Are you in the mood to catch some striped bass? If so, you may want to point your vehicle’s tires towards the Sunshine State. After all, Florida is home to some mighty fine fishing spots. The other good news is I happen to know of several that are perfect places to snag a striper. Here’s a cursory breakdown of each one:
St. Mary’s River
In my experience, the St. Mary’s River is a super spot to wet one’s line in search of stripers. The river stretches through Georgia and Florida. Great bait options to consider utilizing along the St. Mary’s River include crabs, grass shrimp, crickets and mud minnows. Ideal spots to target are the I-95 Bridge and the river’s submerged timber.
Anglers in need of bait and tackle may want to stop by the Okefenokee Sportsman. It is located in Folkston, Georgia. Anglers that do decide to visit Folkston’s sports shop should also make it a point to stop by the Quick Chick for a box of deep fried chicken. It’s located just down the road from the sports shop. A boat launch area, campsites, bait and tackle are also available at the St. Mary’s River Fish Camp. It is located in Hilliard, Florida, which is less than a 15 minutes’ drive from Folkston.
Nassau River
The Nassau River is another place to think about wetting one’s line. It stretches through both Nassau and Duval Counties. It also connects with several other bodies of water including Thomas Creek and the St. Johns River. There are several places where anglers may access the river, most of which are located within the area’s parks. Superior spots to target stripers include Thomas Creek and Pearson Island. Other places that I would recommend visiting include the Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park and the Goffinsville-Nassau River Park. The Goffinsville-Nassau River Park location offers anglers access to a boat launch, a fishing pier and restrooms.
Apalachicola River
The Apalachicola River is also worthy of a striped bass angler’s consideration. In my opinion, the best place to look for stripers is towards the river’s headwaters near Lake Seminole. It sits on the Georgia-Florida border. There are also many marinas located around the Lake Seminole area that offer fishing supplies and overnight accommodations. The Seminole Lodge is one of them. It is located in Sneads. The lodge offers anglers access to boat slip rentals, a fish cleaning station, a boat launch, fishing supplies and boat fuel. Overnight accommodations are also available onsite. The most opportune times to target those areas tends to be the late fall and winter.
Ochlockonee River
I have found that the Ochlockonee River is an excellent place to catch striped bass as well. Part of the reason why is that the river converges with Lake Talquin. Lake Talquin is traditionally stocked with striped bass each year. One of the best places to stay near the dam is Ed and Bernice’s Fish Camp. It features a boat ramp area and onsite lodging opportunities. I’d suggest that anglers plan on visiting the river in the spring and summer. They tend to be productive fishing times. Areas to consider targeting at those times are the creek channels and the areas near the dam.
Yellow River
Last but not least, I’d suggest that anglers consider setting their sights on the lower reaches of the Yellow River. The area tends to yield great results. The river itself runs for 92 miles and connects with the Blackwater Bay. Baits that tend to prove productive are grass shrimp, shad-imitating lures and live mullet.
Source: Personal Experience
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