Pea River
Encyclopedia
The Pea River is a 154 miles (247.8 km) tributary of the Choctawhatchee River
near Geneva, Alabama
. It is a popular destination for those with canoe
s 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 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".
The Pea River flooded Elba in 1929 and in the 1990s, and joined the Choctawhatchee in flooding Geneva on those same occasions.
The Pea and the Black Warrior River
(in northern Alabama) are said to be the only two rivers in the state without Native American names. (Tuscaloosa means "Black Warrior", so perhaps a Native American name is available, but just not used.)
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 only use 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. Bass, bream, shellcrackers, mullet, and catfish 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.
Historically, the river has been home to sturgeon
, who were fished commercially in the early 1900s. Since they have been protected, the sturgeon are making a comeback, and sturgeon as long as six feet long have been seen jumping near the junction in Geneva. Dr. Dwayne Fox did research for his Ph.D. in the Choctawhatchee and Pea Rivers by radio-tagging sturgeon in the Gulf of Mexico and tracking them up the Choctawhatchee and Pea Rivers upstream of Geneva. He even was able to collect samples of eggs to prove they were breeding in the Pea and Choctawhatchee rivers.
Suckers are another fish that travel upstream as the weather changes. About the time that the sap beings to flow in the early spring, suckers will seek small tributaries in which to spawn. Fisherman set out gill nets to catch these tasty fish, which are rather difficult to catch with hook and line. Shad
are common in the river, but, since they eat moss, are seldom caught.
The last Saturday in April is set aside by the city of Geneva to celebrate its river heritage and the rich history of the Choctawhatchee and Pea rivers.
Choctawhatchee River
The Choctawhatchee River is a river in the southern United States, flowing through southeast Alabama and the Panhandle of Florida before emptying into Choctawhatchee Bay in Okaloosa and Walton counties...
near Geneva, Alabama
Geneva, Alabama
Geneva is a city in and the county seat of Geneva County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is also the largest city of Geneva County, and has a population of 4,388 according to the 2000 census....
. It is a popular destination for those with canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
s and other small boats, as well as fishermen seeking bass, sunfish, or mullet.
The Pea River begins near Midway
Midway, Alabama
Midway is a town in Bullock County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 457.-Old Merritt School:Margaret Elizabeth Merritt of Midway sold two acres for $5 to the State of Alabama in 1921 as a site for an elementary school for African-American children...
, in Bullock County, Alabama
Bullock County, Alabama
Bullock County, Alabama is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Colonel Edward C. Bullock of Barbour County. Living descendants of Colonel Bullock include prominent American cinema film actress, Sandra Bullock. As of 2010 the population was 10,914. In 1867, Union Springs...
, then flows southerly through Elba
Elba, Alabama
Elba is a city in Coffee County, Alabama. At the time of the 2000 U.S. census, its population was 4,185.Elba is the official county seat of Coffee County, though Coffee County has two County Courthouses, with the other one being located in the town of Enterprise...
, where there is a dam, and then south through Ino, Samson
Samson, Alabama
Samson is a city in Geneva County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2000 census the population was 2,071.-Geography:Samson is located at .According to the U.S...
, and on to Geneva
Geneva, Alabama
Geneva is a city in and the county seat of Geneva County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is also the largest city of Geneva County, and has a population of 4,388 according to the 2000 census....
, where it joins the Choctawhatchee.
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".
The Pea River flooded Elba in 1929 and in the 1990s, and joined the Choctawhatchee in flooding Geneva on those same occasions.
The Pea and the Black Warrior River
Black Warrior River
The Black Warrior River is a waterway in west central Alabama in the southeastern United States. The river rises in the extreme southern edges of the Appalachian Highlands and flows 178 miles to the Tombigbee River, of which the Black Warrior is the primary tributary...
(in northern Alabama) are said to be the only two rivers in the state without Native American names. (Tuscaloosa means "Black Warrior", so perhaps a Native American name is available, but just not used.)
Although the Pea River begins and ends in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, it makes a short dip into Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
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 only use 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. Bass, bream, shellcrackers, mullet, and catfish caught in the river. Mullet make the trip up from the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
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.
Historically, the river has been home to sturgeon
Sturgeon
Sturgeon is the common name used for some 26 species of fish in the family Acipenseridae, including the genera Acipenser, Huso, Scaphirhynchus and Pseudoscaphirhynchus. The term includes over 20 species commonly referred to as sturgeon and several closely related species that have distinct common...
, who were fished commercially in the early 1900s. Since they have been protected, the sturgeon are making a comeback, and sturgeon as long as six feet long have been seen jumping near the junction in Geneva. Dr. Dwayne Fox did research for his Ph.D. in the Choctawhatchee and Pea Rivers by radio-tagging sturgeon in the Gulf of Mexico and tracking them up the Choctawhatchee and Pea Rivers upstream of Geneva. He even was able to collect samples of eggs to prove they were breeding in the Pea and Choctawhatchee rivers.
Suckers are another fish that travel upstream as the weather changes. About the time that the sap beings to flow in the early spring, suckers will seek small tributaries in which to spawn. Fisherman set out gill nets to catch these tasty fish, which are rather difficult to catch with hook and line. Shad
Shad
The shads or river herrings comprise the genus Alosa, fish related to herring in the family Clupeidae. They are distinct from others in that family by having a deeper body and spawning in rivers. The several species frequent different areas on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea....
are common in the river, but, since they eat moss, are seldom caught.
The last Saturday in April is set aside by the city of Geneva to celebrate its river heritage and the rich history of the Choctawhatchee and Pea rivers.