Hannah Park/ Mayport Poles surf guide
Surf: This stretch of beach is south of the extremely long jetty that protects the southern entrance to St Johns River. This is part of the Mayport US Naval Station, which uses the inlet side of the jetty as safe harbor for destroyers and aircraft carriers. Parking lots 1 - 6 in Hanna Park are closest to the break called Mayport Poles. Guards once prevented you from walking north to the better breaks, but now it’s open access unless there’s a war on. There are a few other named breaks here, like Lighthouse and Officers Club, but the waves are all pretty much the same. As you get closer to the jetty, the waves get smaller if it’s a N/NE swell — but also get cleaner in onshore winds. Handles a big swell from any direction but prefers a N/NE either side of low tide. These hollow peaks can provide longer lefts and shorter rights, both with plenty of power.
The wide area can handle the consistent crowds. Hazards include rip-offs, rips, plenty of sharks, and naval base pollution, which includes a nasty incinerator.