fishing
2019 Steinhatchee NautiGirls Fishing Tournament, June 8—NO BOYS ALLOWED!
What began ten years ago as backlash to some friendly kidding among anglers at Steinhatchee, the NautiGirls Tournament has become one of the largest of the local tournaments. It’s fun, and yes, BOYS are only allowed to captain boats, and are NOT allowed to enter. In fact, some of the best anglers in the area …
Take A Kid (or a Grownup!) Fishing—Family Fishing Days, Gainesville
UF/IFAS’ School of Forest Resources and Conservation (SFRC) has a big, long name, and even though it doesn’t say “fish” or “fishing”, its programs include Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (FAS) programs, including Family Fishing Days. This outreach program hosts monthly events (March through November) that provide families the opportunity to fish together in a safe …
2019 Florida Big Bend Bay Scallop Harvest Season Announced and Scallopers Are Optimistic!
Florida has one of the few recreational scallop harvests in the US, and it’s all centered around Natural North Florida’s Big Bend. While the scallop region extends from Gulf County (in the panhandle) to the Anclote Key lighthouse (off Tarpon Springs), the epicenter of the harvest is in Dixie and Taylor counties, west of Gainesville. …
Sheepshead–A Favorite Cool Weather Nearshore Fish Species on Natural North Florida’s Gulf Coast
Inshore and nearshore fishing along Florida’s Gulf Coast has as much to do with economics as it does with species. Of course, many inshore anglers long to be aboard a big sport fishing boat trolling the depths of the Gulf for fish of mammoth proportions. The reality, however, of a round trip that has fuel …
Winter Fishing’s Best Bet–Spotted Seatrout on Florida’s Natural North Florida’s Gulf Coast
I’m no expert on spotted seatrout biology or mortality, but for some reason the Big Bend saw a decided decline in that fishery this past year. At first, trout were scarce from Tampa Bay to Apalachicola, and then they started to bite. However, anglers catching a hundred a day only caught three or four keepers. …
Get Hooked At The Gulf Coast Kayak Fishing Fall Tournament, October 13, 2018
Please not that this event has been postponed due to Hurricane Michael. You don’t want to miss this event! If you’re a “yakker”, you need to paddle the backwaters of Taylor County and fish this tournament. It’s a “catch, photo and release” format, hoping to conserve our inshore fish stocks. The Gulf Coast Kayaking Club …
Steinhatchee Fishing Forecast For September and October, 2018
If you’re interested in fishing Natural North Florida’s Big Bend Gulf coast, there’s no better place to go than Steinhatchee. Located south of Perry in Taylor County, just off US19/98 (via CR361 or CR358), Steinhatchee has great facilities, including three excellent marinas, two first-rate boat ramps, and plenty of lodging and dining opportunities. There’s …
Sportfish Alert! Snook Continue Northward Migration Into Big Bend Waters As Winters Warm
Common snook, AKA Robalo or Linesiders, are native to the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, provided there’s a place for them to avoid wintertime water temperatures less than about 60-degrees F. Big Deal? You say! Actually, it’s a really big deal, as snook are the top of the food chain when it comes to …
30th Annual Big Bend Saltwater Classic Fishing Tournament, Wakulla County, June 13-16, 2018
Everyone of the Big Bend is happy to have the Big Bend Saltwater Classic back at Shield’s Marina in St. Marks! The Big Bend Saltwater Classic fishing tournament was launched in 1989 by The Organization for Artificial Reefs, Inc, (OAR), a private, non-profit, marine interest group based in Tallahassee,Florida. To date, it …
Natural North Florida’s 2018 Bay Scallop Season Opens Soon!
Pinning down the dates for the 2018 bay scalloping season isn’t as easy as it’s been in past years. Essentially, our most popular scalloping areas (Steinhatchee, Keaton Beach and Horseshoe Beach) open on June 16, while northern parts of Taylor County (not including Steinhatchee and Keaton Beach) and Wakulla County open on July 1. The …