours are posted, so check the signs at the entrance
• Where to fish: the shoreline along the river and creek, at least 30 feet from either side of the ramps and never from the floating boat docks
• Surface: level ground near the water

Tidal flow keeps fish moving through all year.

• Spring (Mar-May): black drum and redfish, seatrout on the grass edges, sheepshead finishing up
• Summer (Jun-Aug): croaker, flounder and jacks, redfish on the falling tide, sharks in the river
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the mullet run brings redfish, flounder, jacks and seatrout
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum near structure, seatrout in deeper water

Bring enough lead for the current.

• Redfish and black drum: cut mullet, shrimp or blue crab on a fish-finder rig with 2 to 4 oz of lead
• Seatrout: a popping cork with live shrimp along the grass edges
• Flounder: mud minnows or finger mullet on a Carolina rig
• Croaker: small hooks and bits of shrimp
• Sheepshead: fiddler crabs near pilings and rocks

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

• The best fishing is usually around the tide changes, when you can hold bottom
• The outgoing tide pulls bait out of Sisters Creek and the marsh
• Wind against the tide makes the river rough
• Heavy rain upriver can stain the water and freshen it

A developed park, but the water is powerful.

• Strong current; do not wade or swim
• Heavy boat traffic at the ramps and on the river; stay clear of the launch lanes
• Summer lightning; leave early
• Manatees visit the area; the park has manatee education signs, so fish with care
• Level ground near the water suits most anglers

The city lists good facilities.

• Restrooms and a drinking fountain
• Picnic shelters, picnic tables and grills
• A boat ramp, a boat dock and a non-motorized launch
• A container for used monofilament line
• Benches and trash barrels
• A large lot for cars and trailers
• No bait shop in the park; bring bait with you

• Fish the tide changes; the middle of a big tide is hard to hold bottom
• Fresh cut mullet out-fishes frozen bait for reds and drum
• Watch the boat traffic; wakes can drag lines into the rocks
• Combine it with Huguenot Park or the Fort George Inlet a few miles east
• Bring a lawn chair; this is a sit-and-wait spot

The park is run by City of Jacksonville Parks and Recreation.

• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you qualify for an exemption
• City code bans fishing wherever posted, and requires posting within 30 feet of either side of a boat ramp, on floating docks used for mooring boats and their gangways, on pedestrian ways and picnic tables, and within 15 feet of playgrounds
• 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