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Okefenokee Swamp

The Okefenokee is a shallow, 438,000-acre swamp along the Georgia–Florida line that offers a unique fishing experience in the largest blackwater swamp in the United States. The mystical black water of the swamp harbors excellent populations of chain pickerel, bowfin, flier, warmouth and bullhead catfish. Much of the Okefenokee, 402,000 acres, is managed as the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. The Okefenokee Swamp was named after the Choctaw phrase, "Land of the Trembling Earth." The Okefenokee was created by the natural accumulation of peat moss in a shallow basin. The St. Marys River and the Suwannee River both originate in the swamp, with the Suwannee River amounting to the flow of about 90% of the swamp's watershed southwest toward the Gulf of Mexico. The waters of the swamp's southeast corner flow out of the St. Marys River to the Atlantic Ocean.

Okefenokee Swamp Resources

Okefenokee Swamp Articles

The Baddest Bear­… Yet

At least the Global Positioning System—so now you know what GPS stands for—kens where they are. Even from a couple hundred or so miles skyward, it keeps up, spot-on, with the race. While we, somewhere or other in the vastnesses of the Okefenokee Swamp in Clinch County, can only go from experience in attempting to…

Public Input Sought On Proposed Okefenokee Refuge Expansion

The Southeast Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (The Service) is considering a proposal that would expand the boundary of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, adding approximately 22,000 acres adjacent to the existing refuge. The goals of the expansion include establishing a fuel reduction zone around the refuge to prevent the spread of…

Okefenokee Swamp Bream

There’s something downright special about the Okefenokee Swamp… a certain air about it, if you will. In a world moving faster than it ever has, the Okefenokee seems to stand timeless and silent. The silence is only interrupted by the chirping of the many species of birds and the occasional bellow of an alligator that…

Okefenokee Swamp Bluegill Sets Benchmark

On June 15, Josh Forsythe, of Homerville, managed to catch a big bluegill in the Okefenokee Swamp that has now been certified as the official GON Lake and River record for the area. Like many other record fish that are caught, failure turned to fortune on the trip. “I was fishing with Craig James, and…

Southeast Georgia Fishing Reports With Capt. Bert Deener – March 22, 2024

Even with the cold mornings early in the week, there have been some really good catches. The southeast Georgia rivers are still blown out for now. Okefenokee, ponds, and saltwater have been very good. Okefenokee Swamp: I had a couple good trips on the east side this week. Shelton Hunter from Florida fished with me…

Southeast Georgia Fishing Reports With Capt. Bert Deener – June 14, 2024

It’s going to be an awesome week as the various rivers drop into a range where the bite fires off. Choose the right spot and it will be lights out —miss it and you’ll make a bunch of fruitless casts.…

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Okefenokee Swamp Record Fish