Canoe and kayak anglers wade and fish in nicely protected Johnson Cree. Lots of Oyster bars here.

There are probably more unnamed creeks on Florida’s Big Bend than there are ones with names. The named ones near the town of Suwannee include Little Trout, Big Trout, Barnett, Dan May, Moccasin, Hog Island, Salt, Double Barrel, Bumblebee, Sanders, Johnson and Shired Creeks, heading south to north. All of these creeks and their “no-name” cousins, with their winding courses, oyster bars, deep holes and mud flats, are magnets for spotted seatrout and redfish in winter.

Not that the Suwannee area creeks are physically different than others along the Big Bend, but many veterans believe that proximity to the steady, freshwater outflow of the Suwannee River improves the fishing. Others are convinced that the reds and trout like to hide in the river’s deeper holes on the coldest days and then venture out to the shallower creeks as the weather warms. I think both are factors, yet I’m always surprised to find trout, particularly, in the fresh water of the river the first day or two after a major cold front passes.

Few local creeks are as well-marked as Salt Creek.

I also think Suwannee’s Gulf creeks produce lots of winter fish for the simple reason that they’re relatively easy to access. All the above-mentioned creeks are within a 5- or 6-mile radius of protected, comfortable boat launches, making the whole experience, while sometimes frigid, an easy one. Worth mentioning are Suwannee’s two full-service marinas, Miller’s and Suwannee Marina. Both have adequate launching ramps, fuel, bait, tackle and ice, as well as lots of local knowledge. The town is about 24 miles from US 19/98, at the end of State Route 349; it’s a comfortable day trip from Gainesville, and not out of the question for Tallahassee and Tampa-area anglers. Good fishing spots in the creeks vary day-to-day, so it never hurts to ask around about the bite.

An advertisement many years ago stated, “Getting there is half the fun.” At Suwannee, yes...and no. Marina owner and lifelong resident Bill Miller, Jr. advises, “The harder it is to get into one of our creeks, the better the fishing will be.” I’m always surprised to see large bay and small offshore boats in some of these creeks in the winter. However, my impression is that the fish tend to concentrate in the deep holes and sloughs as the tide falls, and this is not a place to be in a bigger boat when the tide runs out. Gainesville fishermen Charlie Courtney and Bernie Fowler rigged up aluminum johnboats with jet-drive outboards, pretty much just to fish Suwannee’s creeks. For the farthest reaches, some anglers prefer airboats, but they’re probably not a necessity. You can usually find good numbers of fish in the more accessible parts of the major creeks.

Barrier bars at the creekmouths are often productive on warmer days, but you’ll need to be careful to avoid grounding or damaging your boat. Most Gulf creeks near Suwannee have these bars across their mouths. There are several, including the “no name” creek locals call Powerline Creek, which are almost foolproof. These are perfect places to begin your Suwannee adventure.

There are black bass in the upper reaches of some creks closer to the main river, particularly Dan May Creek.

Salt Creek is easy to find. Just run out the Suwannee River until you see the sign marking the channel. Salt Creek is the only creek near here with a marked channel, and you’ll be able to maintain a safe cruising speed for most of it. There has been some recent shoaling and the channel shallows near marker 12, so be careful and slow down here. Once you approach the end of the marked channel, you’ll have to reduce speed, but that’s the time to start fishing anyway. Try fishing under some of the docks, and then move on to fish the deep pockets near the creek’s edges and bars. This is pretty much a small-boat creek and not one to be stranded in. If caught by the tide, I guess you could always wade over and have a nice meal at Salt Creek Restaurant, a Suwannee favorite!