Fenholloway River Access Rock Islands

[GoneGator]

Does anyone know the existance and condition of a ramp on the Fenholloway River. I am wanting to fish the Rock Island area and the run from Econfina is over 10 miles. From the Fen it would be much shorter is possible to launch and navigate in a skiff. Also, have heard of sea grass die off in mouth of Fenholloway, does anyone have details on this and how far it extends east or west?

[CSMarine]

Gator, this is not the answer to the question you asked, but interesting just the same. Most of my family still lives in Perry. All have contaminated wells and cannot drink the water.

"But the damage from the pollution in the Fenholloway isn't restricted to the river itself or the surrounding groundwater.

At its Gulf of Mexico delta, the polluted water is too dark, salty and sulfur-tinged for natural sea grass growth, wiping out a prosperous fish and wildlife breeding ground that typically occurs when fresh and salt water mix. About 17 square miles of the gulf are left virtually lifeless by Fenholloway pollution, said Robert "Skip" Livingston, a Florida State University biologist who has studied the river for 30 years.

Those sea grass marshes are critical to the entire life cycle in the gulf. Plankton live in sea grass bed, attracting small fish that then attract larger fish, birds and other sea life and mammals. The endangered manatees that typically enter fresh water rivers during the winter avoid the Fenholloway"

[GoneGator]

Thanks CS, so I have read about the grass. Back in 97 I spent almost the whole summer fishing out of Econfina and East to Rock Island. The fishing and grass was good there (then) so I am curious about where this dead area is and where it extends geographically. I have fished out of Spring Warrior to the south and the bottom looks pretty good there also. Not too interested in eating Fen Fish, just catching!

[CSMarine]

To appreciate the grass bed loss in that area, you would have to fished it in the late 1960's or the early 1970's. I can remember the days when you could sit at the mouth of Spring Warrior or Yates Creek and look over what seemed to be miles and miles of prestine grass beds. They are virtually gone now, compared to then.
Those were also the days when a 200-250 Trout day was possible. Now we feel damn lucky if we can catch a limit of five in a day.
Sad to watch it vanish like that in my lifetime.

As an after thought, quite a few of my family who lived close the Fenhalloway have died of cancer. Including my sister who was 48 years old. The County condemed her well and provided bottled water one year before she died.

[GoneGator]

Darn, didn't mean to bring back any bad memories with my post CS, sorry to hear about your sister. I certianly don't remember it back then, my earliest memories were fishing between Crystal River and Wacasassa in the late 60's with my grandfather who lived in Dunnellon and I spent summers with. Started fishing the big bend in the early 90's. If you ever need a fishing partner for the area between Econfina and Keaton, please keep me in mind. I would like to know more about the area from someone that has fished it all their life.

[CSMarine]

Not bad memories gator. Good memories, of being a kid and living at places like Nut All Rise on the Aucilla, Spring Warrior Road, one mile from the creek, St. Marks for my last years of school. Worked for Mr. Curtis Shields, at Shields Marina after school and weekends. We lived across the road from the marina in one of his rental houses. My back yard ran down to the canal. Snorkling for artifacts and camping out at the Old Fort when it was just a big mound of dirt on the point. Being a kid and living within walking distance to the hwy 98 bridge over the Wakulla River. My Grandmother managed the Shell Point Marina and My Aunt managed the Shell Point Resturant at that time.
No Gator, great memories. Thanks for reminding me.

[Chalk]

Ramp is okay, not the best I have seen or the worst. If your going to fish west of Rock Island, you will either have to tip toe through the oyster beds north of the island or go around the island. Both can be done just take your time, unless you have a bigger boat, then I would go around.

