62 Beach L i fe Experiences Choctawatchee River
“ We have a large time out here on the river ,” he says as his boat begins to work its way upriver . He points out a sunning turtle , a bald eagle ’ s nest , and a heron taking flight ahead .
“ There were no bald eagles here . Absolutely none . I started seeing them in the 1980s . Now , I know of 16 bald eagle nests . We have a much healthier ecosystem . The ospreys are plentiful , and we have otters now , which are a great indicator of clean water .”
Capt . Andy began giving these tours in 2014 and is now joined by alternate Capt . Jimmy Parris , which works well because Capt . Andy can now point out sights and curiosities while Capt . Jimmy navigates . Most tours wind their way up to a captivatingly quiet cut-through that runs deep into the swamp , past old cypress stands . Capt . Andy explains these perfectly straight waterways are remnants from the 1800s when men with oxen-pulled carts would travel deep into the swamp to cut cypress and timber , which would then be floated downriver .
Instead of the usual 3-hour tour , we ’ re in for something a bit more special — an all-day adventure that works its way up into Bay County and to a small spring that feels like a local secret .
Along the way , the river widens , and riverfront fish camps , bed and breakfasts , and ramshackle houseboats
dot the shoreline . A kingfisher swoops by a rope swing , and we strain our necks looking for giant sturgeons beneath the water .
“ How do you like my river ?” he yells over the roar of the motor . “ Can you believe how few people are on it ?”
As we get closer to the spring , the riverbank begins to change , and we notice pale pink and white wildflowers lining the ancient limestone shores . These shores give way to unbelievably wide cypress ; we glide silently past one that is as wide as a refrigerator is tall . Within the new cypress growth and lumpy , bumpy landscape of the swamp , tiny white wildflowers bloom . It feels as though we ’ ve somehow slipped from an angler ’ s paradise into a quiet fairyland .
Capt . Jimmy skillfully guides our boat through a shallow , narrow waterway lined with these mammoth cypress that leads to the spring . Once at the spring , we dock on a small sand beach and stare , amazed , at the bubbling , crystal-clear water in front of us .
“ We love to show off our favorite places ,” Capt . Jimmy says as he hands out the paddles for the SUP boards . Capt . Andy never wastes an opportunity at the springs and gamely jumps into the 68-degree water .
“ I like to stay in one spot with a mask ,” he explains . “ You ’ d be amazed at what goes by you !”