The Choctawhatchee River: 96 Florida Miles From the Alabama Line to the Bay

Florida's third largest river by flow, rising in south Alabama. Bream and bass in the upper reaches, stripers on the tide at the lower end, and Choctaw bass in Holmes Creek.

Written by Atlas Editorial · Last updated November 12, 2026

The Choctawhatchee River rises in southern Alabama and flows about 96 miles through Florida to Choctawhatchee Bay. The state says fishing is best when the river is low and within its banks.

Choctawhatchee River — with Holmes Creek, its spring-fed tributary

Before you go

The Choctaw bass, a relative of the largemouth that was once called a spotted bass, lives only in streams of lower Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. The state asks anglers to release them. On Holmes Creek it lists three paddle outfitters: Snaggy Bend Outfitters, 850-535-2004; Holmes Creek Canoe Livery, 850-210-7001; and Old Cypress Canoe, 850-388-2072.

Segment 1

Main river: Alabama line to Choctawhatchee Bay

A big river that fishes best when it is low and inside its banks. The state lists boat access at US 90 at Caryville and State Road 20 at Ebro, several landings and a bait shop along River Road off State Road 20 east of Bruce, and, for the lower river, State Road 394 off US 331 south of Freeport.

Species on this reach

Bluegill and redear sunfish

Off the spawning beds in spring, and along banks lined with deadfalls and snags the rest of the year. Crickets and wigglers; many locals swear by catalpa worms. The mid to upper reaches hold the bigger bream.

Largemouth bass

Crankbaits, spinnerbaits and plastic worms all through the system. Big bass hold around treetops and snags in the mid and upper river and along the sawgrass flats near the mouth.

Striped bass and sunshine bass

Excellent in spring and fall in the lower end. Finger mullet, live shad and shad-like lures on the outgoing tide at dusk or dawn, around sandbars and points.

Choctaw bass

Above Highway 20, on spinnerbaits, plastic worms, live bait and crayfish lures cast to fallen trees in fast water. 12-inch minimum; release is recommended.

Flathead catfish

Deep bends and snags, on live sunfish caught by hook and line. Not native; the state encourages keeping them.

Access points

Bear Hewitt Landing — Bonifay, Holmes County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.81490, -85.83908.
Cerrogordo Landing — Westville, Holmes County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.83546, -85.87854.
Cork Harris Landing Public Boat Ramp — Bonifay, Holmes County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.80235, -85.82847.
Curry Ferry Public Boat Ramp — Bonifay, Holmes County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.91857, -85.85173.
East Pittman Creek Landing — Bonifay, Holmes County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.94754, -85.84298.
Old Warehouse Landing (Baker Landing) — Westville, Holmes County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.89055, -85.88190.
Berrian Lake Landing I (aka. Coon Bottom Landing) — Ponce De Leon, Walton County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.69385, -85.86622.
Bruce / Ebro Landing Public Boat Ramp (Old - Replaced by Cowford Boat Ramp) — Ponce De Leon, Walton County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.45123, -85.89903.
Cedar Log Landing Public Boat Ramp — Ponce De Leon, Walton County. 1-lane ramp. Launch fee. GPS 30.67978, -85.87621.
Commander's Landing — Ponce De Leon, Walton County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.61995, -85.91063.
Cowford Public Boat Ramp and Park (aka. Ebro / Bruce Landing) — Ponce De Leon, Walton County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.45057, -85.89929.
Dead River Landing Park — Ponce De Leon, Walton County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.54198, -85.89045.
Steele Field Landing Pay Ramp — Vernon, Walton County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.37638, -86.02321.
Boynton Landing Recreation Area Boat Ramp — Vernon, Washington County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.52395, -85.87113.
Caryville Public Boat Ramp — Caryville, Washington County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.77515, -85.82654.
Cedar Tree Landing Public Boat Ramp — Ebro, Washington County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.47041, -85.87556.
Douglas Ferry - Billy Lee Park - Hinson Crossroads — Caryville, Washington County. 2-lane ramp. GPS 30.66934, -85.87006.
Jenkins Landing Public Boat Ramp — Vernon, Washington County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.58081, -85.88822.

