Helen Mellon Schmidt Park Fishing

Helen Mellon Schmidt Park is a quiet waterfront park on the south end of Rattlesnake Island at Summer Haven, where a sandy spit puts shore anglers between two tidal channels a short way below Matanzas Inlet.

• The fast-moving Intracoastal channel on one side and the calmer Summer Haven River on the other
• Redfish, black drum and flounder most of the year
• Inlet fish such as bluefish and jacks on the strong tides
• Wild, open scenery with Fort Matanzas National Monument just to the north

The park is reached along Summer Island Drive in Summer Haven, St. Augustine, just south of the Matanzas Inlet bridge on State Road A1A.

• Hours: dawn to dusk
• Road: about 0.6 mile of paved and unpaved road out to a dirt parking lot at the end
• Keep your vehicle on the main road; the county asks drivers not to cross the sensitive marsh
• From the lot it is a short walk across sand to the water on either side
• No entry fee is listed by the county
• In September 2026 the county won a grant for renovations at Summer Haven, so check the county's park page for any work closures before you go

Water pouring in and out of Matanzas Inlet brings a wider mix than most river banks, from marsh fish to inlet visitors.

• Spring (Mar-May): redfish and black drum on the bottom, flounder moving in, bluefish passing through
• Summer (Jun-Aug): redfish, mangrove snapper, jacks and ladyfish on the moving tide, whiting on sandy bottom
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the peak, with the mullet run drawing redfish, flounder, jacks and bluefish close to shore
• Winter (Dec-Feb): black drum and sheepshead around shell and structure, trout in the calmer, deeper pockets

Bring a medium spinning or casting outfit with 15 to 20 lb braid for the channel, and a lighter rod for the calm side.

• A fish-finder rig with 2 to 4 oz of lead to hold bottom in the channel current, baited with cut mullet, shrimp or crab
• A mud minnow or finger mullet on a Carolina rig for flounder along the drop-offs
• A popping cork with live shrimp on the Summer Haven River side for trout and redfish
• A spoon or bucktail jig for bluefish and jacks when they chase bait on the tide
• A small hook and sand fleas or shrimp for whiting on sandy patches
• Use heavier weights on the strongest tides and fish the slack edges when the current rips

This is inlet water: NOAA's Matanzas Inlet bridge station predicts two tides a day with a range of roughly three to four feet, so the current runs hard through the channel.

• The first half of the incoming tide brings clean water and bait from the inlet
• The outgoing tide concentrates redfish and flounder along the drop-offs
• Around slack water, the calm Summer Haven River side is easier to fish
• A strong northeast wind can push water in and cloud the inlet area
• Fall and spring fish best; summer mornings beat the afternoon heat

The park has few facilities and the water beside the spit moves fast, so plan for a rough-edged outing.

• Strong currents run along the Intracoastal side; do not wade or swim there
• Soft sand and a dirt lot make access hard for anyone with limited mobility
• There is little shade on the spit; bring water, a hat and sunscreen
• Lightning and sudden squalls cross the open water quickly in summer
• Boats run the Intracoastal channel close by; keep lines clear of passing traffic
• Shuffle your feet in the shallows on the calm side to avoid stingrays

Facilities are basic, as the county describes a serene, natural park rather than a developed one, so arrive self-sufficient for a few hours on open sand.

• Portable toilets
• A dirt parking lot at the end of the road
• Saltwater access for shore fishing and kayak launching
• No bait, food, drinking water or shade structures are listed
• The nearest services are back along A1A

• Plan around the tide chart: the hours either side of the turn are when the channel side comes alive
• Carry a range of sinkers; what holds at the turn will roll away when the current peaks
• Bring a kayak if you have one: the county lists the park as a place to launch kayaks as well as fish
• Watch for birds working over bait toward the inlet, a sign bluefish or jacks are feeding
• Pack out everything, including old line; the marsh and birds here are fragile

Helen Mellon Schmidt Park is a St. Johns County park.

• Open dawn to dusk
• Keep vehicles on the main road and out of the marsh, as the county asks
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you qualify for an exemption
• Check current FWC rules (myfwc.com) for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything