You may not know it, but there is a “hidden” gem located a short walk from the NAS JAX RV Park: The MWR Mulberry Cove Marina, another portion of my vast empire.
Walk from your RV up to Birmingham Road, take a right and then walk through Fisherman’s Cove Park on your right, around the backside of the chain link fenced boat dry storage lot. Look for the brown building with the blue awnings. The MWR Mulberry Cove Marina offers:
1 – Rental Boats: take the free FL Boater Safety Test online at
www.boatus.org
and bring the certificate in. We launch the boat and provide all the safety gear and send you on your way. In 40-minutes you can be docked at the Jacksonville Landing [
www.jacksonvillelanding.com/
] eating lunch at one of the many restaurants and listening to live music. When you return we take the boat out of the water, clean it, and all you do is pay for the fuel you used, still the cheapest fuel on the St Johns River.
2 – Rent a kayak or canoe and drift along the shore communing with nature: friendly alligators (just don’t sit on them), nutria, egrets, raccoons, and jumpin’ mullet. There are three fishing piers along the shore and the marina rents fishing poles. Or join our Active Duty sailors in a workout and paddle to the Buckman Bridge and back.
3 – The marina has a fully stocked retail store with bait, ice, sandwiches, refreshments, the COLDEST beer on base, fishing licenses, fishing tackle, sunglasses, T-shirts, outdoor recreation knives, basic boat parts, and various sundries to meet all your boating needs. We also have unleaded mid-grade gasoline pier-side and a free boat ramp, for those of you who tow your personal boats behind your RVs.
4 – Ever wanted to learn how to sail? We offer sailing classes starting on the 1st Friday of each month, from March through October. They cost $150/person (1/2 the cost of civilian classes) and consist of one Friday evening class, and then two weekend classes back-to-back. We provide everything…sailboats, safety gear, instructional books, etc.
5 - The marina also rents tents, sleeping pads, cots, camp stoves, lanterns, large grills, coolers, turkey fryers and much more...
6 – Annual Bass Tournament: If you happen to be in the area the second Saturday of April each year, you will see me bright and early at 0400 hours sending hordes of bass anglers out into the river. The Annual NAS Jax Bass Tournament is a huge draw in the tri-base area. For great entertainment, stop by during the weigh-in and awards ceremony, from approximately 1400 – 1600 hours. The tension as the lead changes hands is electric, and my favorite part is the end when we hand out fishing poles to the kids.
7 - Hours of operation are: SUMMER: April 15 - Sept. 14 - Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. WINTER: Sept. 15 - April 14 - Monday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Thursday through Sunday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed on Tuesday. Contact us at 904.542.3260 with any questions.
Thanks and Safe Travels,
Phil
Phil Collins, Manager
Mulberry Cove Marina &
Auto Skills Center
Bldg 1, Box 14
Naval Air Station
Jacksonville, FL 32212
904.542.3260 [marina]
904.542.3227 [auto skills]
904.542.4951 [fax]
[email protected] 
