big bend
Surprise, Surprise! — It’s Snook Season On North Florida’s Big Bend
If you remember your Korean War history from high school, you’ll likely recall that the 38th Parallel, or line of latitude, was important because it marked the border between North and South Korea. In Natural North Florida, and in terms of snook fishing, we have an important line of latitude, too. Eons ago, when I …
Hints For Staying Warm (and Healthy) on Wintertime Fishing Trips
Yes, we live in Florida, but cold overcast days are not unheard of. We don’t have many where the mercury drops below 32-degrees for very long, but the combination of dark skies, little sunshine and salt spray can take its toll on our comfort and health. Professional anglers and guides sometimes can’t pick their days, …
S.O.S. (Save Our Sheepshead )
Practicing “catch and release” fishing doesn’t mean you’re a poor angler. What it means is that you care about the future of our fishery and about what your kids and grandkids will be catching after you’ve moved along to other pastures (or fishing holes!). We all remember, or have heard tales of, grand catches of …
Florida’s Big Bend Coastal Creeks Offer Excellent Wintertime Fishing–Just Don’t Get Stranded By The Tide!
Fishermen are lucky. When wintertime arrives in Florida, all that’s usually necessary is a light coat to keep away the cold. However, cold-blooded fish species like seatrout, redfish (red drum), black drum and sheepshead, are not so lucky. They’re cold-blooded, and as water temperatures fall into the 50s, they seek the warmth of deep creeks, …
Fanning Springs’ Lighthouse Restaurant Re-Opened and Renewed–February 2015
You remember the old Lighthouse Restaurant, don’t you? Or did you drive by during the times when the food was not very good and the service slow and wish the restaurant would return to its former glory? Well, fret no more. New owner Jamie Griffin has brought The Lighthouse back and has come out swinging …
7th Annual Steinhatchee Fiddler Crab Festival, February 13-15, 2015
7th Annual Fiddler Crab Festival® February 13-15, 2015 Unlike colder parts of the U.S., Natural North Florida stays relatively warm in February. And even if it’s cool, we’re likely to have blue skies for the 7th Annual Fiddler Crab Festival, held at the Community Center in Steinhatchee. All your favorites are scheduled including: The Crab …
It Takes Patience To Catch Big Spotted Seatrout on Florida’s Big Bend
Spotted seatrout over 20-inches are considered to be trophy or “gator” trout. And these big, wily critters are not easy to catch, even on our Big Bend coastline where there’s probably less pressure on game fish than in any other area in Florida. Of course, you can catch plenty of “keeper” fish, mostly in the …
Coming Soon to Florida’s Gulf Waters: CCA Florida’s 2015 STAR Tournament
If you snooze, you just might lose (a truck or a boat/trailer/motor)! While the CCA Florida STAR Tournament‘s start is a few months away, it’s time to start thinking about participating. Mark your calendars and be sure to get out on the water as much as you can during the tournament, get the Smartphone APP, …
Natural North Florida Dining Essentials: How to Eat a Blue Crab
Visitors to local restaurants along our Big Bend Gulf Coast (and inland, too!) are often intimidated when a large plate of steamed blue crabs arrives at their table. Sometimes they’re accompanied by nutcrackers and hammers, but for the most part, getting to the “meat of the matter” is simply a hands-on operation. When you order …
Manatees Headed to Warmer Water with Cooling Temperatures in Florida
From: The Fishing Wire The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) encourages boaters to help protect migrating manatees by looking out and slowing down for these aquatic mammals that often rest or congregate underwater and can be difficult to see. “During Manatee Awareness Month, the FWC encourages the public to celebrate manatees by learning …