The Saint Johns River is Florida's longest river, stretching 310 miles from its headwaters near Vero Beach north to its mouth at the Atlantic Ocean near Jacksonville. This unique waterway flows north, is often called the liquid chameleon, and features a diverse aquatic environment that transitions from freshwater to brackish as it approaches the ocean. With a drop of only about 30 feet over its entire course and a slow flow rate of 0.3 mph, the Saint Johns is considered a lazy river. It encompasses numerous lakes, marshes, and channels, creating a complex ecosystem that supports an impressive variety of fish species. The river is divided into three distinct basins—Upper, Middle, and Lower—each offering unique fishing opportunities in waters that range from marshy wetlands to wide, navigable channels.