Steinhatchee Fishing Forecast, December 2015 From Capt. Davidson

Fishing has really picked up on Florida’s Big Bend Gulf coast.  Here’s a forecast from Capt. Rick Davidson at Steinhatchee’s Sea Hag Marina: It’s always exciting, because even with the mild temperatures we’ve had, there are already some trout being taken in the river. When we get to more normal temperatures for December, especially after …

Fall Means Flounder on Our Natural North Florida Gulf Coast

Cooling Gulf of Mexico waters means that the fish, especially flounder, are hungry and willing to eat almost any bait presented them.  Flounder are voracious eaters, attacking small minnows (mostly killifish, or mud minnows), small mullet and shrimp.  They lay on the bottom near rocks, almost invisible except for their distinctive shape, both eyes facing …

Hushpuppies, Natural North Florida Style–With Guava Jelly!

Visitors to our Natural North Florida Big Bend often eye quizzically the hushpuppies served alongside their fish or shellfish dinners at local eateries. Places famous for their local seafood (Poseys or Shell Point in Panacea, Deal’s or Pouncey’s in Perry, Roy‘s and Fiddler’s in Steinhatchee, The Lighthouse in Fanning Springs, Bett’s in Chiefland and any …

Have An October Adventure On Taylor County, Florida’s Flats

Taylor County doesn’t have the “flats market” cornered. In fact, on the Big Bend we have just one huge grass flat along our Natural North Florida coast. .  Taylor County’s 40-mile stretch, from Steinhatchee north to mouth of the Aucilla River, is just a fraction of the available fishing territory. And, if I had to …

Snook On The Big Bend? You Bet–Provided We Have a Warm Winter!

Snook are probably the most fun and abundant gamefish in Florida.  They run, they jump, and if you want to keep one for dinner during open season, they’re delicious to eat.  However, they’re also highly susceptible to cold water temperatures and are some of the first fish to be found floating dead after a hard …

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 …

“Early Birds” Catch The Fish–Summertime Fishing on Florida’s Big Bend

There are several reasons to get up early and go fishing on hot summer days.  One, if you’re fishing from one of our busy scalloping areas (Steinhatchee, Keaton Beach, St. Marks), you’ll beat the crowds to the water.  Another, the weather is more likely to be calm, unlike the afternoons when thunderstorms usually develop. The …

Boat Rentals at St. Marks and Steinhatchee on Florida’s Natural North Florida Gulf Coast

Not everyone has a boat (AKA a hole in the water in which to pour money!).  And not everyone needs to have a boat if they only use it a couple of times each year.  Florida’s recreational bay scallop season, running from June to September each year, is the perfect time to rent a boat …

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.  

Bay Scallop Abundance Survey Results, June 21, 2015

The “Bay Scallop Abundance Survey” results from Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is always wildly-anticipated by folks hoping to catch their limit of these tasty bivalves during the summer harvest.  The 2015 season begins on June 27 and ends on September 25.  There’s plenty of information about the “how-to” of gathering your own …