2015 Scallop Season Solutions (For Hook and Liners)!

Natural North Florida’s recreational scallop season isn’t necessarily a bad thing for fishermen. However, if you fish from Keaton Beach, St. Marks, Panacea, Econfina, Horseshoe Beach or Steinhatchee it can be aggravating. Those of you wishing to use launching ramps at these locations will probably find large, untrained crowds and those of you needing a …

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, …

“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 …

On The Hunt For Big Seatrout and Redfish in Natural North Florida? Try Soft Plugs!

Getting a wary seatrout or redfish to attack an artificial lure isn’t always a problem.  However, if they’re big and trophy-sized, they’ll often spit the lure out just as they get to the rod tip.  Years ago, in a faraway place called Texas, Mr. Paul Brown, a retired postmaster, handmade soft lures called “Corkys” and …

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, …

MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS, 2015 Cedar Key Arts Festival, March 28 & 29

The Old Florida Celebration of the Arts was voted in the top 50 juried fine arts fairs in the country in the 2nd annual readers survey administered in October by ArtFairCalendar.com. Cedar Key’s Annual Spring Arts Festival, planned for March 28 & 29, 2015, received recognition both as one of the top 5 Southern Art …

Left Something Behind? Cedar Key’s Marina Hardware Is A Good Source For Bait and Tackle

Have you ever arrived at the boat ramp or fishing pier and all of a sudden realized that you’ve forgotten your bait or an important piece of tackle?  It’s happened to me on several occasions, and often there’s no solution other than going to a “Plan B”.  However, when it happens at Cedar Key, it’s …

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 …

Headed to Cedar Key, FL? Cedar Cove Condos Is A Great Place To Stay (and Eat!)

If you’re headed to Cedar Key, Cedar Cove Condos is a great place to stay.  All rooms have balconies overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, and it’s just a short walk to the shops and restaurants in “downtown” Cedar Key.  It’s also a quick walk to Cedar Key’s waterfront park, where you can rent a kayak …