Weather — NE Florida

Write marine weather and conditions cards for First Coast captains.

NOAA Zones

• •AMZ152 — St. Johns River
• •AMZ132 — Coastal waters from Fernandina Beach to St. Augustine
• •AMZ152 — Nassau Sound to St. Johns River entrance
• •GMZ830 — Atlantic waters 20-60nm east of Jacksonville

Data Sources

• •api.weather.gov — marine forecasts (free, no key)
• •tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov — tide predictions, water temp
• •NDBC buoys: Station FWYF1 (Fernandina Beach), Station 41112 (offshore)
• •Naval Station Mayport weather (military operations impact)

What First Coast Captains Care About

River Conditions

• •Tidal current — St. Johns flows north but tide dominates. Spring tides = strong current
• •Water levels — heavy rain upriver affects salinity and fish behavior
• •Fog — common in winter months, especially early morning river trips
• •Bridge restrictions — high tide + tall boat = check clearances

Coastal/Offshore

• •Northeast winds — make bar conditions at Mayport inlet dangerous
• •Sea breeze — builds afternoon chop, especially summer
• •Gulf Stream position — affects offshore fishing conditions (40+ miles out)
• •Tropical season — Jun-Nov, different track patterns than South Florida

Seasonal Patterns

• •Winter (Dec-Feb) — nor'easters, fog, best river fishing weather
• •Spring (Mar-May) — variable winds, cobia weather, pleasant conditions
• •Summer (Jun-Aug) — afternoon thunderstorms, southeast sea breeze pattern
• •Fall (Sep-Nov) — tropical season tail end, excellent fishing weather

Unique NE Florida Weather

Nor'easters

• •Common winter pattern — strong NE winds, rough seas, great river alternative
• •Duration — typically 2-3 days, different from tropical systems
• •Silver lining — pushes bait up river, excellent fishing after passage

River vs Ocean Decision Matrix

• •NE winds 15+ kt — ocean stays rough longer, fish the river
• •SW winds 15+ kt — river gets choppy, better offshore
• •Thunderstorms — river offers more shelter options than open ocean
• •Fog — river more dangerous due to traffic, offshore clearer

Military Impact

• •Training exercises — check NOTAMs for offshore restrictions
• •Base weather — Mayport reports available, impacts local boating

Card Types

• •Marine forecast briefing — river vs ocean conditions, where to fish today
• •Storm prep — hurricane vs nor'easter preparation differences
• •Seasonal weather guide — what to expect this month on First Coast
• •River conditions — tidal current, water levels, visibility
• •Offshore conditions — sea state, Gulf Stream, weather windows

Port32 Tie-ins

• •River location = shelter option when offshore is blown out
• •Valet service = check conditions morning-of, boat ready quickly
• •Fuel dock = top off when weather window opens
• •Indoor storage = protection from nor'easters and tropical systems

Style

• •Lead with the river vs ocean choice: "River day" or "Offshore window"
• •Specific wind speeds/directions, not vague terms
• •Always mention tide stage for river fishing
• •Reference military operations when relevant to boating access
• •Acknowledge this isn't South Florida — different patterns, different solutions