From Cufflinks to Cutoffs

From Cufflinks to Cutoffs – A Day on the Water Adventuring with Captain Cas

By: Benjamin J. Chewning

16 BETTER OFF WET | December 2022

BETTEROFFWET.COM 17

Captain Cas grew up in Florida, an avid surfer, fisherman, boater, and adventurer. He spent much of his childhood on the Suwannee and Santa Fe Rivers and at the many springs located along the waterways. The Suwannee River is said to be Florida’s last wild river. There aren’t any channel markers, buoys, or navigational aids and if you are unsure about your vessel’s fuel usage, then you better bring extra, because the river doesn’t have any marinas or hardly any fueling spots to speak of. The B.O.W.’ Crew was on the boat with Capt. Cas today, so while we definitely took note of his instruction, we knew we were fine being with him. Capt. Cas offers river tours, springs tours, and fishing guide service to his guests at the Suwannee River Rest, a luxury cottage located on the banks of the Suwannee River.

18 BETTER OFF WET | OCTOBER 2022

The headwaters of the Suwannee River are found in the Okefenokee Swamp, in Fargo Georgia. The river runs southwestward into the Florida Panhandle, before dropping in elevation through limestone layers into a rare Florida whitewater rapid. Past the rapid, the Suwannee turns west near the town of White Springs, Florida, then connects to the confluences of the Alapaha River and Withlacoochee River. The confluences of these three rivers form the southern borderline of Hamilton County, Florida. The Suwannee then bends southward, near the town of Ellaville, followed by Luraville, then joins together with the Santa Fe River from the east, south of the town of Branford. The river ends and drains into the Gulf of Mexico on the outskirts of Suwannee. Some of the springs located on the river, that Capt. Cas

BETTEROFFWET.COM 19

took us to, on our trip, are the Little River Springs, Troy Springs, Rock Bluff Spring, and a few other smaller springs. Every time we see a Florida spring producing the exquisite 72 degree perfectly clear water that holds back the tannic dark waters of a river, we are in awe. All the springs Capt. Cas took us to created the same jawdropping awe for us over and over. Our favorite spring we visited on our tour with Capt. Cas has to be the Rock Bluff Spring. It is a hard choice if forced to make one but Rock Bluff takes you back hundreds if not thousands of years, with the ancient Cypress trees that are literally everywhere in any direction you look. The “Twin Sisters” greet you on your port side, when entering by boat and “The Mayor of Rock Bluff” stands tall to your starboard. Once you come in by boat, the spring becomes visible

but is sectioned off by a line so boats don’t interfere with swimmers. You can see the fresh, crystal clear water pouring out from its cracked mouth and a thriving myriad of underwater creatures everywhere you look. Capt. Cas says his grandchildren call Rock Bluff his “secret spring”, because if you were just traveling on the river, you’d probably pass by its entrance without even noticing. Not to be put aside completely by Rock Bluff, the Little River Spring is equally as breathtaking and it also has a gorgeous park built all around it. But, Little River Spring doesn’t give you the “secret spring” vibe that Rock Bluff Spring does. What Little River Spring lacks in secretness it makes up for completely in beauty and also accessibility. And, if you are a diver, who isn’t afraid of some tight spaces, this spring may be a great place for you

20 BETTER OFF WET | OCTOBER 2022

BETTEROFFWET.COM 21

to visit. While there, on our trip, we saw at least seven divers, some playing around in the crevasses around the spring itself and some who had ventured into the cave system, leading out under the rock to the river. We highly recommend that anyone near this area take the time to visit Little River Spring!

Our day with Capt. Cas on the Suwannee and Santa Fe Rivers was amazing. He has a thorough knowledge of the area and tons of stories to go with each of the springs and stops along the journey. I have to get to the title now... “From Cufflinks to Cutoffs” is a phrase I picked up from Capt. Cas and told him I was going to “steal” and add to my own cache of clever sayings. The Suwannee River, like many watery destinations, has folks from all walks of life; rich, poor, big, small, fat, skinny, and every other category folks get lumped into. And,

22 BETTER OFF WET | OCTOBER 2022

the one thing they all have in common is a love for being on and around the water. No matter whether said folks are working on Wall Street or Wal- Mart, you can be sure they are on the river and at the springs to have a good time. That being said, if I ever see someone wearing cufflinks on the water…I’m going to be sure to try and trade them off em’ for some cutoffs!

BETTEROFFWET.COM 23