Chassahowitzka River Fishing Spot
- County: Citrus
- Last Modified By: joshuats1 on 05/15/20 11:25 AM
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In general, anglers will enjoy the greatest success fishing when water levels are low and the river is within its banks. Nice stringers of bluegill and redear (shellcracker) are caught off the spawning beds in the spring and along river banks lined with dead falls and snags the rest of the year. Crickets and wigglers are good baits for panfishing. Many local anglers swear by the catalpa worm, which can be frozen in clear corn syrup and used throughout the year. Try fishing the mid to upper reaches of the river system for your bigger bream. Largemouth bass are commonly caught on crank baits, spinner baits and artificial worms throughout the river system. Big bass can usually be found around treetops and snags in the mid and upper reaches of the river and along the saw grass flats down by the mouth. Sunshine bass (hybrid striped bass) and striped bass fishing is excellent in the spring and fall throughout the lower end of the river. These fish are stocked annually by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Preferred baits include finger mullet, live shad and shad-like lures. The best fishing is on the out-going tide at dusk or dawn. Areas to target include sandbars and points in the river. It should be noted that harvest and size regulations are different for the sunshine and the striped bass
Chassahowitzka River Description
Because of its nearly pristine, natural condition, the Chassahowitzka River is one of the more scenic rivers in Florida. Accessible only by boat or canoe, the Chassahowitzka River is one of the state's Outstanding Florida Waters. Because of its natural importance to Florida, it received this designation and was given special protection to maintain its existing water quality conditions.Like most of the other rivers in the Springs Coast Watershed, the Chassahowitzka River is spring fed. The first-magnitude Chassahowitzka Springs form the beginning point of the river. Although water quality in the river and springs is generally good, recent studies have shown that nitrate levels have increased and elevated levels of bacteria have been observed in the canal system above the river's headwaters. Leaky septic tanks and excessive fertilizing of landscapes are two ways nitrates can get into the groundwater supply and eventually appear in spring discharge. The Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, which borders the Chassahowtizka River, was established in 1943 as a winter preserve for migratory water birds. Today, about 35,000 acres of this area, which includes the Chassahowitzka and Homosassa River estuaries, many islands, 12 miles of river, salt marshes and coastal swamps, are protected and managed by several federal, state and local government agencies. The goal is to offer migrating and wintering water birds a place to rest and feed. Within this area there are 7,500 acres that include habitat for the Florida black bear.The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) buys lands that are important to the protection of Florida's water resources. In 1990, the District began acquiring lands that now make up the Chassahowitzka Riverine Swamp Sanctuary. Today, the Sanctuary is made up of about 5,676 acres of land. When combined with federally and locally purchased land in the Chassahowitzka area, a total of 60,348 acres of land along the Chassahowitzka River have been preserved. The District's Sanctuary includes both uplands and wetlands. Some of the trees and plants you will find in the uplands include sand live oaks, fetterbushes, saw palmettos, longleaf pines and turkey oaks. Some of the wetland plants and trees include cypress trees, cabbage palms, saw grass, sweetgum trees and red maple trees. Many animals also make the sanctuary their home. These animals include Florida black bears, white-tailed deer, bald eagles, river otters, bobcats, ospreys, great blue herons, anhingas, cormorants, wood storks and manatees. The Choctawhatchee River is Floridas' third largest river system in terms of water volume discharged. Originating in the southern portion of Alabama, the river flows approximately 96 miles from the Alabama state line into Choctawhatchee Bay. Popular boating access points along the Choctawhatchee River include Hwy. 90 (Caryville), Hwy. 20 (Ebro) and along River Road off Hwy. 20 (east of Bruce) there are several boat landings and a bait shop. For access to the lower river take Hwy 331 south of Freeport and go left on S.R. 394 about a mile and look for the signs. Holmes Creek, a major spring-fed tributary of the Choctawhatchee, offers some excellent fishing. Several bream species can be found in abundance including longear sunfish, spotted sunfish (stumpknockers), redbreast sunfish and warmouth. Big shellcrackers can be caught along the channel side of water lily beds. The spotted bass, a close relative of the largemouth bass, is also native and is an exciting fish to catch. There are several boating access point along Hwy. 279 (Vernon) and Hwy. 79.