GR8RJax™ Road Trip: Fiddle away the weekend at crab fest in Steinhatchee

More dramatic than Cow Ford’s wide shallow spot on the St. Johns, Steinhatchee’s Falls are witness to much north Florida history, having been crossed by several bound for greatness – Hernando De Soto, Gen. Andrew Jackson and Gen. Zachary Taylor.The place we now call Steinhatchee was “discovered” by Spanish conquistador Panfilo de Narvaez in 1529. In 1931, the fishing village took the name Steinhatchee, derived from the Indian words esteen  hatchee,  river (hatchee) of man (esteen).Like Greater Jacksonville, Steinhatchee's long history begins with Indians about 12,000 year ago and is peopled by pirates (the 15th-18th centuries), loggers (1800s), sponge divers (1940s-1950s) and commercial fishermen, shrimpers and crabbers.Some art typical of what you’ll find this weekend during the 5th Steinhatchee Annual Fiddler Crab Festival in Steinhatchee, Fla. With food and music, contests and a parade, it promises to be just the kind of fun you need to wind down from Mardi Gras and Valentine’s Day.View the list »
Fiddler crabs have such bad attitudes, you wouldn't think there's that much to party about. Wrong again.

Community Issues newsletter

Tiny little Steinhatchee, Fla., population 1,047, has been on the map for a lot longer than you’d think the quaint fishing village could manage.

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According to the historical marker located at the Steinhatchee Post Office, the area around Steinhatchee, including Deadman Bay, in Taylor county was first drawn on Spanish maps in the early 1500s.

More big news came when Hernando de Soto crossed the Steinhatchee river at the Falls in about 1540.

In 1818, General Andrew Jackson crossed them again during the first Seminole War to be followed in 1838 by Gen. Zachary Taylor during the Second Seminole War.

Always all about the river, Steinhatchee obviously has a great deal in common with GreaterJax™.

What more fitting tribute, then, than for this band of hardy fisherpeople to mount an homage to another denizen of Deadman Bay, the humble fiddler crab?

How to get to Steinhatchee from GreaterJax™

  • Route: US 17 to FL-16W, FL-24 E to Gainesville. From Gainesville – EFL-26 W/State Road 26 W, then FL-55 N/US-19 N/US-27 Alt N/US-98 N
  • Mileage: approx. 150 mi.
  • Driving Time: 3 hr.,20 min.
  • Gas: 4.2 gals, based on 30 mpg
  • Gas Money, Avg. price of $3.45/gal: $18.00 one way

5th Annual Fiddler Crab Festival

If you haven’t looked at a fiddler crab lately, check out the list pages for this article.

They’re unlikely mascots for a festival, but you have to appreciate the sense of whimsy.

Steinhatchee promises to be good fun for the whole family.

  • Steinhatchee Crab Jam – 3 days of music starting at 6 p.m. on Friday at the River Haven Marina​
  • Fiddler Crab Race – 100 crabs race on Saturday. Staggered starts. Back a crab for only $5 each.
  • Photo Show –$50.00 cash prize awarded for best of show in the sunset, nature and wildlie divisions. $5 for one entry for adults, 3 for $10.00 or $15.00 for 5 or more. Kids enter FREE.
  • “Swamp Water” Cook-Off – Soups, stews & chilis. Bring your appetite. Cash prize for 1st & 2nd place winners in each category, trophy for 3rd place with an over all best winner. Purchase your commemorative tasting mugs can be purchased for tasting.
  • Fiddler Festival Crab Parade – Golf carts, horses, floats & more. Parade starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
  • Boot Artin’ – Locals show off their “Steinhatchee Reeboks” (white rubber fishing boots). Proceeds to benefit our local food bank. Visitors can vote for best entry by stuffing cash in the boot. Trophy & ribbons awarded for top three entries.
  • “Lots of Spots” Redfish Contest – Saturday, $15 entry fee, mandatory Capt’s meeting at Sea Hag. Click here for more information on this event.
  • 2nd Annual Poker Run – Sunday. Proceeds to benefit local Boys & Girls Club. Bikes, walkers, golf carts & vehicles welcome.
  • River Tours – Tours the Steinhatchee River for up to six peopl for $5 per adult. Tous board at the River Haven Marina.
  • Camp Nemo for Kids – Touch tank, face painting, kids games & more fun.
  • Food & Crafts, T-Shirts, Ball Caps & more

For a complete list of events, click here.

Many contests are still accepting entries.

5th Annual Steinhatchee Fiddler Crab Festival

  • Fri., Feb. 15, 5-11 p.m., Sat., Feb. 16, 7 a.m.-11 p.m., Sun., Feb. 17, 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
  • Admission: FREE & open to the public. Fees charged for some events.
  • Steinhatchee Community Center overlooking the beautiful Steinhatchee River
  • 1013 Riverside Drive S.E.
  • Steinhatchee, Fla. 32359
  • Contact: Steinhatchee River Chamber of Commerce
  • Phone: 352-356-1086

http://www.steinhatcheeriverchamber.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=91&Itemid=159

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©2013 All rights reserved.

OFFICIAL BIO: K Truitt is a second-generation, native Floridian born in Jacksonville. Truitt worked in public higher education for 25 years, most recently in Texas, is a successful grant writer, knows newspaper publishing, printing and graphic design and wants to work in the public sector. Contact: kt.4examiner@yahoo.com

View the list
  • Some art typical of what you’ll find this weekend during the 5th Steinhatchee Annual Fiddler Crab Festival in Steinhatchee, Fla. With food and music, contests and a parade, it promises to be just the kind of fun you need to wind down from Mardi Gras and Valentine’s Day.
  • The place we now call Steinhatchee was “discovered” by Spanish conquistador Panfilo de Narvaez in 1529. In 1931, the fishing village took the name Steinhatchee, derived from the Indian words esteen  hatchee,  river (hatchee) of man (esteen).Like Greater Jacksonville, Steinhatchee's long history begins with Indians about 12,000 year ago and is peopled by pirates (the 15th-18th centuries), loggers (1800s), sponge divers (1940s-1950s) and commercial fishermen, shrimpers and crabbers.
  • More dramatic than Cow Ford’s wide shallow spot on the St. Johns, Steinhatchee’s Falls are witness to much north Florida history, having been crossed by several bound for greatness – Hernando De Soto, Gen. Andrew Jackson and Gen. Zachary Taylor.
  • About the size of a quarter, fiddler crabs are easy to spot. The males have one large front claw used to attract mates and for defense in territorial squabbles. Known for their pissy temperaments, fiddler crabs live in colonies on beaches and tidal flats at the mouths of brackish rivers like the Steinhatchee and the St. Johns.
  • Of the three species most common to Florida, the sand fiddler is the purply pink one. Like other fiddler crabs, sand fiddlers dig burrows about a foot deep in the sand close to the water's edge. They retreat to these holes when alarmed or when the tide comes in. The opening is plugged with sand or mud to keep out the water. 
  •  A little larger than the other two species, uca minax is distinguished by red joints on the male’s large claw. Fiddler crabs are a favorite food of redfish, ibis, yellow-crowned night herons, raccoons, foxes and most other coastal predators. Though not endangered, or even really rare, fiddlers are a vital part of Florida’s estuarine ecology.
View the list

, Greater Jacksonville Examiner

K Truitt is a second-generation, native Floridian born in Jacksonville. Truitt worked in public higher education for 25 years, most recently in Texas, is a successful grant writer, knows newspaper publishing, printing and graphic design and wants to work in the public sector. Contact: kt...

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