Overnight trips on the loxahatchee river start out in the fresh/brackish section at the headwaters of the loxahatchee river. Trips leaving out of the famous Riverbend / Battle Field park will experience one of Florida’s truly unique gems as they paddle through a lush green canopy covered river.
Manatees, otters, gators, and herons are just a few of the rivers everyday inhabitants, along with countless aquatic plant and other animals species.
The river is home to four different subspecies of snook (common, fat, tarpon-snook and swordspine) and all four can found throughout the headwaters. Juvenile tarpon, largemouth bass and even the bigmouth sleeper goby are commonly caught on this stretch of river.
The river flows at a slow and steady pace throughout the wet season. Launching from Riverbend Park and “going with the flow” towards Jonathan Dickinson you will encounter two official portage areas with benches and kayak ramps, perfect for eating lunch, or taking a swim to cool off. Once passed the second damn you have almost made it to the famous “trapper Nelsons interpretive site.” Here you can explore old Florida and get an idea of what living out here was once like. Trapper Nelsons marks the half way point between Riverbend and Jonathan Dickinson State Park.
Camp is established ahead of time and waiting for you at Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Here you will be treated to an open fire meal and get the required rest for the next days adventure, sight casting to large snook in the Jupiter Lagoon backwaters.
Thanks to popular social media personalities the Jupiter Lagoon has become a world renowned destination for its large snook, up to and over 40 inches in length!
The tannic waters that pervade the snaking mangrove canals and estuaries of the Jupiter lagoon and lower loxahatchee river forks provide the perfect environment for rearing monster snook.
Guides poll or troll along docks and mangrove shore lines, or stake up along transitional points and coves, in search of sight casting opportunities on these large, extremely smart and sometimes spooky fish.