Trout River Waterfront

Panama Park is one of Jacksonville’s few urban core neighborhoods with an active working waterfront. Businesses along the Trout River include seafood markets, marinas, a seafood processing plant and a commercial diving academy. Public access to the river is also accomplished through the conversion of the old Main Street Bridge into a public fishing pier and park.

The Trout River is a 20-mile-long tributary of the St. Johns River with a depth of 10 to 14 feet. The river’s widest point is at Panama Park where it is 0.6 miles across. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including smallmouth bass, blue catfish and gar here.

During prohibition, Panama Park was a remote landing spot for rum runners.

The Old Trout River Bridge Pier is a popular spot for recreational fishing. Built in 1930, the bascule bridge was a part of Main Street’s entrance into the city.

Situated along the Trout River on both sides of the Main Street Bridge, the Commercial Diving Academy (CDA) was established to provide training and employable skills in the profession of commercial diving.

The CDA’s dive training education master plan includes a unique training schedule, delivered in a contained campus that encompasses housing, meals, open water diving and state of the art training tanks to support instruction in underwater construction techniques.

Bill Dye Marina

Seafarers Marina is a family owned and operated marina since 1979. Located on the Trout River just off of the St. Johns River at channel marker 68, the 600’ dock marina includes 75 slips with finger docks, water, electricity, shower facilities, a grill area and laundry room.

The current swing bridge was constructed over the Trout River in 1938. Built 1938