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Fun Things to Do
5th Annual Fiddler Crab Festival®

February 15th - 17th, 2013

The Steinhatchee River Chamber of Commerce is gearing up to host its 5th Annual Steinhatchee Fiddler Crab Festival® and we welcome your participation in this exciting event. The Festival will be held February 15, 16 & 17, 2013 at the Steinhatchee Community Center, which overlooks the beautiful Steinhatchee River. We are meeting regularly now to plan all the details of this event and our desire is to make it as spectacular as possible for all our friends to enjoy

1013 Riverside Drive S.E. Steinhatchee, Florida

 Click here for a Downloadable Schedule of Events 

Some of the events will include:

Fiddler Crab Race – We will have 100 crabs for the races which will be staggered on Saturday only $5.00 each.

Photo Show – Students and Adult categories. $5 for one entry for adults, 3 for $10.00 or $15.00 for 5 or more. kids enter free. Ribbons awarded. There will be a $50.00 cash prize awarded for best of show.

Boot Artin’ - A fun new way to show off your “Steinhatchee Reeboks” (white rubber fishing boots). $5 entry. Visitors can vote for best entry by stuffing cash in the boot. Proceeds to benefit our local food bank. Trophy & ribbons awarded for top three.

Crafts – 10 X 10 booth. Bring your own canopy. $65+tax both days. Power available on a limited basis for small addt’l fee.

Food Vendors - Space size is 20 x 20. $260 +tax for the weekend, no extra charge for power.

River Tours – We will have boat tours of the Steinhatchee River. The trip can include up to six people. The fee will be $5/adult. Register at River Haven Marina, where tours will board. 

Entertainment – Fri and Sat evenings and Sat afternoon at River Haven Marina. Auditions for Suwannee River Jam. $10.00 one night $15.00 both nights. Click here for audition link.

Parade – The parade will include golf carts, horses, floats and lots more fun. We invite you to join in the parade. Line up is at 9:00 a.m. and parade starts at 10:00 a.m. No charge for entry. 

Camp Nemo – Kids area featuring touch tank, face painting, kids games and other activities.

“Swamp Water” One Pot Cook Off – Three categories, Soup, Stew and Chili. We would like to invite you to participate in this fun event & enter your soon-to-be famous recipe. Entry fee is $25.00 ($5 extra for electric). Cash prize for 1st-2nd place winners in each category, trophy for 3rd place with an over all best winner. Commemorative Mugs can be purchased for tasting. Also Peoples Choice Award. 

“Lots of Spots” Redfish Contest on Saturday. $15 entry fee, mandatory Capt’s meeting at Sea Hag. Click here for more information on this event.

2nd Annual Poker Run – on Sunday. Proceeds to benefit local Boys & Girls Club. Bigger and Better this year, not just for bikes, but walking, golf carts, and vehicles welcome. 

T-Shirts For Sale – In addition to our event T Shirts we will have a ladies cut shirt & ball caps.

 

Jena & Steinhatchee Fishing

Steinhatchee, Florida has always been a fisherman's paradise. The mouth of the Steinhatchee River, called Deadman's Bay since the 1830's, was the home to thousands of Native Americans. Early explorers wrote of large mounds of oyster and mussel shells along the banks of the Steinhatchee River. Early settlers told friends and relatives in far off places about the plentiful supply of fish and wild game found in the Steinhatchee area. —Sea Hag Marina, Steinhatchee, FL

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 Scalloping on Florida's Gulf Coast Big Bend!

Scalloping around Jena & Steinhatchee is one of the funnest  "fishing" methods for families and friends, and everyone participates. Finding them, then diving into the shallow water after them is a hoot for everyone!

Jena & Steinhatchee's inshore guides are experts at finding scallops; they can eliminate a lot of bad luck and wasted time. In fact, if they weren't taking you scalloping, they'd probably go themselves! It's that fun and they enjoy it that much. And with these guides you don’t need a license, you don’t need a boat, and you don’t need to know where to go! You may just have to bring a mask, fins, and a snorkel. Other than that, all you've got to do is get in the boat and go scalloping!

Scallop Season for 2012 opens July 1 and extends to September 25

Click here for a video of a fun scalloping trip in Steinhatchee!

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Canoeing & Kayaking the Big Bend's Steinhatchee River

If you are an outdoor adventurer, this is an area you will definitely want to visit! Whether you have a half day, day, weekend or week the adventure starts in Steinhatchee!

In Florida's Big Bend, running into the the Gulf of Mexico is the Steinhatchee River. Located on the border of Dixie and Taylor County, the river separates the seaside villages of Jena and Steinhatchee. In days gone by the river was used to run logging boats to cedar key where the lumber was used to make items such as pencils.

The Steinhatchee River is one of the healthiest rivers in the state, and is part of the Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail. The trail offers the canoeist or kayaker the opportunity to paddle along some of the most uninhabited areas of the Gulf of Mexico.  Much of the river is not accessible by land. When paddling, wildlife is often spotted and a good opportunity to catch your dinner lies just below your vessel. The trail is not for the novice paddlers as the calm flat waters of the gulf can become choppy and are influenced by the tides.

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Four Wild Life Management areas near Steinhatchee makes this area a Hunter's Delight!

Because the Steinhatchee area is teeming with deer, turkey, wild hogs, squirrel, and many migratory birds it is a favorite hunting destination for hunters from all over the southeast.  

Jena, Spring Creek, Steinhatchee, and Tide Swamp, are Wild Life Management areas that are all conveniently located around Steinhatchee.  These areas offer archery, muzzle loading gun season, general gun season, and spring turkey hunts.


Hunters enjoy staying in a variety of places, from campgrounds, to motels and resorts, and eating some of the best food in all of the southeast in our local restaurants.   

Florida licenses and permits may be purchased 24 hours a day with a credit card by calling 1-888-486-8356 or by visiting MyFWC.com.