BRANFORD, Fla. – Each year thousands of prehistoric Gulf sturgeon enter the Suwanee and six other rivers in Florida. The fish are known to jump and have hurt two people, neither seriously, so far this year. State officials are warning Fourth of July boaters to be on the lookout.
The state didn't start keeping track of collisions with the Sturgeon until 2006, when nine people were injured. The Gulf sturgeon are protected under federal law.
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Fish and Wildlife Conservation representative Karen Parker said she is still thrilled to to see the giant fish leap.
"Basically, (they're) doing what they've been doing for the last 200 million years and that's jumping," Parker said. "And the scientist I spoke with finally figured out why they jump, which is pretty amazing. It's for communication between other fish, and to gulp air so they can fill up their swim bladder."
Catching the fish on camera is a feat in itself -- you never know when or where they will jump, which is why boaters are always at risk.
Two people, a 59-year-old woman and a 14-year-old girl, were hurt in separate incidents this year.
"It's simply, they're jumping, and at a time when we want to use the river, too," Parker said. "So we are both trying to use the river, and sometimes we collide."
The fish arrive in April and leave when the water starts to cool in the fall.
What we do know for certain is that the fish aren't jumping for food. They don't eat the entire time they are in the river.
"They'll lose like 25 percent of their body weight when they get in here," Parker said.
So, boaters beware: there are fish beneath the Suwanee just waiting to communicate.