Florida's Historic A1A Highway

The On The Fly South Road Trip Series

Editor’s Note: This month we present the first installment of our Road Trip Series that will appear periodically. These stories will cover several angling destinations, area attractions and accommodations that are tied together by locale, history or some other factor.

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On The Fly Saltwater

January 2026

By Jimmy Jacobs

Construction of historic State Route A1A was begun in 1916 in North Florida and was completed when the Overseas Highway reached Key West in the 1930s. The roadway is part of the Buccaneer Trail that starts at Yulee and runs to Fernandina Beach, where A1A officially begins. From there the trail goes to Daytona Beach, but after it ends, A1A continues into the southern part of the state. More recently, the Florida legislature christened the entire length of A1A as the Jimmy Buffet Memorial Highway.

Back in 1952 when the Buccaneer Trail originated, it was billed as a scenic route down the Atlantic Coast of the peninsula that provided a leisurely drive with great vistas of the ocean and beaches, while avoiding the congestion of major inland throughfares. Needless to say, that has changed! While some stretches of public lands still offer panoramas of the sand and water, most such views are now hidden beyond beach front resort hotels, condominiums and beach houses. Additionally, the sheer number of traffic lights from Fernandina to Key West make the drive anything but leisurely.

The highway, however, still provides a plethora of historic sites and places as it parallels the route of Henry Flagler’s Florida East Coast railroad. And there are some great stops along the way for fly fishers! Here’s a look at three of those.

Redfish at St. Augustine

There is no place in the eastern U.S. that compares to the history of St. Augustine. Founded in 1565 by Spanish admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, it is oldest continuously inhabited location in the country and a veritable living history museum for visitors.

Capt. Cullen Traverso with a Tolomato River redfish. Photo by Jimmy Jacobs.

The area, however, also offers plenty for fly casters, as well. At the center of that action is chasing redfish in the Tolomato River north of town, the Mantanzas River around Devils Elbow to the south, or even wading the Salt Run on Anastasia Island.

On the Tolomato River just north of Saint Augustine, the riverine habitat is ideal an environment for redfish. These marshes consist of oyster-lined shell beds with miles of spartina grass islands. The arrival of flood tides in late spring and fall caters in some of the most exhilarating conditions for stalking redfish, where they may be feeding just feet away from your boat.

Capt. Cullen Traverso of High Tailin’ Fishing Charters, who guides on waters all around St. Augustine, refers to the cruising redfish found here as “belly crawlers” because they get in very shallow water. He prefers targeting those belly crawlers around low tide, along edges of shell beds or grass lines. During spring through fall months, Traverso expects the fish to be traveling solo or in doubles. In the winter months, when waters tend to be clearer, the reds may be traveling in schools of up to 100 or so fish.

Another area that Capt. Traverso fishes for reds is found south of the city around Devils Elbow on the Mantanzas River. The area generally considered to be Devils Elbow stretches from the FL 206 bridge in Crescent Beach south to Devils Elbow Fishing Resort. However, from the bridge south all the way to Channel Marker 78, the western shore is a maze of backwaters, edged by spartina grass and oyster shell bars. This definitely is an area where you need local knowledge like that of Capt. Traverso. Navigating the narrow, shallow channels is an invitation for running aground.

Your other option is wade fishing for reds in the Salt Run. This is a lagoon off of the Matanzas River in St. Augustine. The Salt Run then stretches for roughly 2.5 miles to it southern end in Anastasia State Park, with Bird Island separating it from the Atlantic Ocean.

Wading the Salt Run. Photo by Jimmy Jacobs.

Access to this southern end of the Salt Run is inside Anastasia State Park, so you have to pay a small fee to enter. Once past the entrance gate, just stay on Anastasia Park Road until you pass the Anastasia Watersport facility, where rental kayaks are available.

As a rule of thumb, the southern end of the Salt Run provides a morning fishery during the summer months. At the very end of the lagoon it splits into two fingers, with one running south and the other bending east toward the ocean. Both of these offer some good habitat, especially for finding redfish and flounder. The finger running south has a bit steeper drop off from the bank with oyster beds along it. It is possible to wade down the middle for a ways, casting toward both shores.

The small point between the two fingers also has some oyster shells, as does the southern shore of the finger heading out to the east. The firmest wading bottom in this eastern arm generally is found from 20 to 30 feet from shore.

