Holiday Gift Ideas for Fishermen
With ‘Black Friday’ and the holiday season just around the corner, I thought I’d mention a few gift items that are certain to please almost any fisherman. I’ve also included some information on price and sources. Cablz Sunglasses Holders–-These nice wire holders don’t get sweaty, smell bad, or snag on clothing. A great idea in …
Post-Thanksgiving Family Fun: The Gainesville-Hawthorne trail
Thanksgiving, a day of indulgence, a huge feast with friends and family where the average American eats nearly three times as much as they normally would. The day before is usually spent in half-starved anticipation, and the day after is usually spent rolling around in regret and thinking that perhaps that extra serving of sweet-potato casserole wasn’t …
Devil’s Millhopper State Geological Site
Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park is located in Alachua County just outside of Gainesville, Florida and is an amazing place to visit year round. It is one of the largest sinkholes in the state, at 120 feet deep and 500 feet across at the top. A wooden boardwalk provides access to the bottom of the sink, and …
Cedar Key, Florida–AKA ‘Clamalot’
Cedar Key’s reputation as a Gulf fishing destination is unparalleled. This archipelago of small islands juts into the Gulf of Mexico about 60 miles west of Gainesville and provides fishermen excellent access to both inshore and offshore waters. In addition, Cedar Key has become one of the largest producers of clams in the U.S. Clam …
Suwannee’s a Great Place for Fishing–and Eating!
Not only is Suwannee a great place to fish, but it’s also a great place to eat. For breakfast, try Sarah’s and for lunch or dinner, go to Salt Creek Shellfish Company (352) 542-7072. On a recent trip to Salt Creek, I had the soft-shell crab sandwich for lunch and a wonderful stuffed (with crab, …
A Taste of Wakulla County’s Gulf of Mexico Coastline
As fishermen, we typically focus pretty tightly on the task at hand–catching fish. However, the fish we catch and take home (or photograph and release) are sometimes different from the species that we eat at local restaurants. If you’re in Panacea, St. Marks–or any other place in Wakulla County, you’ll likely be fishing in some …
‘Look Around At Shell Mound!’ Article in November 2010 Florida Sportsman magazine.
Whenever anyone asks me to recommend some Gulf fishing waters that are protected from early winter winds, the Shell Mound backwaters north of Cedar Key always seem to top my list. Located about 10 miles north of the town of Cedar Key and halfway to the town of Suwannee, Shell Mound offers visitors not only …
How to Catch Spotted Sea Trout on Florida’s Big Bend
Spotted Sea Trout (cynoscion nebulosus) is probably the most popular game fish in Florida, especially along the Big Bend coastline of Natural North Florida. They are easy to catch using a variety of tackle, and make excellent table fare. A daily individual bag limit of 4 fish in the 15-20″ slot plus one trophy ‘gator’ …
Fall is sea trout season all along Florida’s Big Bend!
Fall and spring are the best times to fish for spotted sea trout in Florida, and our Big Bend coastline from Yankeetown to Panacea has some of the best trout flats in the state. We don’t have just a few fishy spots like other places, but miles and miles of pristine, unspoiled coastline with vast …
Capt. Tommy Thompson, Natural North Florida’s Fishing, Food and Family Events Expert
Capt. Tommy Thompson is a licensed USCG boat captain and outdoor writer. He was previously executive director of the Florida Outdoor Writers Association and as an outdoor journalist specializing in saltwater fishing, he frequently contributes to such magazines as Florida Sportsman and Shallow Water Angler. He currently writes the monthly Big Bend Action Spotter column …