Amelia Island's North-end Boat Ramp

A wonderful new asset for Nassau County residents opened recently (but then temporarily closed) on Amelia Island's north end -- the new public boat ramp, and it's free! The public ramp is on the Amelia River/Intracoastal Waterway at the end of 14th Street, and has been named the Dee Dee Bartell Boat Ramp.

To reach the new ramp, go over the 14th Street bridge and head left toward the old pogey plant, and then make a right. There's an expansive parking lot to accommodate well over a hundred vehicles and boat trailers -- parking the trailer should be a pleasure here. The ramp itself is very wide, allowing three boats to be put in at the same

Boat Ramp Accommodates Three Boats Across

time. Two fishing piers/walkways jut out into the water a fair distance, and flank the ramp. Two floating docks, one on each side, are below the elevated walkways. Eventually, a pavilion with bathroom facility will be built and a nature center, but these future improvements are not there yet.

Unfortunately, the ramp had to be closed temporarily due to some safety issues and changes needed to be made due to the Americans With Disabilities Act. For one thing, the railings on the fishing piers needed to be extended further to the ramp. Hopefully, the new boat ramp will reopen in the near future.

Lovely Panoramic Waterway Views At Boat Ramp

Facing west, the boat ramp offers a great spot to view autumn sunsets on Amelia Island. According to some workers at the boat ramp who were finishing up some of the safety issues recently, a beautiful wild bobcat appeared at the ramp.

The cooler weather turns the trout on locally, I am told, so the new boat ramp is just in time for catching some nice sea trout. The limits on sea trout are 15 inches minimum length, only one over 20 inches, and maximum catch of five trout per day. So enjoy a sunset this fall, catch a fish, or just take a leisurely boat ride around the waterways of Amelia Island -- some of life's simple pleasures.

A LONG TIME COMING...

One Of Two Fishing Piers At Boat Ramp

This public boat ramp for Amelia Island has been a long time coming...efforts to get this ramp on the north end have been ongoing for about a decade. An old sunken dredge that was an eyesore and a major obstacle to developing the new boat ramp, was finally removed from the water this year. The effort as well as the county investment in this asset seem well worthwhile, as boating and fishing are favorite pastime of local residents (and visitors, as well). The new ramp facility is impressive, and as noted above, the location offers panoramic views and is an ideal place to watch a sunset (worth visiting just for photo taking opportunities, if you're not into boating or fishing).

___________________________________________________