Originally Posted by
Fiishergurl
I vote Monroe for the same reasons Speckanator said. We love Crescent but don't know of any tent camping around there. If you haven't been on the St John's, if you go to Monroe you're right there with lots of options. The lake if its not too windy. The river if you want to try Jigging and get out of the wind. A great deli restaurant right on the water at boat tree marina, and if you feel like seeing the river and some manatees its a scenic, short, 7-8 mile ride up river to Blue Springs where 100's of manatees winter.
You can tent camp at Lake Monroe Park (not sure of the cost but sure is convenient to the lake and river. Or go a mile or so north down the river (it flows north) and there are several places to camp on the river for free. The spots are easy to pick out.
Or there's hontoon landing state park in deland which is on the st John's and just a short ride to lake beresford. Or blue spring state park which is in Orange city.
If its all about the fish, lake Monroe park on Monroe is my vote. Never been to Talquin but its on my bucket list!
Ginny