Spend The Night and Spread Your Wings From Perry, Florida

Perry, in Florida’s Taylor County, is known as the “Forest Capitol of the World”. And rightly so, as for many years the smell of the local paper mill was the giveaway that this small city was more important than just a “wide spot in the highway”. But now, with the Foley mill is now turning …

2020 Bay Scallop Season Opens on Florida’s Big Bend, June 15

2020 Bay Scallop Season Opens on Florida’s Big Bend, June 15 The annual bay scallop harvest is the largest economic driver for our Natural North Florida/Big Bend Gulf counties. Snorkelers, hoping for a meal of these tasty mollusks travel from far and wide to take part in what many consider an “underwater Easter egg hunt”! …

Take A Virtual Vacation to Steinhatchee, A Jewel In Natural North Florida’s Taylor County Coast

Take A Break and Take a Virtual Vacation in Natural North Florida Spring 2020 has brought a slowdown to Florida tourism, and tourism worldwide.. Our Visit Natural North Florida region has slowed, too, and with the restrictions of social distancing and travel we’re all dreaming of better times to come. And we hope that potential …

Florida’s Big Bend 2016 Recreational Scallop Season Ends–With A Bang!

Five of the seven counties that make up the official Florida bay scallop harvest are in Natural North Florida–Levy, Dixie, Taylor, Jefferson and Wakulla.  And what a year 2016 has been!  The harvest started in June, and quick boat limits (see www.myfwc.com/fishing for regulations) were taken.  And even after Hurricane Hermine slammed the coast over …

Our Seagrasses, And What They Mean To Big Bend Anglers (And Snorkelers!)

The largest natural preserve, our Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve is huge–almost a million square acres.  And it’s a big part of the reason that our Gulf coastal fishery is so good.  It stretches from Waccasass Bay in Levy County to St. Marks in Wakulla County and serves as a nursery for small bait fish, …

Natural North Florida’s Bay Scallop Season Opens 6/25/16…

…and it promises to be a banner year for scallopers at Horseshoe Beach, Steinhatchee, Keaton Beach and St. Marks! The official abundance survey for bay scallops was released on June 24, and the numbers for Dixie and Taylor counties (Horseshoe Beach, Steinhatchee, Keaton Beach) showed a near 300% increase since last year.  Wakulla County’s numbers …

Fishing Feature: 2016 Bay Scallop Outlook on the Big Bend

On our Natural North Florida coast, in Levy, Dixie, Taylor, Jefferson and Wakulla counties, we always seem to have a healthy “crop” bay scallops during the annual summertime harvest, which lasts from June 25 to September 25.  This is no doubt due to the fact that we have crystal clear salty water under which lies …

Tips For Successful Scalloping During Rainy Season on Florida’s Big Bend, 2015

In the late summer, water visibility can hinder and slow the harvest of bay scallops.  This year, they’re plentiful along our coastline, but are often hard to see. We’ve had more than our fair share of rain on the Big Bend, too. Mornings have been calm, but with high humidity and high air temperatures, thunderstorms …

2015 Scallop Harvest Tops Predictions on Florida’s Natural North Florida Gulf Coast!

Photos are worth thousands of words! Yep, this is the year folks on Florida’s Natural North Florida Gulf coastline have been waiting for.  Opening day of recreational bay scallop season at Steinhatchee, Keaton Beach and St. Marks have exceeded everyone’s expectations.  It’s busy, the water’s clear, and the scallops are easy to harvest.  

Steinhatchee Scallopalooza–Saturday, June 27, 2015. The “Season” Begins!

Depending on the whims of Florida’s governor and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Florida’s recreational scallop harvest will begin in late June or on July 1, 2015.  As a prelude to the fun and good eating, the folks at Roy’s Restaurant in Steinhatchee are again sponsoring “Scallopalooza 2015”, a day of music …