About Twelve Mile Swamp, FL

Twelve Mile Swamp Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is a 21,898-acre private-owned conservation area located in north central St. Johns county. The Twelve Mile Swamp has a total surface area of 15.2 miles and has an elevation of 30 feet. The WMA includes a variety of upland and wetland natural communities. It has a 378-acre recreation area designated to the public that was set aside for the people to be educated about the silviculture industry in Florida. The conservation area is composed of a series of large swamps that form the headwaters of six major tributary systems.

Wildlife sightings in Twelve Mile Swamp include white-tailed deer, foxes, snakes, and different kinds of birds. The swamp provides recreational opportunities like hiking, hunting, biking, horseback riding, and bird watching. It is mostly planted with pine trees and has a few small cypress domes. While the larger part of Twelve Mile Swamp WMA remains private, it is open to the public during hunting season.

The Twelve Mile Swamp was turned into a conservation area to protect the natural systems and wildlife habitat and provide non-structural flood protection. It also preserves the water quality and quantity which benefits the water supply of St. Johns County and strengthens the condition of its groundwater. 

All About Fishing in Twelve Mile Swamp, FL

Fishing is allowed in the Twelve Mile Swamp WMA once anglers secure recreation permits. As it is a shallow brackish freshwater habitat, and very close to Tolomato River and St. Marks Pond Swamp, they share some fish in common like speckled trout or spotted weakfish and redfish. Spotted weakfish mainly eat small fish like anchovies. Redfish eat worms, crabs and shrimps while juveniles eat zooplankton and small invertebrates. Twelve Mile Swamp is also near St. Johns River, therefore largemouth bass is a common game in the swamp as well. They mainly eat plankton, insects and crayfish while young, and feed on other fish, crabs, frogs and salamanders as they get older. Other fish species that can be found in the Twelve Mile Swamp include yellow perch, smallmouth bass, and grass carp. 

Sight fishing, or seeing the game first before trying to coax it to eat your bait or lure and spearfishing are the best ways to catch fish in the very shallow waters of Twelve Mile Swamp. Although baitcasting is one of the most common ways to fish in swamps, jigging or using artificial lures is also a desirable way to catch game among anglers. Rigged casting rod and bass fishing rod and reel are the top recommended gear to use when fishing in the Twelve Mile Swamp. Whilst not very common, some anglers prefer bowfishing in the area, especially when hunting for grass carp. 

Fishing Seasonality

Spotted weakfish reproduction peaks during April to July. It is the premier game for angels, though largemouth bass may be more common and can be found all year round, with reproduction period during December through May. Largemouth bass can become juveniles after just a year. Redfish younglings appear from September to January and turn into juveniles after a year.

The coldest month of the year in Twelve Mile Swamp is January, where the average low temperature goes down to 45.6 degrees Fahrenheit. While some fish species may still be found in the swamp during this time of the year, anglers do not usually find it interesting to fish in the swamp in the cold weather. Most commonly, light tackle is the best fishing technique during cold weather. The hottest month is July, when temperatures peak and average at 88.9 degrees Fahrenheit. Anglers who love to catch game during the Summer need to be prepared for the heat, especially those that plan to do other recreational activities apart from fishing.

Fishing Seasonality

Spotted weakfish reproduction peaks during April to July. It is the premier game for angels, though largemouth bass may be more common and can be found all year round, with reproduction period during December through May. Largemouth bass can become juveniles after just a year. Redfish younglings appear from September to January and turn into juveniles after a year.

The coldest month of the year in Twelve Mile Swamp is January, where the average low temperature goes down to 45.6 degrees Fahrenheit. While some fish species may still be found in the swamp during this time of the year, anglers do not usually find it interesting to fish in the swamp in the cold weather. Most commonly, light tackle is the best fishing technique during cold weather. The hottest month is July, when temperatures peak and average at 88.9 degrees Fahrenheit. Anglers who love to catch game during the Summer need to be prepared for the heat, especially those that plan to do other recreational activities apart from fishing.

All About Fishing in Twelve Mile Swamp, FL

Fishing is allowed in the Twelve Mile Swamp WMA once anglers secure recreation permits. As it is a shallow brackish freshwater habitat, and very close to Tolomato River and St. Marks Pond Swamp, they share some fish in common like speckled trout or spotted weakfish and redfish. Spotted weakfish mainly eat small fish like anchovies. Redfish eat worms, crabs and shrimps while juveniles eat zooplankton and small invertebrates. Twelve Mile Swamp is also near St. Johns River, therefore largemouth bass is a common game in the swamp as well. They mainly eat plankton, insects and crayfish while young, and feed on other fish, crabs, frogs and salamanders as they get older. Other fish species that can be found in the Twelve Mile Swamp include yellow perch, smallmouth bass, and grass carp. 

Sight fishing, or seeing the game first before trying to coax it to eat your bait or lure and spearfishing are the best ways to catch fish in the very shallow waters of Twelve Mile Swamp. Although baitcasting is one of the most common ways to fish in swamps, jigging or using artificial lures is also a desirable way to catch game among anglers. Rigged casting rod and bass fishing rod and reel are the top recommended gear to use when fishing in the Twelve Mile Swamp. Whilst not very common, some anglers prefer bowfishing in the area, especially when hunting for grass carp.