North End Dee Dee Bartels Boat Ramp Fishing

North End Dee Dee Bartels Boat Ramp is a county boat ramp at the north end of Fernandina Beach whose two piers, one on each side of the ramp, double as fishing piers on the Amelia River. The water is salty and tidal, close to the St. Marys River entrance, and it holds a good mix of inshore fish.

• Redfish, black drum and sheepshead around the pilings
• Seatrout, flounder and croaker in season
• Jacks and bluefish chasing bait on the tide
• Open to the public, with picnic tables

The ramp is on the Amelia River in Old Fernandina, at the north end of Fernandina Beach. Nassau County lists the address as 97177 Pogey Place, Fernandina Beach.

• Entry: the county lists the site as open to the public; no fee is listed
• The piers run out on either side of the boat ramp
• It is a working boat ramp, so expect trailers and launching boats at busy times
• Hours: Nassau County's code keeps county boat ramps open at all times unless signs say otherwise

The Amelia River here is salty and swift, and its fish change with the seasons.

• Spring (Mar-May): sheepshead crowd the supports after spawning, black drum and redfish feed on crabs, and bluefish run through on the tide
• Summer (Jun-Aug): flounder lie along the bottom near the piers, croaker take small baits, jacks herd bait, tarpon roll and sharks cruise out in the river
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the richest season, when mullet stream out of the river and redfish, flounder, trout and jacks feed behind them
• Winter (Dec-Feb): black drum and sheepshead around the concrete supports, with trout on sunny, mild days

Stout tackle pays off in this current.

• Redfish and drum: a sliding egg sinker of 2 to 4 oz above a swivel, 18 inches of 40 lb leader and a 6/0 circle hook, baited with crab or cut mullet
• Sheepshead: a split shot, a short 20 lb leader and a small, strong hook with a fiddler crab or a piece of shrimp, lowered right beside the supports
• Flounder: a live finger mullet or mud minnow on a sliding-sinker rig, dragged slowly
• Trout: a live shrimp under a popping cork when the current eases
• Croaker: bits of shrimp on a small two-hook rig
• A drop net saves heavy fish that would break off if lifted by the line

Twice a day the Atlantic tide pours in and out past the ramp, and the flow can be very strong this close to the St. Marys River entrance.

• Plan around the tide changes, when the river slows enough to fish the supports
• The early ebb often starts the redfish feeding
• Full and new moon tides run hardest; pick the smaller neap tides for easier fishing
• Wind blowing against the tide stacks up a steep chop
• Rain upriver can stain the water for a day or two

The FWC's older pier survey described the piers as concrete, handicap accessible and next to the ramp.

• Boats launch and load right beside the piers; never cast across the ramp lane and keep lines clear of boats and trailers
• Strong current: never swim or wade here
• Summer lightning: leave the piers at the first thunder
• Watch children closely on the piers and around the busy ramp
• Bring water and sun protection in summer

The county lists only a few facilities on its page, so come prepared.

• Two piers beside the ramp
• Picnic tables
• A boat ramp
• The FWC's 2011 survey noted restrooms and drinking water here, but the county does not list them today, so do not count on them
• No bait shop is listed, so bring bait, ice and drinking water
• Pack out old line and hooks, which can snag birds

• Use the slack water around each tide change for the supports
• Keep fiddler crabs on hand from late winter into spring for sheepshead
• Fresh mullet or crab beats old frozen bait for reds and drum
• Fish outside the busiest launch hours on weekends
• Watch the river for rolling fish and working birds
• On the smaller neap tides the supports can be fished for longer either side of slack water

Nassau County Parks and Recreation runs the North End Dee Dee Bartels Boat Ramp.

• The county lists the site as open to the public and fishing as allowed, and county code keeps boat ramps open at all times unless posted
• Drinking alcohol is not allowed at county boat ramps
• It is a working boat ramp, so reel in and make room when boats come alongside the piers
• Carry a Florida saltwater fishing license unless you are exempt
• Shark fishing from shore requires the free FWC shore-based shark fishing permit
• Tarpon come under FWC handling and release rules; read them before you fish
• Look up current FWC size, bag and season limits on myfwc.com before keeping fish