Kayak Steinhatchee in Taylor County, Florida

We’ve come full circle.  Now, modern interpretations of eons-old paddle craft are the latest rage when it comes to fishing.  Many are as simple as rafts and others, like Hobie’s Master Angler 12, are fitted with modern conveniences like cozy seats, pedal or electric drives, depth sounders, and even live wells.   But no matter your …

Looking for Some Great Inshore Fall Fishing Action? Give Cedar Key at Try!

“Cedar Key” isn’t just one island, but the name given to the archipelago of the Cedar Keys, on the westernmost edge of Florida’s Levy County. What makes the fishing so good at Cedar Key, particularly in the windy fall months, is that there’s always somewhere to get out of the way of the weather.  The …

Clear Cool Water Brings Redfish Close to Big Bend Shores

Now that fall’s here, the waters along our Big Bend and Natural North Florida shorelines have begun to clear.  This past summer’s excessive rainfall kept our waters murky for months, but it’s now dry and the runoff from our swamps and creeks has slowed (Of course, runoff of  water isn’t really a problem in our …

Don’t Have A Fishing Boat Or A Kayak? Rent One!

Not everyone’s lucky (or unlucky!) enough to own their own fishing boat or kayak.  However, renting is an option at several ports in Natural North Florida.  Whether you fish, scallop or just want to go for a boat ride, renting may be right for you.  It’s always nice to return to the dock and simply …

Cool-Weather Seatrout Tactics for Florida’s Big Bend

There’s no doubt that the spotted seatrout is the most popular of all the game fish we catch along our Big Bend coast.  These fish are plentiful, relatively easy to catch, and make fine table fare.  With the season now open all year, a daily bag limit of 5 fish (all over 15-inches; one over …

Don’t have a boat? Give Cedar Key’s fishing pier a try!

You may not catch a grouper or a king mackerel from the pier, but its location on the south end of town and its proximity to some deeper water makes it productive–and fun–for the boat-less angler.  It’s free, has bathrooms and is close to town and parking.  You’ll likely catch inshore species like ladyfish, black …

How do successful anglers find bait and the predators that prey upon it?

Anglers of all skill levels sometimes have trouble spotting bait, a critical element in the “fish-catching” equation.  Here’s a hint of what to look for on Florida’s Big Bend: Calm, still waters like we often have on fall days, make it easy to spot jumping or schooling mullet. And when it’s calm, even small schools …

“Cedar Key Everlasting”–See This Interactive Book About Shellfish Aquaculture

Cedar Key Everlasting is an interactive flip book that tells the story and significance of shellfish aquaculture in Cedar Key through vivid photographs and articles written by journalists and experts. Statewide Shellfish Aquaculture Extension Agent Leslie Sturmer contributed to the book along with Florida Sea Grant marine economist Chuck Adams.

Florida’s Black Bass Management Plan

Bass fishing is a “big deal” in Florida, especially in our north central region.  Of 2.8 million anglers fishing in Florida, 1.9 million were residents and 0.9 million were tourists from virtually every state and numerous countries. Anglers averaged 17.2 days per year fishing in Florida, for a total of 46.3 million days of quality …

Good Times Motel and Marina Now Open at Steinhatchee

The next time you visit Steinhatchee, be sure to take a look at the latest addition to the marina/motel/restaurant scene there.  The Good Times Motel and Marina has opened in the same location as the old Gulfstream Marina, on the Jena side of the river.  The facility offers 25 motel rooms (some recently remodeled!), dockage, …