big bend
News Flash! Big Bend Inshore Fish Celebrate The New Year 2015
After somewhat of a “fish drought” in late 2014, Big Bend fishing for spotted seatrout and redfish has picked up significantly since New Year’s Day 2015. I’m not sure exactly why, possibly due to some sunny days and cooler water temperatures, but there seem to be plenty of fish being caught from Yankeetown to Panacea, …
Take Advantage of Natural North Florida’s Warm Winter Waters–Go Wade-Fishing!
It may be cold where you live, but we’re having a nice, comfortable winter here in Natural North Florida. Christmas and New Year’s saw daytime temperatures approaching 80-degrees F and Gulf of Mexico water temperatures in the mid-60’s. That’s “cool” for us, but it’s perfect for species like black drum and redfish. These cousins (redfish …
It’s Fall–And Those Big, Tasty Redfish Are Plentiful on Florida’s Big Bend!
Fall means that our Gulf waters are beginning to cool off, and the redfish are getting frisky and into a spawning mood. However, the big “bull” and “spawner” reds are over-slot and wouldn’t be great to eat anyway. Reds in the 18-27-inch slot are much better at the table. If you want to eat a …
Lionfish invasion: FWC moves forward with management changes, May 2016
Yes, there are lionfish all over the Gulf of Mexico, including some of the waters off Levy, Dixie, Taylor, Jefferson, and Wakulla Counties. They live in deep waters, but are invasive and should be considered so. Here’s a recent post from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: News Release Wednesday, April 16, 2014 Media …
Catch More Fall Fish on Florida’s Big Bend, Rig “Carolina Style”!
From Capt. Rick Burns: This week I’ll share one way of how to go about catching our sometimes sluggish Autumn fish with live or cut bait. I love the thrill and challenge of fooling fish with plugs and artificial lures. But, when these times can render some fish “lockjaw lethargics”, you sometimes have to revert …
Poor Man’s Tarpon–Catch A Big Bend Ladyfish!
Fishing’s not always about eating and with the recent cool weather, the Big Bend has been overrun with hordes of fish that are fun to catch—and not necessarily good to eat. Of course, I’m referring to ladyfish—also known as “poor man’s tarpon”. These boys and girls have been fattening up all summer, gorging on white …
Big Bend Waters Cool Down in September–And The Fishing is HOT!
I was pleasantly surprised last Saturday when Steinhatchee Capt. Rick Davidson told me he’d been reading water temperatures in the 70s all day. The day was cool and there were pods of bait everywhere, but I didn’t think that the temps had dropped that much in the past few weeks. That’s a good sign, and …
Wade Fishing in Natural North Florida
I’m fortunate to have fished much of Florida’s shallow shoreline, and have noticed one big difference between our Big Bend and the rest of the state’s west and north Gulf coast—a decided scarcity of wading spots that are accessible to those without boats. The advantage that non-Big Benders have is barrier islands and their beaches. …
Florida’s Big Bend is Famous For Sheepshead
If you’re looking for sheepshead, the Big Bend is the place to be. Cold winter waters drive the spawning rituals of these tasty fish and the big females gather over reefs, rockpiles and other structures off the Levy, Dixie and Taylor county coastlines. The best bait for these great-tasting fish is either live shrimp or …
Fish The Wild, Wild Waters of Central Taylor County, Florida
The Taylor County Gulf shoreline is hardly “civilized”, but if you compare the area between Steinhatchee and Keaton Beach to that north of Keaton Beach, you’ll find a vast difference. Heading northwest from Keaton Beach, you’ll see a few homes and settlements at places like Dekle Beach and Adams Beach, but from there on, it’s …