Amongst the sprawling communities of Palm Beach County, Florida, there lies one remaining stronghold of what once was a truly wild ecosystem. The Loxahatchee River and its adjoining creeks and canals in Jupiter are a portal that sends visitors back into a time when the landscape was ruled by massive cypress and oak trees, dense undergrowth and big alligators. For outdoor enthusiasts, the Loxahatchee River is a place like no other in the area. Wild hogs, deer, and turkey are frequently spotted along the many hiking trails; bald eagles and other birds of prey are frequent visitors hunting for a new meal on the river; and for the angler, there exists a unique opportunity to catch tarpon, snook and largemouth bass all in the same section of river. This is due to the fact that the water in the Loxahatchee is a mixture of fresh and saltwater, and the farther up the river one travels the fresher the water becomes.
Starting at River Bend Park in Jupiter, one is capable of kayaking the entire length of the Loxahatchee River through Jonathan Dickenson State Park, which eventually will dump you into the Jupiter Inlet.
Large river tarpon and snook are frequently caught while hunting in the thick mangrove jungle seen along most of the river’s banks. Farther inland where the water is fresher, large bass can also be caught alongside both the tarpon and snook. The water throughout the river is a dark tannic color, so for lures, I like to throw small lures that have a black and gold pattern. Lately, I and other kayak anglers have had great success using Yo-Zuri’s line up of 3DS poppers in the holographic gold black and the Tennessee shad patterns. Working these baits close to the cypress stumps and lines of mangroves is guaranteed to provide plenty of topwater action on the river.
Other great baits to target snook, bass and tarpon are size 6 Rapala X-Raps or the 3DS Yo-Zuri minnow.
So whether you’re hunting for a unique angling experience or are someone just looking to slow down a bit and experience a little bit of the great outdoors, the area surrounding the Loxahatchee River offers the opportunity to see the breathtaking natural beauty found in the Sunshine State!