River and Stream Fishing

River and Stream Fishing Areas

• Apalachicola National Forest

  

  The Apalachicola National Forest is home to some of the most unique animal and plant species in the world. Here, visitors can enjoy safe, family-friendly activities such as fishing, hunting, hiking and trail-riding while surrounded by tranquil, diverse ecosystems.

   

• Apalachicola River

  

  Forming the western boundary of the forest, the Apalachicola is a wide, curving river rolling down to Apalachicola Bay. It has the highest diversity of freshwater fish species in the state, which translates to some of the best fishing in Florida's Panhandle. The numerous creeks and tributaries feeding into the Apalachicola offer scenic runs with deep, quiet pools.

• Big Gully Landing
• Cotton Landing
• Hickory Landing
• Kennedy Creek
• Owl Creek
• River Styx
• Smith Creek Landing
• White Oak Landing
• Clear Lake Wilderness Study Area
• Mud Swamp/New River Wilderness
• Magnolia Landing
• Ochlockonee River

  The Ochlockonee River splits the forest in half, running from Lake Talquin north of the forest down to the bay, navigable throughout its length for most of the year.

  Boating -- Motorized and Non-motorized

  • Small motorboats can take advantage of the excellent fishing on the Ochlockonee by boat launches (called landings) at Highway 20, Pine Creek, Whitehead Lake, Revell, Mack, Hitchcock Lake and Wood Lake.
  • Canoes and kayaks may also launch from these sites.

  Camping

  • Camping, water and restroom facilities are available at Whitehead Lake, Mack Landing and Wood Lake. All of these sites are hunt camps during hunting season (December-January).
• Hitchcock Lake
• Mack Landing
• Pine Creek Landing
• Revell Landing
• Whitehead Landing
• Wood Lake
• Prospect Bluff Historic Sites
• Sopchoppy River

  With its headwaters arising on the Apalachicola National Forest, the Sopchoppy River is a local favorite with non-motorized paddlers.

  Boating - Non-motorized

  • Although some hardy paddlers put in at the top of Bradwell Bay Wilderness on Forest Highway 13 and paddle the six miles down to Forest Road 346, low flows and twisty turns can make this a challenging trip.

  The U.S. Geological Survey stream gage at Oak Park Bridge on Forest Road 346 should read between 10 and 14 feet before this upper section is considered for paddling.
  
  Below Oak Park Bridge, the Sopchoppy continues its tortuous meandering before becoming a larger blackwater river above the sleepy town of Sopchoppy. From there it is a much easier paddle to the boat ramps at the Sopchoppy City Park or the Ochlockonee River State Park.

• Upper Sopchoppy River
• Ocala National Forest

  

  Nestled between well-known theme parks and white, sandy beaches, the jewels of the Ocala National Forest attract visitors from around the world.

  A travel destination in its own right, the Ocala features more than 600 lakes and rivers where visitors enjoy swimming, fishing, snorkeling, canoeing and boating.

  From migratory birds and playful manatees to delicate freshwater springs and some of the world's rarest plants, the Ocala is a haven where people (and animals) escape to one of Florida's remaining wild places. Here, opportunities abound for all to bask in the wonders of Mother Nature 365 days a year.

   

• Alexander Run
• Timucuan Trail
• Davenport Landing Trail

  Enjoy a 1.2-mile round-trip interpretive hiking trail that leads to a former 19th century steamboat port. This location is where riverboats headed up to Silver Springs would stop for fuel. Along the way, you'll learn about middens along the Ocklawaha River and encounter the Civil War-era gravesite of Thomas Cassidy Fillyaw. 

  The Davenport Landing Trail leads into a lush river bottom forest with many colorful wildflowers during the spring and summer months. In late fall and early winter, sweetgum and red maple trees turn bright hues of crimson and gold and shed their leaves across the landscape.

  Boating

  • Paddle your canoe or kayak across the beautiful waters of Davenport Lading in search of a quiet spot along the shoreline. 

  Fishing

  • Sitting along the Ocklawaha River, this is the perfect location to cast a line from the shallows for a chance to catch that big one. Just keep an eye out for any alligators that may be roaming the area. 

  Hiking

  • The Davenport Landing Trail is a 0.6-mile interpretive walk to a former steamboat landing along the Ocklawaha River (1.2 mile round-trip). Since it is within the river's floodplain area, expect a high concentration of mosquitoes and dress / prepare accordingly.

  Interpretive Area 

  • In addition to leading you to the site of a historic steamboat landing, interpretive information along the Davenport Landing Trail includes middens along the Ocklawaha River from the Timucuan period as well as a Civil War-era gravesite.

  Primitive Camping 

  • Many people enjoy this solitude and primitive experience, but knowing your limits, skills and abilities is a must. Following certain rules and regulations will help make your experience safer and ensure settings remain unspoiled.  
• Juniper Prairie Wilderness

  Protecting the heart of the Big Scrub, the 14,283-acre Juniper Prairie Wilderness is perhaps the best known of the four wilderness areas in the Ocala National Forest thanks to its frontage and prominent signage on SR 40 - the Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway - and SR 19.
  
  As a wilderness area, it remains roadless, untouchable by motorized vehicles or equipment. This special designation provides certain challenges in a flammable habitat such as the sand pine scrub for which our forest is famous, since firefighting options are limited. As a result, portions of the wilderness may seem denuded after a forest fire. But the scrub regenerates quickly, pushing up saw palmetto and young sand pines to provide shade and habitat for wildlife.

  The wilderness contains a mosaic of habitats bound together by the flow of open prairies, many with ponds, across the landscape. By hiking, backpacking or paddling through the wilderness, you can enjoy the flora and fauna of pine flatwoods, hardwood swamps, shallow lakes, grassy prairies, sand pine scrub, oak scrub, sinkholes and sawgrass marsh.

  Backpacking

  • Backpacking is one of the more popular ways to see the Juniper Prairie Wilderness.
  • A portion of the Florida Trail traverses the entire Juniper Prairie Wilderness between Juniper Springs and the Pat's Island Trailhead, with side trails to the historic Pat's Island settlement along the Yearling Trail (signposted) and to Juniper Run (unmarked).
  • Fans of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’ book "The Yearling" know that Pat's Island, at the northeastern corner of the wilderness, was settled by the Long family around 1840. The historic settlement is where portions of the 1949 movie starring Gregory Peck was filmed and is accessible from the Yearling Trail across from Silver Glen Springs on SR 19.

  Boating

  • Canoeing is a great way to see the variety of ecosystems and abundance of wildlife in the Juniper Prairie Wilderness. 
  • The canoe rental at Juniper Springs Recreation Area provides paddlers with the opportunity to explore the wilderness by water with a haul back to your starting point.
  • Visitors can bring their own canoe or kayak and put in at Juniper Springs for a launch fee. To self-shuttle, limited parking is available at the Juniper Wayside along SR 19 for take-out.

  Camping

  • The prime overnight destination is Hidden Pond. This backcountry camping area has no amenities but is situated on a ridge between a spring-fed pond and a broad wet prairie, providing natural air-conditioning when a breeze sweeps across either watery landscape. When it's not general gun hunting season, you're welcome to pitch your tent anywhere under the stars. 

  Nature Viewing

  • On a paddling trip down the seven-mile canoe run, you might glimpse alligators, wading birds, deer, snakes, raccoons, fox, and even wild boars.
• Salt Springs Run
• Volusia Wharf Boat Ramp
• Osceola Wildlife Management Area