Pea River
| Pea River | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Location | Alabama and Florida |
| Basin features | |
| Main source |
Bullock County, Alabama 69 ft (21 m) |
| River mouth | Choctawhatchee River |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Length | 154 mi (248 km) |
The Pea River is a 154-mile-long (248 km) tributary of the Choctawhatchee River near Geneva, Alabama, United States. It is a popular destination for those with canoes and other small boats, as well as fishermen seeking bass, sunfish, or mullet.
The Pea River begins near Midway, in Bullock County, Alabama, then flows southerly through Elba, where there is a dam, and then south through Ino, Samson, and on to Geneva, where it joins the Choctawhatchee. The river flooded Elba in 1929 and in the 1990s, and joined the Choctawhatchee in flooding Geneva on those same occasions. Although the Pea River begins and ends in Alabama, it makes a short dip into Florida right before it joins the Choctawhatchee at Geneva, Alabama, which some fishermen have discovered to their chagrin when caught fishing without a Florida license. Alabama allows residents to fish in their county of residence without a license, so long as they use only a pole (no reels), and have proof of county residence on them, such as a driver's license.
The Pea River is navigable by boat to Elba, and beyond, although at low water the most common powerboats are 14 to 16 feet, and powered by outboards.
The Pea River gets its name from its pea green color. Indeed, the Muscogee name for the Pea River is Talakhatchee, which means "pea green stream". Tuscaloosa means "black warrior", so perhaps a Native American name is available, but just not used.
Bass, bream, shellcrackers, mullet, and catfish are caught in the river. Mullet make the trip up from the Gulf of Mexico to feed on the moss that grows on the "rock" walls of the river (actually more of a clay-like substance, probably blue-marl clay, referred to sometimes as soapstone, because it is so slippery when wet) periodically, and a large number are caught from time to time. Bass are more of a challenge.
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Wikipedia