Fish Island Preserve

A 57-acre property located on the Intracoastal Waterway immediately adjacent to the State Road 312 bridge onto Anastasia Island, Fish Island was the first orange grove in Florida. Jesse Fish (~1724-1790) was the owner of the plantation on this island — perhaps the man responsible for the birth of the citrus industry. At one time, there were approximately 3,000 orange trees on the island, and the citrus was exported to England and Spain. Along with that, Mr. Fish is an infamous figure in St. Augustine's history, being one of the only British citizens who remained in Florida after the start of the Second Spanish Period.

Fish Island now represents some of the last undeveloped waterfront property in the City of St. Augustine. The area comprises uplands, which support a maritime forest and a bald eagle nest, and wetland areas, which support an extensive marsh habitat located on the Matanzas River. Fish Island has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1972. Fish Island Preserve was established by the city of St. Augustine around 2019 when members of the community created the 'Save Fish Island' initiative to prevent the island from being turned into a housing development.