Guana River Dam Fishing

Guana River Dam is the dedicated fishing area of the GTM Research Reserve, a protected sweep of marsh, hammock and beach between Ponte Vedra Beach and Vilano Beach.

• Redfish, seatrout, croaker, black drum and spot, the catches the FWC lists
• A fishing area open from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day
• Two small boat ramps, one to Guana Lake and one to the Guana River
• A kayak concession at the dam that also sells bait and tackle
• About 10 miles of trails start at the west end of the dam

The dam is on Guana River Road, which leaves A1A about 7.5 miles north of the Vilano bridge, following the reserve's own directions.

• Parking: a paid lot at the dam; the reserve lists $3 per vehicle for up to eight people, plus tax, and $1 for walk-ins and cyclists
• Hours: the Guana River Dam Use Area is open daily for fishing from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Passes: an annual GTM parking pass covers the dam, the trails and the reserve's beach lots
• The walk: short and level from the lot to the dam and the shoreline around it
• Boat ramps: one to Guana Lake, which has a 10-horsepower engine limit, and one to the Guana River, which may be too shallow to use until the tide comes in

The water around the dam holds fish all year, and the seasons follow the rest of the northeast Florida backcountry.

• Spring (Mar-May): black drum and redfish, seatrout on the move, croaker and the last of the sheepshead
• Summer (Jun-Aug): redfish and flounder, jacks and ladyfish chasing bait, seatrout early and late in the day
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the mullet run brings redfish, flounder and jacks, and spot and croaker school up; often the best season here
• Winter (Dec-Feb): black drum, sheepshead and redfish, with seatrout in the deeper holes on mild days

Medium spinning tackle with 15 to 20 lb braid and a fluorocarbon leader handles most fish here.

• Redfish and black drum: shrimp, cut mullet or crab on a Carolina rig
• Seatrout: live shrimp under a popping cork, or a soft plastic jig worked slowly
• Croaker and spot: small hooks and bits of shrimp or bloodworm-style baits on the bottom
• Flounder: a mud minnow or finger mullet dragged slowly along the bottom
• Sheepshead: fiddler crabs or shrimp on a small, strong hook near the structure
• Bring a long-handled landing net for fish hooked from the dam

The Guana River below the dam is tidal, with two high and two low tides a day, and it is shallow, with mudflats showing at low tide.

• Moving water fishes best, especially the last of the incoming and the first half of the outgoing
• At dead low tide the river side can be too thin to hold many fish; wait for the water to come back
• Early morning is prime, and the area opens at 4 a.m. for it
• Calm, clear days suit seatrout and sheepshead
• Summer storms build fast over the marsh in the afternoon

An easy spot to reach, set in wild country.

• The reserve warns that ticks and biting insects are common all year and heavy from late April through early September: use repellent and check for ticks
• The dam and the shoreline around it can be slippery; wear shoes with grip
• Keep clear of the two boat ramps and their lanes
• Alligators can turn up in fresh and brackish water such as Guana Lake: keep children and pets back from the edge
• Leave when lightning threatens; there is little shelter
• The ground from the lot to the dam is level

Facilities at the dam are simple but useful.

• A paid parking lot for the Guana River Dam Use Area
• Restrooms, which the FWC lists for the area
• Two small boat ramps, to Guana Lake and the Guana River
• Guana Outpost South, the concession at the dam run in partnership with the Friends of the GTM Research Reserve, rents kayaks, paddleboards and bikes and sells bait, tackle and gear; it is usually open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, so call ahead
• Trailheads for about 10 miles of trails at the west end of the dam
• The reserve's visitor center, with exhibits and aquariums, is on Guana River Road and is open Tuesday to Saturday

• Arrive at first light; the area opens at 4 a.m. and the early bite is often the best
• Buy an annual GTM parking pass if you will fish the dam and the beaches often
• Wear repellent and check for ticks afterwards, especially from late spring
• Watch for bait showering near the structure; redfish and jacks will be under it
• The FWC notes that the impoundment is also a popular crabbing spot
• On the Guana River, wait for the rising tide before launching a boat or kayak

The dam is in the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, which the Florida Department of Environmental Protection runs, next to the FWC's Guana River Wildlife Management Area.

• The use area is open for fishing from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m.; pay the parking fee and follow the reserve's posted rules
• Guana Lake has a 10-horsepower engine limit
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you qualify for an exemption; the FWC tells anglers here to check both freshwater and saltwater rules, so if you fish the lake side, ask the FWC which license applies
• Check current FWC rules (myfwc.com) for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything