Suwannee River Fishing Spot

• Last Modified By: vinny60 on 09/23/09 07:22 PM
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The Suwannee River (also spelled Suwanee River) is a major river of southern Georgia and northern Florida in the United States. It is a wild blackwater river, about 266 miles long.The river rises in the Okefenokee Swamp, emerging at Fargo, Georgia. The river then runs southwest into Florida, dropping in elevation through limestone layers resulting in Florida's only whitewater rapids. It then turns west near White Springs, Florida, receiving the waters of the Alapaha and Withlacoochee Rivers, which together drain much of south-central Georgia. This meandering forms the southern border of Hamilton County, Florida. It then bends south near Ellaville, then southeast near Luraville, receives the Santa Fe River from the east just below Branford, then south again to the Gulf of Mexico near the town of Suwannee. A unique aspect of the Suwannee River is the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. The Trail is a cooperative effort by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Suwannee River Water Management District and the cities, businesses and citizens of the eight-county region of the Suwannee River Basin. The Trail encompasses 170 river miles from Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park to the Gulf of Mexico. The Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge offers bird and wildlife observation, wildlife photography, fishing, canoeing, hunting, and interpretive walks. A wildlife driving tour is under construction and several boardwalks and observation towers offer views of refuge wildlife and habitat. In recent years, the Suwannee River has been the site of music gatherings. Magnolia Festival, SpringFest, and Wannee have are held annually in Live Oak, Florida adjacent to the river. The Suwannee drains from the Okeefenokee Swamp through limestone shoals stretches to become a large flood plain river in the lower reaches. Drastic water level fluctuations characterize the river and keep the fishery dynamic. The Santa Fe is the major tributary, heavily influenced by springs and unlike the Suwannee, has vast areas of submerged vegetation in the middle and upper reaches. These areas harbor abundant freshwater shrimp, waterscuds and aquatic insects, thus producing excellent growth rates for fish, particularly abundant redbreast sunfish and pugnacious spotted sunfish (stumpknockers). The upper Suwannee has only tree roots and rocky shelves for fish structure. The lower Suwannee has a band of waterlilies and eventually in the tidal portion, numerous wooded and marsh-lined feeder creeks. High tide fishing is always slow with best fishing during lower tides. It is also helpful to remember that the outer bends are always deeper, sand bars are on inside curves and lilies on outer bend means the current has left the bank and panfish like to spawn here. Both Suwannee and largemouth bass occur. Large fish are not the rule and remember that all bass in the river, especially Suwannees, prefer to feed on crawfish, so crawfish-colored lures prevail. The fishing on the Suwannee is outstanding during the summer months all the way through the winter. Discover the Nature Coast.... at the beautiful new Suwannee River Hideaway Campground. We are located on the Suwannee River and have a 1500' boardwalk thru the wetlands to the river. Explore the amazing variety of plants, trees and wildlife.Our campground is in a great area for fishing, bird watching, hiking and biking. The Nature Coast State Bike Trail Head is within three miles of the park. We offer primitive tent camping sites as well as RV sites with 30 & 50 amp hookups. Some pull through sites are available. Check in at the 1920's General Store and then enjoy the conveniences of our campground, including a laundry facility and bath house. We have a new clubhouse for club functions and large groups with a full kitchen, bathrooms and fireplace. Our campground is located in a private area only 3 miles from Hwy 19/98/27 in Old Town. We close our gate at dusk so call ahead for our office hours.