When paddling the Suwannee River it is time to be careful , the sturgeon will be spawning and jumping. No one knows why they jump , lots of speculation but no facts.
The danger zone of the Suwannee is from the Gulf of Mexico to Branford , a 47 mile area of the river. They jump in the rest of the river but the accidents between them and the boaters most often happen in that stretch. One reason is that Fanning Springs is about the mid way point of that 47 mile area , a popular boating and recreation area.
The time of the year for the jumping it from March to November before they return to the gulf. The like the areas in the river which are from 12 to 25 feet deep.
A sturgeon can weight up to 200 pounds and basically armor plated , there plates can cut and tear tissue. It is suggested to stay in the shallower water along the banks since they like the deeper water. Motor boats need the deeper water , paddlers can handle the shallower water.
As a happy thought.....if you don't think they can be dangerous. During the last two years one person was killed and 18 others injured when they struck one of the Sturgeons , they were motor boating or running jet skies.
The fish is placed , along with sharks , gators and sting rays on a list of Florida wildlife that pose a small but potentially serious threat to people. Sturgeons have inured more people then unprovoked gator attacks.
Think what one would do to a canoe if it jumped and landed on it or in it. I have seen them jumping and right after that 1st one I got out of the deeper water and paddled along the shore , there was more jumping in the deeper water and I was darn glad to not be there. Sure did not want a fish that size in the Canoe with my camping gear and me.
Chuck.
The danger zone of the Suwannee is from the Gulf of Mexico to Branford , a 47 mile area of the river. They jump in the rest of the river but the accidents between them and the boaters most often happen in that stretch. One reason is that Fanning Springs is about the mid way point of that 47 mile area , a popular boating and recreation area.
The time of the year for the jumping it from March to November before they return to the gulf. The like the areas in the river which are from 12 to 25 feet deep.
A sturgeon can weight up to 200 pounds and basically armor plated , there plates can cut and tear tissue. It is suggested to stay in the shallower water along the banks since they like the deeper water. Motor boats need the deeper water , paddlers can handle the shallower water.
As a happy thought.....if you don't think they can be dangerous. During the last two years one person was killed and 18 others injured when they struck one of the Sturgeons , they were motor boating or running jet skies.
The fish is placed , along with sharks , gators and sting rays on a list of Florida wildlife that pose a small but potentially serious threat to people. Sturgeons have inured more people then unprovoked gator attacks.
Think what one would do to a canoe if it jumped and landed on it or in it. I have seen them jumping and right after that 1st one I got out of the deeper water and paddled along the shore , there was more jumping in the deeper water and I was darn glad to not be there. Sure did not want a fish that size in the Canoe with my camping gear and me.
Chuck.
LOL