[Fish Masterson]

Gator, I put in there once earlier this year and everything seemed fine,on the way out that is. We fished around until the tide left and when we headed back in we had a rough go of it. I have a very shallow draft, and we were scrubbing oyster bars on the bottom of the boat, not the motor, but the boat and we could'nt see them. I have never seen water so dark you could'nt see 6in to the bottom. When we finally made it to the ramp I could'nt believe my eyes. There was barely enough water to get the boat turned sideways in the creek. When the trailor was backed in far enough to attempt to load the boat it was nearly strait up and down. Luckily we just were able to winch the boat up on the trailor, but it was all we could muster.
After my experience there, I will welcome the ride over from Econfina with a smile. However, if your insistent on a shorter travel, then I would recomend trying the ramp at Hickory Mound. It will get shallow on a low tide also, but at least you can see to a depth to help you navigate around bars and such. It is however a long ride down a dirt and gravel road.
Either way, just my two cents, and good luck if you decide to try the Fen.
Fish Masterson

[Uncle Bob]

My experience with the boat ramps (there are two - Petterson & Hicks fish camp) is similiar to previous writers, although summer tides are not like winter tides. If the low on Rock Island tide chart is on the + side, getting in and out of Fenholloway is still very doable and better than coming from Econfina. Trout & Red fishing off Fenholloway is always good when I go and I have not had any concerns about eating fish. There has never been a fish advisory at the mouth and even the advisory in the river itself was removed by the Florida health department last year. The sea grass data shared in the earlier message has changed. Skip Livingston re-mapped sea grass in 2001 and his 2002 report indicated a 35% increase in sea grass coverage in the Fenholloway and the difference between the Fenholloway and Econfina had been reduced from 23 square kilometers to 7.5 square kilometers. Amazingly progress is being made!

[GoneGator]

Thanks all, that dark of water, oyster bars, and my new skiff Hmmmm.... think I'll pass on that idea, Hickory Mound sounds much better.

[rocket]

Uncle Bob,
I've fished that area a bit, and agree with you the trout, and reds are thick over there. However I am skeptical about eating fish from over there. If that water is not polluted, how do you explain that water being as dark as it is? Also the "Democrat" published an article about the Fenhollway being polluted a few weeks ago (take it for what it's worth).
I'm not disagreeing w/ you, I'm sure you have more time in that area than me. I was just having this discussion last week with a friend, and we were both curious.
Rocket

[BOWD UP]

I've gone several times out of the Fenholloway river with a guy who knows the area like the back of his hand, ua=sually at night. I've seen him run wide open between the oyster bars and the rocks, but I've also seen him reminded why they call it Rock Island. Let's just say the Honda wasn't stronger than the rock. I've seen plenty of grass west of the island around the bird rack, but if it's around the river..........not one person is going to see grass. As soon as you get close to the river you can smell the pollution form Buckeye papermill. I don't care about any article put out, that river is polluted. I've seen several gator with tumors around their eyes and mouths in that river. I've seen deer with 6 legs, and racoons with deformed legs around that river. I would hesitate to eat a fish remotely north of Spring Warrior.

On the positive side, I've seen more redfish stacked on the oyster bars and rocks there than any place else. I kow they call Mosquito Lagoon the, "Redfish Capital of the World," but I've seen 300+ redfish in a single pass over some of the rocks at night. I've seen myself and another guy catch 52 redfish in 3 hours there before. Just be careful around there. I know people who's never hit a rock, but I've met people that's lost lower units there before too.

[PerryFisherMan]

Rocket,

This is just my simplified answer to your question on what makes the Fenholloway dark. (Your question - However I am skeptical about eating fish from over there. If that water is not polluted, how do you explain that water being as dark as it is? Also the "Democrat" published an article about the Fenhollway being polluted a few weeks ago (take it for what it's worth). ).

The river is dark because of the same reason the Econfina is dark, it is tannins and other dark colored plant materials. The pulp mill in Perry essentially separates the fibers from the tree. They keep the fibers and sell them, but some of the rest of the tree's material makes it into the river and makes it dark. Just leave a piece of 2x4 in a bucket of water for a week and see how much "dark colored plant material" dissolves in the water. As I understand it, the plant is working on improving the clarity of the river to address the sea grass issue.