Back in 2011, successful navigation of St. Augustine Inlet had become problematical at best, due to some serious shoaling. A welcome dredging project in 2012 solved most of these problems, but our good friend, Captain Jay Bliss, member of the St. Augustine Port Commission, keeps us up to date from time to time on the very latest inlet navigational conditions.
The account below is taken from a recent Port Commissioners meeting. Note particularly the red colored text. Here we learn about the refurbishment of inlet aids to navigation, and the removal of marker #5A.

Greetings Port Observers,
These notes are one person’s unofficial summary of the many interesting items brought before the StAugustine Port commission on April 16 2013. Our website is not yet up to date; http://www.staugustineport.com will soon be fully operational.
The SummerHaven River restoration still has a formidable adversary: the least tern. A few nests from that species are homesteaded on the filled-in river. Alternate sites nearby are being sought for the tern.
Port is evaluating/pondering/tweaking the text of DEP’s Inlet Management Plan. Florida DEP, County, USArmy Corps of Engineers and FIND will be involved; the goals of restored beaches and a safe inlet are essential; the IMP will be the blueprint.
City Management and Police, County Sheriff, and StJCo Fire &Marine Rescue departments, FWC, and USCG Jacksonville all provided updates. USCG LCdr Butts presented board with a chart of new buoy locations in the St. Augustine inlet. From the outermost safe water buoy, the “STA”, in to marker “8”, we have refurbished buoys and anchors. With the recent dredging, buoy “5A” became superfluous; it’s gone. There’s still a dog-leg out there. Residents of this area enjoy a proficient cadre of on-the-water experts who conscientiously keep our waters under safe surveillance.
Commissioner Barry Benjamin was elected to Chair the Port, Herb Rippe will serve as Vicechair.
CitizenAdvocate Ed Slavin presented us with the concept of a StAugustine Historical Park and Seashore.
Meeting was adjourned at about 5:15; next meeting May 14, 2013
Jay Bliss, Port Commissioner seat 5

Came thru here late April dead low tide and heavy fog . no problem and markers are accurate.
greg and donna on lady in red.

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of St. Augustine Inlet