Turnbull Bay Fishing Spot

• Last Modified By: vinny60 on 09/23/09 06:28 PM
• Ask about Turnbull Bay in our Fishing Forums

Turnbull Bay is a little hard to find, but worth the effort. It has been considered an environmental masterpiece by writers and residents alike for many years. Long before the advent of automobiles and air conditioning, mankind has enjoyed the diverse habitat found in and around Turnbull Bay, Spruce Creek Preserve and the Atlantic Ocean. Spruce Creek is an ecological showcase. Located adjacent to the Turnbull Bay Golf Club, The preserve contains a unique, natural blackwater stream that courses through the Spruce Creek Basin. There are few examples of this type of river left undisturbed in Florida. The term “blackwater” refers to the tannic acid staining caused by the swampy vegetation in the low-lying upper reaches of the creek. The navigable portion of the river itself begins as a shallow cypress swamp some ten miles upstream from it’s confluence with the Halifax river. This swamp gives way to a narrow stream that very gradually broadens downstream into Strickland Bay. As the river courses towards the coast, the associated aquatic habitats gradually change from typical freshwater hardwood swamp to freshwater marsh to saltwater marsh and mangrove swamp in a classic estuarine ecosystem. Spruce Creek enjoys a Class III water quality rating, and an Outstanding Florida Waters designation due to its relatively undisturbed condition, and is also designated as an official State Canoe trail. This natural area lends itself well to environmentally related research and educational activities. The river is host to a variety of endangered species and special wildlife areas, including: crab/shrimp nursery areas, diverse fish and invertebrate breeding and nursery areas, nesting areas for birds such as the American Oyster Catcher, the Yellow-Crowned Night Heron, the Florida Sandhill Crane, and a great variety of raptors, Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers, and the endangered wood stork. The rare Atlantic salt marsh snake has been observed, and of course, many Alligators. It is this diversity in aquatic habitat, flora and fauna that makes Spruce Creek and Turnbull Bay such a unique natural resource. The biological diversity and contrast between upstream and downstream areas in the Spruce Creek and Turnbull Bay watersheds make this an extremely unique, natural area that is ideal for many types of recreational uses such as boating, fishing, bird watching, canoeing, hiking and of course golf.