It’s been more than 20 years since I first laid eyes on the Wekiva River. It was love at first sight. Nestled in between urbanized neighborhoods north of Orlando, this winding river is truly one of central Florida’s best-kept secrets. The surrounding forest is home to black bear, deer, night herons and limpkins, just to name a few. Curious otters frolic along the shore. Alligators and turtles line the path, lounging lazily on logs while soaking up the Florida sunshine.
The Wekiva River is also an angler’s paradise, and today I seek bass. An adventuresome spirit is required to pursue the big largemouth bass here. If you don’t mind wading through flats, motoring around submerged trees or sidestepping the occasional territorial alligator, this is the place for you.
After an hour of motoring, we finally reached our secret spot on some spawning flats. My husband Skip and I sat in our well-worn jonboat, gently bobbing in the river’s current. There was no need to talk. Nature supplied us with plenty of conversation; gators grunted from beneath lily pads, frogs croaked in unison, and a chorus of indigenous birds serenaded us from the shoreline. It was during this serene moment that I broke one of fishing’s fundamental rules: Never leave your rod unattended.
She struck when I least expected. I had laid my rod down to get comfortable. I should have known better. My rod jerked across the bottom of the boat, threatening to go overboard. I snatched it midair, rescuing it from flying over the side. The drag groaned in protest as I tightened my grip. That’s when I got the first glimpse of my adversary. She broke the surface, taunting me with her dance across the lily pads before diving deep and zigzagging through submerged debris. She was a beauty. Laden with eggs, she had an extra girth and an aggressive attitude.
I kept the line tight, the tip up and eventually wore her down. Before we could get her settled into our live well for a future photo op, Skip had already hooked another one. The bass were on fire. Before sun-up, we landed nine decent-sized largemouth bass and two super-sized monsters, all released safely back to the river.
As we motored for home, the morning sun was just beginning to peek through the cypress. We admired a river otter, playfully darting in and out of lily pads. Gators were now brazenly stretched across logs, taking full advantage of the heat. Deep in the canopy, we spotted a boat trolling slowly, bow fishing for tilapia. Another solo angler sat bobbing in a kayak and proudly held up a stringer of plate-sized pan fish.
Whether it’s sport fishing for bass, or grocery fishing for bream, tilapia and catfish, the river has it all. Take a break from the crowds and traffic to explore the real Florida. The Wekiva River offers a diverse environment, appropriate for serious anglers and nature enthusiasts alike. You will not be disappointed.
By Nici Haerter
Nici is a freelance writer, professional musician and avid angler. She may be contacted at www.harpbynici.com.