St. Johns River Shrimp-A-Thon
Ed and Marcia Ellett will lead this year's Search for Shrimp on the St. Johns River
Shands Pier Road Boat Ramp
August 25, 2012
Depart the Shands Pier Road public ramp at
8:15 - 8:30 AM.
A trailer caravan will leave the Waldo Road Sonny's Restaurant parking lot at 7:00 AM.
Where: St. Johns River - Green Cove Springs
Driving directions from Gainesville to the Shands Pier Road public boat ramp: north to Starke, right/east on Highway 16 at Downtown Starke intersection. Travel through Penney Farms to Green Cove, road dead ends into lighted intersection in downtown Green Cove, take a right and within 1/4 mile take a left onto Highway 16 going over Shands Bridge. Just before bridge on your left is "Shands Pier Road". Take Pier Road until dead ends at ramp. Travel time from Gainesville is 1 - 1.5 hours.
Target: Humongous Shrimp
Contact Info: Ed Ellett on VHF channel 9 at the River
Please RSVP to Ed (331-8044 or ellett@bellsouth.net) if you plan to attend. Call or email if you have pre-trip questions too.
Once again, GOFC members venture out of the Big Bend area to a fresh water venue on the "other coast" to search for tasty shrimp. These crafty crustaceans congregate in large numbers along the length of the St. Johns River during their summer run.
Know where to find them? We were a bit confused too...the St. Johns River is 310 miles long! So we called Ed and Marcia Ellett, world-renowned shrimping experts, to help us out. Fortunately, they have the system all figured out, and have even cleared our arrival with the local authorities...I guess our reputation precedes us!
Capt. Ed Ellett was delayed at the 2010 roundup!
We will depart the Shands Pier Road Public Ramp at 8:15 - 8:30 AM (directions above).
What to Bring
- shrimping cast net
- gloves - pulling the long, wet line can be rough on the hands
- buttonless shirt - castnets will catch on the buttons
- large bucket or wash tub to collect shrimp on the boat
- cold drinks and appropriate warm weather clothing, including an extra shirt...yes, it will be hot!
- Saltwater fishing license
Recommended reading from the GOFC Library
Shrimping on the St. Johns River at Green Cove Springs by Sanford Boye
Shrimping the St. Johns River by Charlie Courtney
Sanford Boye video: Throwing the net | Retrieving the net