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Blackwater is a 58-mile long river that begins in Southern Alabama and flows to the Gulf of Mexico. The river features dark and tannic waters with a sandy bottom and banks. In fact, it is one of the purest sand-bottom rivers in the United States, which makes it popular for a wide range of outdoor activities like swimming, paddling, and fishing.
Blackwater River is home to a variety of fish including, largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie, bluegill, blue catfish, flier, river herring, redear sunfish, chain pickerel, and bowfin, gar as well as American and hickory shad. You can also get seatrout, redfish, mullet, warmouth, and croaker in the lower sections of the river.
Blackwater River particularly provides an excellent opportunity to catch bass. The most effective baits to use for this fish species include plastic worms and any spinner-type plug. Striped bass in the Blackwater River are stocked by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission with the aim of upholding a trophy fishery and reestablishing the species in areas from which they had virtually gone extinct.
You can find spawning bass around large woody debris and cypress knees, try using a fish finder to locate structure. The most effective baits for spawning fish are crankbaits, artificial worms, and bass jigs. Try to fish the lower river for the best results. You can easily access the lower sections of the river using boat ramps in Milton, including Carpenters Park, and Bagdad.
You can also find other boat ramps at Routes 611 and 603 of Route 258 in Isle of Wight Country. There’s also a double-lane boat ramp with bathroom facilities and paved parking in the City of Franklin. However, you are not allowed to fish on the courtesy piers at the City of Franklin boat ramp. Nonetheless, there’s plenty of bank fishing opportunities at the nearby Barrett’s Landing Park. You can find canoe access off Route 619, Route 189, and Route 620.
Anglers fishing in the Blackwater River are advised to be cautious and be on the lookout for submerged debris that resulted from Hurricane Ivan is September 2018. These submerged obstacles can be mainly found in areas that were unobstructed during the last summer.
To enjoy fishing in Blackwater River, you are required to have a Florida freshwater fishing license. You can purchase the license from county tax collectors, online at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website, over the phone, or from local agents.
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If you are looking for largemouth bass or bream, you have the best chance of success from late spring to early summer, especially fishing the lower Blackwater River. Springtime fishing can deliver the best results for hickory shad and American shad.
If you are interested in sunfish, the best time to fish would be during the full moon in May. For catfish, late summer and early would be your best bet. While fishing can prove difficult when temperatures and water levels rise in the summer months, you can still get impressive results fishing gar and bowfin.
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