Peace RiverWe usually get to Peace River once a year with the YMCA Adventure Guides. We camp along the river’s edge at the Peace River Campgrounds (
http://www.peacerivercampground.com
).
The Peace River is fantastic. This nice leisurely trip invites you to partake in many different fun family activities. Sift for shark teeth!THE KID’S LOVE THIS! That’s right, pull your canoe off to the river’s edge, take out your sifter, scoop up some of that river gravel, shake and pick out shark teeth! Ok, you might have to do it once or twice, but we have NEVER failed! You may even come across some bones from a saber-tooth tiger or the tooth of a mammoth. My daughter once pulled out an Indian bead!Fishing is fantastic.My son and I nailed a nice bass right off of the campsite on our first cast. This little write-up that is provided by the Florida Conservation Organization ( http://www.floridaconservation.org/fishing ) says it all:Peace River (Polk, Hardee, Desoto, and Charlotte Counties): This scenic river runs south for over 100 miles from Lake Hancock, north of Bartow to Charlotte Harbor. Popular with canoeists, the Peace River offers excellent fishing for largemouth bass, bream, and catfish. Snook weighing over 30 pounds migrate from Charlotte Harbor and are caught year round as far north as Fort Meade. Bass, snook, and catfish prefer deep holes around tree snags where flow is strong. Tarpon are also caught in the lower Peace River. Water Gun Fights!Load’m’up…ready aim FIRE! When we go with the Adventure Guides, we bring along an arsenal of super soakers…be prepared…you WILL get wet! Our trip last several hours, so there are plenty of opportunities to get your friends wet!Picnic!There are many beautiful spots along the river to stop and have some lunch. I suggest bringing lunch in a water proof container. Stop along the way, understand that there is private property and you may have to move (although this has never happened to us.)Further Reading:2004, Florida’s Fabulous Canoe and Kayak Trail Guide, Ohr, T, World Publications. This is a great guide to canoe and kayak trails all over the state.2001, Paddler’s Guide to the Sunshine State, Huff, University Press of Florida. Another very well written guide, with very interesting information, (i.e. A little history lesson about the Peace River!)
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