Fishing and Boating
Our Fishing and Boating expert, Capt. Tommy Thompson, will tell you where the best fishing spots are, what’s biting, and tips on making your fishing and boating trips an exciting adventure!
Don’t Miss Gainesville On Your Next Visit to Natural North Florida–It’s Where Nature and Culture Meet!
While Gainesville is our region’s largest city, it’s still relatively small compared to Florida’s “mega-cities” like Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando and Tampa/St. Pete/Clearwater. Gainesville’s size is largely due to its central location, its access to US Interstate 75 and to the fact that it’s home to the University of Florida, our “flagship” university. Gainesville is the …
The Suwannee River and It’s Tributaries–The Beating Heart of Natural North Florida
Florida’s mighty Suwannee River represents the heart (and arteries) of our Natural North Florida region. It flows over 200 miles from south Georgia’s Okefenokee Swamp to the Gulf of Mexico, on the border of Dixie and Levy counties. It is fed by countless springs, each flowing from the Floridan Aquifer, as well as tributaries like …
Florida’s Big Bend Recreational Bay Scallop Harvest Underway, June 2019
Tiny bay scallops “rule” the waters of Natural North Florida’s Big Bend during the summer months. The harvest brings visitors from all over the state, as well as many internationals wishing to snorkel for these tasty treats. Snorkeling for bay scallops isn’t about filling the freezer, but it’s about having fun one the water, followed …
Scallop Seminar 2019–Jump The Gun on the Big Bend’s Recreational Scallop Season!
The 2019 recreational bay scallop season begins June 15 for Dixie and most of Taylor counties. If you’re headed to the coast and are interested in knowing a) how to scallop, b) the rules that apply to the harvest and c) where to find scallops this season, be sure to head over to the Steinhatchee …
Celebrate Fathers’ Day 2019 –Take The Kids to Family Fishing Day on June 15, at UF Fisheries, Gainesville
Why not start your Fathers’ Day weekend with a fishing trip? If you”re lucky enough to be near Gainesville and the University of Florida/IFAS Fisheries complex off Millhopper Road, head on over on Saturday morning, June 15, and take the kids fishing. This special Fathers Day fishing day will feature a great give-away to all …
Follow Your Dream To The Blackwater Grill in Yankeetown, FL
In the summer of 1961, Elvis Presley spent almost two months in the Yankeetown area, filming “Follow That Dream“. It’s anyone’s guess why Elvis’ producers picked this sleepy Levy County town on the banks of the Withlacoochee River, but it’s solitary location might just be the reason. Yankeetown is historic, and has grown little since …
2019 Steinhatchee NautiGirls Fishing Tournament, June 8—NO BOYS ALLOWED!
What began ten years ago as backlash to some friendly kidding among anglers at Steinhatchee, the NautiGirls Tournament has become one of the largest of the local tournaments. It’s fun, and yes, BOYS are only allowed to captain boats, and are NOT allowed to enter. In fact, some of the best anglers in the area …
Take A Kid (or a Grownup!) Fishing—Family Fishing Days, Gainesville
UF/IFAS’ School of Forest Resources and Conservation (SFRC) has a big, long name, and even though it doesn’t say “fish” or “fishing”, its programs include Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (FAS) programs, including Family Fishing Days. This outreach program hosts monthly events (March through November) that provide families the opportunity to fish together in a safe …
Suwannee River Paddling Festival, April 5-7, 2019
If you’re an avid paddler, you don’t want to miss this event. There are several 8-12 mile options on both the Suwannee River and the upper Withlacoochee River, all departing from Suwannee River State Park. In addition to the many paddling opportunities, attendees will experience kayak and canoe demonstrations, a silent auction, as well as …
2019 Florida Big Bend Bay Scallop Harvest Season Announced and Scallopers Are Optimistic!
Florida has one of the few recreational scallop harvests in the US, and it’s all centered around Natural North Florida’s Big Bend. While the scallop region extends from Gulf County (in the panhandle) to the Anclote Key lighthouse (off Tarpon Springs), the epicenter of the harvest is in Dixie and Taylor counties, west of Gainesville. …