Seasonal notes

Spring: bream on the beds, stripers on the lower river. Hot weather: stay out of backwater sloughs that run low on oxygen and fish the confluences. Fall: stripers and sunshine bass pick up as the river cools and head for the lower river and bay; watch for fish striking bait on the surface. No dated catch report is published that we can cite.

Regulations

Striped bass, sunshine bass and white bass: 20 a day in total, of which only 3 may be striped bass, and each striped bass must be 18 inches or longer. No size limit on sunshine or white bass. Choctaw bass: 12-inch minimum length.

Always verify current statewide and lake-specific rules at /regulations/ before fishing.

Segment 2

Holmes Creek

A major spring-fed tributary with several boat access points along State Road 277 at Vernon and State Road 79. Bream are abundant: longear sunfish, spotted sunfish (stumpknockers), redbreast sunfish and warmouth.

Species on this reach

Redear sunfish and bluegill

Big shellcracker along the channel side of water lily beds; excellent-size bluegill and redear on worms and crickets around brush and submerged vegetation along the bank.

Choctaw bass

Caught in Holmes Creek on the same baits used for largemouth. 12-inch minimum; release is recommended.

Black crappie

Pick up as the water cools in fall. Small minnows around brush piles in 10 to 18 feet, or 1/32 and 1/64 ounce jigs.

Access points

Brunson Landing Public Boat Ramp — Vernon, Washington County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.60900, -85.75675.
Burnt Sock Landing Canoe Launch — Bonifay, Washington County. Hand launch. GPS 30.66909, -85.66232.
Cotton Landing Canoe Launch — Vernon, Washington County. Hand launch. GPS 30.65589, -85.68097.
Culpepper Landing Public Boat Ramp — Vernon, Washington County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.64933, -85.69008.
Fanning Branch (Two Creek) Park Public Boat Ramp — Vernon, Washington County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.60668, -85.74697.
Hightower Landing — Vernon, Washington County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.60520, -85.76517.
Live Oak Landing — Vernon, Washington County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.59019, -85.83892.
Potter Springs Public Boat Ramp (Not Paved) — Vernon, Washington County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.53711, -85.85943.
Shell Landing (Holmes Creek) Public Boat Ramp — Vernon, Washington County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.53820, -85.86248.
Spurling Landing Gravel Boat Ramp (Small Boats Only) — Vernon, Washington County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.60641, -85.80756.
Strickland Landing Park and Boat Ramp — Vernon, Washington County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.56901, -85.84539.
Vernon Park (C.E. Miller Landing) Public Boat Ramp — Vernon, Washington County. 1-lane ramp. GPS 30.63057, -85.70993.

Seasonal notes

The state's forecast is for fall: bream on worms and crickets along the shoreline, and crappie improving as the water cools. No dated catch report is published that we can cite.

Regulations

Choctaw bass: 12-inch minimum length. Live sunfish may be used as bait only if caught on hook and line, and not on bush hooks or trotlines.

Always verify current statewide and lake-specific rules at /regulations/ before fishing.

Fishing regulations, generation schedules, and water conditions change. Alabama Fishing Atlas provides informational content only. Verify all regulations with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources before fishing, keeping any fish, or launching watercraft. We are not liable for decisions made based on information published here. Full disclaimer →

Data sources

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Choctawhatchee River — https://myfwc.com/fishing/freshwater/sites-forecasts/nw/choctawhatchee-river/ (description, access, limits and forecast; checked 2026-11-12)
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Boat Ramp Inventory — https://gis.myfwc.com (ramp names, positions, lanes; retrieved 2026-11-12)

Data last reviewed: 2026-11-12