About Fernandina Beach Surf Travel
The little fishing village of Fernandina borders Georgia to the north of Jacksonville, essentially starting North Florida. These first miles of coast are separated from the bulk of Jax’s beaches by the St. John’s River, resulting in some differences between the communities on either side. The area around Fernandina — commonly called the North Side — is a transitional swirl of old South and new tourism. Today, there are plenty of romantic bed and breakfasts, good restaurants and friendly people, but there was a time when these beaches were rooted well in the past, and North Siders were reputed to be the epitome of the Southern surfer’s rough, redneck stereotype. The image is crumbling but be careful. The South may never rise again, but there are still parts of Florida where it’s far from sleeping.
To get to Fernandina, you either must take A1A/108 east from I-95, way north of Jacksonville, or go north on A1A from the Jacksonville beaches and take the Mayport Ferry over the St. John’s River. Keep going north on A1A and you’ll run into Fernandina’s primary spot, Main Beach. This beachbreak at the end of Main Street is known to spit sand-bottom barrels just yards from shore. Main Beach picks up any swell, but needs light or offshore winds and mid incoming tide. Surprisingly, the North Sider influence is scarce compared to breaks further south; in fact, this tight-knit band of locals and regular crew of visiting South Georgians is reputedly friendly.