Suwannee River Florida

Closest Town:  Suwannee, Florida

Public Boat Access:  Many located along river including:  

Goronto Springs - Off SR 349 and Rock Sink Church Road

Hinton Landing - Off CR 317 

New Pine Landing - Off CR 349 and New Pine Landing Boulevard

Purvis Landing - Off CR 349 and Purvis Landing Road

Fishing Species:  Specializing in Largemouth Bass, Suwannee Bass and Black Crappie.  Bream, Catfish and Redbreast Sunfish also caught.

River Notes:  Connects to Gulf of Mexico.  Suwannee River bass fishing is a little-known commodity outside of the small river towns scattered throughout North Florida's Big Bend section. It includes plentiful, often cooperative bass that can be ambushed at the entrances of tidal creeks along the southern end of the river. Those largemouths run up to 11 pounds and hide along wooden structure that lines the banks. Farther north, rocks and wooded areas hold the unusual Suwannee bass, a feisty subspecies that patrols the shoreline. There are also crystal-clear springs where big bass go to spawn each year.  During the usually mild winter and spring months -- especially March and April -- the scenic river is home to some of the most dependable bass fishing anywhere.  The tidal section of the lower Suwannee, particularly creeks and ditches from the mouth of the river north to Fowler's Bluff, is especially popular among local bass enthusiasts. In these shallow tributaries, bass waylay baitfish from behind abundant wooden structure, as well as lily pads.  The Suwannee bass has a dark sublateral line that's imperfectly developed and aligned straight only at the base of the tail. It has a spot at the base of the tail and lateral blotches on its sides. Its lower anterior section can be bright blue, which is one of its most distinguishing characteristics.  Because of both its diminutive size and testy demeanor, the Suwannee bass provides the perfect sport for ultralight enthusiasts.  Crawfish are the main food item for bass in the whole river system, so anglers should fish accordingly. Plastic worms, lizards, and crawfish; jigs with orange skirts and pork rinds; and metallic crankbaits are all standard lures that catch fish in the river. While the scenery may change every 20 or 30 miles, the key to catching bass is the same. Deep structure, or shallow structure that has deep water nearby, is what anglers should always look for. Suwannee bass, more common in Santa Fe River, prefer current where water moves around cypress trees or in mid-river at low water levels. Changing depths will change location of current structure.  The lower Suwannee River moves more slowly and bass utilize shoreline cover of fallen trees and cypress trees on outer bends. 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.

Suwannee River Map    

 

Suwannee River Fishing Species

Suwannee River Largemouth Bass

Suwannee Bass

Suwannee River Black Crappie

Suwannee River Catfish

Suwannee River Redbreast Sunfish

Fishing The Suwannee River in Florida