... you can find gators, birds and nude sunbathers. This gator along the river was as long as my kayak. ... Special to the Record-Eagle photos/Mike TerrellLimestone cliffs line much of the upper Suwannee River. Turtles enjoy the Florida sunshine.

Is it okay to swim in the Suwannee River?

The Gulf sturgeon is a protected species of fish that is found in the Suwannee River and its tributaries. Swimming in the water with them is not dangerous. However, they do jump out of the water and serious injuries to boaters have occurred.

What animals live in the Suwannee River?

The historic Suwannee River, featured in the song by Stephen Foster, is home to many native species like whitetail deer, gray fox, otter, eagles, and the endangered salt marsh vole.

Is Suwannee River safe?

The river waters are not safe for contact during recreational use at this time. ... People are urged to avoid contact with water in the Withlacoochee River and the impacted areas of the Suwannee River. Water contaminated with wastewater overflow presents several health risks to humans.

Is the Suwannee River contaminated?

Officials say recent testing shows the release has moved into the Withlacoochee River and the contaminated water will enter the Suwannee River. ... Water contaminated with sewage overflow presents several health risks to humans. Untreated human sewage with microbes could cause gastrointestinal issues and other conditions.

Kayak Suwannee River and the American Alligator

How often does the Suwannee River flood?

At Lafayette Blue Springs State Park, the river has approximately a one-in-five chance of flooding in any given year. Three of the natural communities found within the park are often completely inundated with water, regardless of the season.

Can you fish in the Suwannee River?

Fishing is excellent on the Suwannee River. We have Large Mouth Bass, Suwannee Bass, Mullet, Bream (Blue Gill, Sun Fish) and Channel Catfish.

Are there sturgeon in the Suwannee River?

Living with Sturgeon

Gulf sturgeon are present in the Suwannee River as well as most other rivers in Northwest Florida, including the Apalachicola, Choctawhatchee, Yellow, Blackwater, Escambia, Pearl and Pascagoula. The sturgeon's roots go back 200 million years.

Is the Suwannee River freshwater?

A satellite image offers inky evidence of the organic-rich freshwater that the Suwannee River delivers to the Gulf of Mexico.

Are there snakes in the Suwannee River?

Timber rattlesnakes are only found in Northeast Florida, from the Suwannee River down into Volusia County. They prefer floodplain forests and other moist places. They are smaller in size than the diamondback rattlesnake, with adults ranging three to five feet.

Are there crappie in the Suwannee River?

As a result, North Central Florida rivers like the Suwannee, Santa Fe and St. ... Other places where crappie are traditionally found on a river include the down-current side of objects like stumps, logs, drifts, rockpiles, or even a point.

Are there blue crabs in the Suwannee River?

In the lower, tidal reaches of the Suwannee River the blue crab is taken by this species.

Where is the mouth of the Suwannee River?

The flow of the river is replenished along its way by numerous fresh water springs. The river's mouth is just south of the fishing village of Suwanee on the Gulf of Mexico.

Why is the Suwannee River famous?

The Suwannee River is a federally designated wild river. It is the only major waterway in the southeastern United States that is still unspoiled. The Suwannee flows from the Okefenokee Swamp in southern Georgia to the Gulf of Mexico in Florida.

How many springs are on the Suwannee River?

With more than 300 documented springs (PDF), the Suwannee River Water Management District ( SRWMD ) has one of the highest concentrations of freshwater springs in the United States.

Why is the water in the Suwannee River Black?

Originating at its headwaters in the Okefenokee Swamp in southeastern Georgia, the Suwannee River flows south and southwest to the Gulf of Mexico. The river derives its tannic color from decaying vegetation in the Okefenokee Swamp and maintains a black tint as it flows south.

What is the average depth of the Suwannee River?

Depths in the Suwannee Sound average 6.6 feet, with depths to about 20 feet in the river channels of East and West passes (Figure 2-20).

How do you fish in the Suwannee River?

Plastic baits, rigged Weedless, can catch bass in the pads of inside shallow banks. Live shiners can be fished into brush piles from upstream by letting them float downstream. Small bass will hit a fly or a small floater-diver fished along the bank in the Suwannee. The estuary is also productive.

Can sturgeon hurt you?

Unlike sharks - who are natural predators and attack their prey, sturgeon aren't aggressive. Strikes are simply accidental collisions. But sturgeon can grow to 11 feet and weigh over 1,000 pounds, so a strike is like being hit by a truck.

How high can sturgeons jump?

A good jump can power a big fish 6-9 feet into the air. You have to be quick to get a photo; hang time is only about a second. But an accomplished jump by a big old Suwannee River Gulf sturgeon is impressive, a magnificent display of power.

Is it illegal to fish for sturgeon?

Sturgeon are the largest freshwater fish in North America; they can grow to be over 1000 pounds and they can live 100 years or more. California is home to both white and green sturgeon though it is illegal to catch and keep the green species.

What kind of fish are in the Suwannee River in Florida?

More than 60 species of fish are found in the Suwannee River basin. Minnows, suckers, chain pickerel, longnose gar, Florida gar, bowfin (mudfish), as well as catfish and bullheads are common. Sport fishing is quite popular on rivers and lakes in the District.

Are there bass in rivers?

Bass fishing is usually good in the spring, winter and fall on most lakes, but the prime times for most rivers are summer and fall. ... When a river is on the rise, bass move to the shallows and spread out in newly flooded cover, which makes it difficult to find these moving fish.

What is Swan fish?

Swai fish is a type of white fish with a mild flavor and flaky texture. It's a freshwater fish that's native to Vietnamese rivers and a type of catfish. It's also called Vietnamese catfish, basa fish and iridescent shark, but it's neither a basa nor a type of shark.