JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. — After years and years of waiting, fishing is finally back at the Jacksonville Beach Pier.
Action News Jax was there beginning at 4 a.m. as eager community members lined up.
Gates opened up just before 7 a.m.
Eric Vergara and his group were first in line Wednesday morning.
Vergara has been fishing for more than 12 years.
“I’m just gonna enjoy the day for what it brings,” Vergara said. “Just happy that we got another day and got the pier open now. I’m really excited to be out here.”
At the very end of the pier, Action News Jax spoke with Jason Ellison who caught a kingfish.
“It’s crazy,” Ellison said. “That’s all I can say.”
Ellison showed up with family and friends, who were all eager to see what they would catch.
“It’s great to be back out here on the pier -- just the atmosphere and all the people coming back out here is great,” Ellison said.
This was the day many had been waiting for since the pier closed in 2019.
“I was stationed here,” fisherman Ricky Carlisle said. “I was at NAS Jax and then I went to Mayport. We used to come down here all the time and just go out on the pier and go fishing. When the hurricane took it away from us, it ripped our hearts out, because we had nothing here in the Jacksonville area to keep going to.”
Robert Fletcher has been fishing since high school and has also been waiting for the return of fishing on the pier.
He showed Action News Jax’s Kennedy Dendy the ropes.
“Bring your patience with you,” Fletcher said. “Take your time.”
About an hour later, Kennedy reeled in a fish of her own.
The City of Jacksonville obtained a saltwater fishing license for the pier which covers individuals who fish from the pier.
Keep in mind: there’s a limit of three fishing rods for each person.
Cast netting is not allowed.
The Jacksonville Beach Fishing Pier is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
“Being able to come out here and fish off the pier -- it’s tremendous,” fisherman Michael Jackson said.
“This is a good spot for everybody and gets to meet the people out here and do some good fishing,” Woods said.
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