The Castillo de San Marcos. Photo by Jimmy Jacobs.

When you are not on the water, take a tram tour on the Old Town Trolley to visit the Oldest Wooden school house in America, the Old Jail Museum and the Pirate and Treasure Museum. The Gonzalez-Alvarez house dating from 1702 is the oldest in town and open to the public, while the historic Castillo de San Marcos Spanish fortress is a must-see site. Also take a stroll down St. George Street for more attractions, shopping and dining options. The St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park continues to draw visitors as it has since its opening in 1893.

Photo courtesy of the Southern Oaks Inn.

Near the historic downtown district, the Southern Oaks Inn is a premier destination for spacious, pet-friendly accommodations and top-tier hospitality in the Ancient City. They provide a convenient location for a fishing or family visit to the area. Shuttles to the historic area are provided along with breakfast and an unusual bar in the lobby!

Resort photo courtesy of Guy Harvey Resort St. Augustine / Guy Harvey photo by Jimmy Jacobs.

Out on St. Augustine Beach, you can find quality accommodations at the Guy Harvey St. Augustine Beach Resort. This full-service resort includes beach access, swimming pool, dining and a tiki bar. Throughout the resort you will find the artistic hand of Guy Harvey and local fellow artists represented, with much of it inspired by the natural beauty of the Ancient City.

Outdoor seating at the Beachcomber. Photos by Jimmy Jacobs.

Also, while out at the beach, drop by Beachcomber to experience “ocean front dining where “A” Street meets the ocean.” Both indoor and patio seating are available, or you can burrow your toes at their picnic tables in the sand. As you might expect, seafood and tropical drinks are the fare. Beware of the Goombay Smash that is served up from the bar. They will only sell you two during your visit!

Snook in Daytona Beach

The Daytona Beach area of the Florida east coast is famed for a number of reasons. At one time it was “the” spring break destination in the Sunshine State for high school and college kids. Along with nearby Ormond Beach, it is the birthplace of speed, the cradle of NASCAR and home to the Daytona 500 race. Additionally, its beaches have drawn family vacationers for more than a century. Lesser known is the inshore fly rodding this area also provides.

The Tomoka River rises just south of Interstate 4 and west of Interstate 95, very near the intersection of those two highways. From there it flows north, just inland of Daytona Beach, before turning northeast at State Route 40 (Grenada Boulevard) in Ormond Beach. After passing through 1800-acre Tomoka State Park, the flow reaches the Tomoka Basin, where the stream spreads into a large lagoon at its junction with the Halifax River. Despite your close proximity to Daytona proper, the scenery is “Old Florida.”

The Tomoka offers views of Old Florida. Photo by Jimmy Jacobs.

In the lagoon, targeting the shell beds or points and indentions in the grass, redfish, seatrout, black drum and even Spanish mackerel show up along the shore. But the real surprise is the snook fishing farther up in the river. It is surprisingly good for this far north on the peninsula. Where deadfall trees break the current, tossing Puglisi-style bait fish patterns can produce steady action for 15- to 18-inch snook. And fish of 12- to 15-pounds do show up as well.

Capt. Kent Gibbens of Back Country Charters knows the river and fishery well and can put you on the snook.

Even more surprising than the angling in the Tomoka Basin is finding an option for some wade fishing in the Daytona area. This is at the southern end of the beach community at Ponce de Leon Inlet.

Casting at Ponce Inlet. Photo by Jimmy Jacobs.

Saltwater fly casters often hook flounder when pursuing redfish and trout, but it is rare to find a spot where you can actually target these flat fish. Such a place exists along the north shore of this inlet, where the waters of the Halifax River and Spruce Creek mingle as they join the open ocean. Making it even better is the chance to wade fish for the flounder.

The time to be here is on the falling tide. The shore is composed of huge rip-rap rocks, but the western end of this jetty is fronted by a sand flat with some smaller rock formations. Once that flat drops to roughly knee deep, you can begin to wade and follow the ebbing tide out on it. Getting to the water entails climbing down the rip-rap, or you can take a bit longer route to wade in from the dog-friendly beach to the west. Concentrate your effort on the portion of the inlet in front of picnic pavilions 5, 6 and 7, where the flat is obvious on the falling tide.

