big bend
Don’t Overlook This Species: Ladyfish Are “Elops” of Fun! May 2015
Elops saurus, the ladyfish, is one of the great species of Gulf game fish. They offer lots of fun but not much table value. Many consider them junk fish, but serious anglers and guides find them game with light tackle or fly rods. Bait pods are now showing up in near shore big Bend waters, …
Anglers–Be On The Lookout! Cobia Are Swimming Along Florida’s Nature Coast
Our Big Bend channel markers provide good cover for predators. Proof comes in the springtime when visitors to our coastline question the appearance of boats circling almost every marker at Cedar Key, Suwannee and Steinhatchee . Spring is “cobia time” and lots of anglers are on the lookout for ling, crab-eaters, or lemon fish–as …
Bay Scallop Season To Begin on Florida’s Nature Coast, June 27, 2015
The 2015 bay scallop season opens June 27th. Ports along Florida’s Nature Coast from the Pasco/Hernando county line north to the Mexico Beach Canal are expecting a record “crop” and are prepared for a very busy couple of months. This year’s season begins on June 27 and ends on September 24, giving everyone plenty …
“Customer Fish”: Catch Fish–And Let Someone Else Cook Them!
Yes, you’ll still have to clean your catch, but in many coastal settlements and towns along our Natural North Florida coast, there are restaurants with “customer fish” on the menu. There’s nothing quite like fish, fresh from the Gulf, served in the comfort of a restaurant, and usually accompanied by side dishes like grits, butter …
Don’t Discount The Table Appeal of Those Pesky Black Sea Bass!
Black sea bass (Centropristis striata) can be pests, but they can also be fine table fare, if they’re in the legal size-limit slot (and if you catch as many keepers as you need for your crew!). When you find black sea bass, usually hovering over nearcshore rocky reefs all over Florida’s Big Bend off …
Red grouper Bag Limit Changes to 2 on May 7, 2015 in Florida’s Gulf State and Federal Waters
The red grouper recreational bag limit will change from four to two fish per person in Gulf of Mexico state and federal waters, excluding Monroe County, on May 7, 2015 This change was approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) at its November 2014 meeting. The Commission hopes that this change will …
CCA STAR Tournament Comes to Florida’s Gulf Coast, May 23, 2015
From The Florida Sportsman Newswire: The CCA STAR Tournament has been a summertime staple for anglers in Texas and Louisiana for many years, on May 23, anglers in Florida will finally have an opportunity to get in on the action with CCA Florida’s inaugural STAR Tournament. Thanks to the successful STAR blueprint developed by …
Rigging Rods and Reels For Big Bend Flats Trout Fishing Action!
Rigging for trout fishing on our Natural North Florida grass flats needn’t be hard or complicated. I do recommend light rods and reels for the “main event” of seatrout catching. 2500 to 4000 class spinning outfits are just fine, and I’m a real believer in using braided polypropylene lines like PowerPro or SpiderWire. You don’t …
Gag Grouper Harvest Opens 4/1/14 In Three Natural North Florida Counties
Gag Grouper Harvest Opens 4/1/14 In Three Natural North Florida Counties
Water Temperatures Cross The 70-Degree Threshold on Florida’s Big Bend–And The March Fishing Is Great!
This past week (the first week of March 2015), Gulf of Mexico water temperatures finally crossed over the 70-degree mark. And the BITE IS ON! All the ports in our regiion (Yankeetown, Waccasassa, Cedar Key, Suwannee, Horseshoe Beach, Steinhatchee, Keaton Beach, Econfina, Aucilla, St. Marks and Panacea) report great catches of spotted seatrout and redfish, …