We used to fish in the St. Mary's river quite a bit (I-95 crosses over it on the state line for those that are not familiar). I wouldn't want to live in Jax these days, but my long time buddy has a 30' sailboat and the St. Johns river (and occasionally the Atlantic ocean) is our playground, so I "suck it up" and go every chance I get
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ps: Last Memorial Day weekend, I was back in Jax after spending three days on the sailboat (mouth of the St. John's down to St. Augustine race and return via Intercoastal) having a beer with another long time buddy when some drunk pulled a knife on us in a bar. We were "minding our own business" and I still don't know what set him off...he could barely stand, and the situation was diffused imnediately. But you are correct...