Photo courtesy of Daytona Beach.

Needless to say, the Daytona area offers plenty of diversions during your time off the water. The Daytona Boardwalk & Pier amusements have been entertaining visiting families for more than seven decades. In addition to one of the most famous beaches in the world, the area has a plethora of restaurant options. For early morning, the Daytona Diner is ideal for full breakfasts in a 1950s retro atmosphere.

Down at Ponce Inlet, Off the Hook at Inlet Harbor, Hidden Treasure Rum Bar and Grill and Down the Hatch Seafood Company all offer decks overlooking the water with full bars and menus of fresh seafood.

You might also want to visit the 1880s Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse & Museum or take a tour of the Marine Science Center.

The historic Ponce de Leon Inlet lighthouse. Photo by Jimmy Jacobs.

If the tides are not right for a late afternoon or evening fishing trip, you can head over to Jackie Robinson Stadium to enjoy the fanfare and catch a Florida State League minor league baseball game. The field the locals refer to as “The Jack” is home to the Daytona Tortugas and located on an island in the Halifax River. It also was one of Jackie Robinson’s stops along his path to breaking the color barrier in major league baseball.

Hutchinson Island for Beach Snook

A1A hugs the coast of both the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon in St. Lucie County on Hutchinson Island. A narrow strip of land dangling south from Fort Pierce down to Jensen Beach, the beaches of the island in between host a great fishery for snook in the summer months.

Numerous public beach accesses dot the highway, any of which are potential stopping points to hop out of the car and scan the water for gulls diving on baitfish, or predatory snook cruising just off the sand. Stretches of beach with a trough right at the shore are the best spots. With 23 miles of shoreline, there are plenty of such places to locate. A particularly good area is the shore from Herman’s Bay Beach south to Normandy Beach.

The trick is to stay on the sand and keep your shadow off the water, so as not to spook the fish. Watch for the snook moving along the beach, often only feet from the shore in just inches of water. Once spotted, drop your fly in their path and as they approach begin retrieving it like a fleeing bait fish. White or chartreuse are proven colors for patterns like the Clouser Minnow or Zigler’s Shminnow. Also, you need an intermedia sinking line for this angling. Otherwise, the wave action will keep jerking your fly out of the strike zone.

You might expect a good lodging for traveling fly fishers to be called a fish camp or lodge. The Hutchinson Island Plaza Hotel & Suites may have a name that doesn’t fit the mold, but it offers everything a fly caster could want in accommodations.

Hutchinson Island Plaza Hotel & Suites. Photo by Jimmy Jacobs.

The hotel has several amenities that make it ideal for a traveling angler, whether going it alone or bringing along a spouse or the whole family. There is a tiki hut on a large deck surrounding a swimming pool. Additionally, there is a small white strip of sand, resplendent with beach chairs along the edge of the shore. A fitness room and gift shop are other features found here.

Nearby are the ocean beaches on the Atlantic side of Hutchinson Island, while boat charters, eco-tours and kayak rentals all are available in the vicinity. For guests’ convenience, the hotel offers a free hot breakfast each morning on site.

The lighted hotel boat dock even attracts snook in the evenings!

The Ocean Front Inn is another good bet with its Island Beach Bar and Restaurant. A bonus is its location within walking distance of the historic Fort Pierce Jetty Park.

At the south end of Hutchinson, River Palms Cottages and Fish Camp is located in Jensen Beach on the western bank of the Indian River Lagoon at Marker No. 222. That makes it a convenient site for anglers targeting snook on this end of the island.

Photo by Jimmy Jacobs.

Captain Rufus Wakeman and his wife Melynda turned their passions for fishing and tropical plants into an ideal getaway for anglers and family groups. With 25 cottages ranging from one-bedroom efficiencies and bungalows to the four-bedroom Riverhouse, the accommodations are strewn among the property’s 7.2 acres of lush vegetation. The owner’s passion has sowed more than 80 varieties of edible plants, fruits and medicinal herbs on site.

For dining, on the south end give Shuckers in the Island Beach Resort a try. Up in Fort Pierce, the Square Grouper Tiki Bar offers live music along with food and beverages. Archie’s Seabreeze is a quintessential beach bar, that has been serving cold drinks and bar food with indoor and outdoor seating since World War II.