St. Mary's/Steel Bridge questions

[kissfan]

Hi all,

Buddy wants me to drag the boat up to his neck-o-the-woods and fish the St. Mary river, launching from the Steel Bridge Road launch.

Any idea on water depths there?
I've read it's a stained river... is there any action in that area?

Thanks!

[BOATS]

I personally think its a not so good bass fishery. That being said you can fish the main river with a Florida license but if you go up creek channels on the GA side you need to have a GA license.

[176mag]

Deep!! One of the deepest river for its width. Its tidal so fish last two hours of falling water and first hour of rising. Fishing can be challenging. It’s tannic acid black in color but very clean. Creek mouths are some good areas to start. I live in Kingsland and fish the St. Mary’s three too four times a month. Pretty safe to run just watch for floating logs.

[kissfan]

Thanks, guys. Appreciate the info.

[Bill2e]

absolutely shitty Ramp.


Tried to take my daughter there a few years ago.


At her age she would’ve been no help launching the boat.


No dock, nothing but rocks on the bank so couldn’t beach the boat.
ended up going to Lofton Creek instead.


Not the greatest fishery but good Ramp.


There is another Ramp a little further up to St. Mary’s that is significantly better. Unfortunately I do not know the location I think it’s on the Georgia side,

[kissfan]

absolutely shitty Ramp.

Couldn’t tell from the picture online. Planned to ride the bike up tomorrow and take a look.

Appreciate the heads-up.

[BassnPhoenix920]

The best ramp for the mighty St Marys River is the Browntown Ramp located upon river from the 17 ramp plus the ramp is a challenge for a bigger bass boat to launch. The fishing is challenging to say the least 176mag can give you the best advice if you insist on fishing it.

[Poppin' Frog]

I fished that river exactly once a few years ago with a friend that lived close to it. We put in at the ramp off 17 and went west. There's a large creek arm that runs south off the main river only a couple miles from the ramp. We started about halfway and fished to the head of it. Caught probably 15 bass total but I don't think a single one was over 1 pound. Pretty sure I was swimming a junebug speed worm and my buddy caught his on a dark colored Bandit square bill. Caught a flounder also. Good Luck!

[kissfan]

Thanks all. I really don’t want to mess with that water. I’m more comfortable on the lakes near Gainesville. Guess my lazy buddy will just have to drive to me.

[redzone1]

The river is beautiful, black water, but clean. Fishing is absolutely terrible. The ramp you speak of at the blue bridge has not dock, and there is basically no parking, very deep rutted out mud holes driving to the ramp. There are a couple of ramps on the Florida side near Hilliard that are good. I wouldn’t have high expectations on the fishing.

[kissfan]

Ack! Thanks