Interested in Oysters? Head to Ouzt’s Too in Newport, FL

I’m “old school” and only eat oysters in months whose spelling includes an “R”.  Yes, I realize we now have cleaner waters flowing over oyster beds these days and have excellent refrigeration technology, but I’m still not a fan of oysters taken from warm water.  Warmer conditions mean an increased danger of contamination, and oysters …

GULF SPECIMEN MARINE LABORATORIES at Panacea, Wakulla County–Fun and Informative For Everyone!

Gulf Specimen Marine Lab invites you to come out and visit our gift shop where you will find some unique gifts for your family and friends. Remember all proceeds helps support the aquarium and our mission.

Florida’s Apalachee Bay Maritime Heritage Paddling Trail System

Trail Overview Be transported to a different time and place as you paddle Apalachee Bay’s Ten Maritime Heritage Trails. Designed for enthusiasts of all levels, enjoy fishing, wildlife viewing, and photography as you explore one of Florida’s last great bays, its inlets, rivers, and springs. Apalachee is one of the healthiest and most productive bays …

Boaters and Fishermen–Need Up-To-The-Minute Weather and Wind Data? GIve the GCOOS Site a Try!

The folks at the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System in St. Petersburg have released a valuable tool for recreational boaters.  The GCOOS Map site will give you current weather information as well as buoy data for the entire Gulf of Mexico, including sites along the Nature Coast.  Take a look!

Don’t Have A Fishing Boat Or A Kayak? Rent One!

Not everyone’s lucky (or unlucky!) enough to own their own fishing boat or kayak.  However, renting is an option at several ports in Natural North Florida.  Whether you fish, scallop or just want to go for a boat ride, renting may be right for you.  It’s always nice to return to the dock and simply …

Cool-Weather Seatrout Tactics for Florida’s Big Bend

There’s no doubt that the spotted seatrout is the most popular of all the game fish we catch along our Big Bend coast.  These fish are plentiful, relatively easy to catch, and make fine table fare.  With the season now open all year, a daily bag limit of 5 fish (all over 15-inches; one over …

Florida’s Big Bend Anglers to Benefit From New Rules for Spotted Seatrout

Essentially, what this means to our Gulf coastline (in Levy, Dixie, Taylor, Jefferson and Wakulla Counties) is that the February closure has been eliminated.  Now, anglers fishing from Yankeetown, Waccasassa, Cedar Key, Suwannee, Horseshoe Beach, Steinhatchee, Keaton Beach, Econfina, Spring Warrior, St. Marks and Panacea have an extra month to fish.  February has traditionally been …

Seafood with a View at Posey’s Dockside

When you’re in Panacea, it’s hard to resist the lure of the water, and come dinnertime, dining bayfront seems like a no-brainer. With seafood and a great view in mind, we headed to Posey’s Dockside. From the painted pirate that greets you on your approach to the fishing boats tied up at the neighboring docks, …

Heaven Scent: Rose’s Botanicals Soap Factory and Gift Shop

The aromas of Rose’s Botanicals soaps are pleasantly subtle — they smell fantastic, but these all-natural soaps don’t knock you over the way artificial ingredients do. At the Stone Crab Festival in St. Marks, I must have smelled 25 different scents of soap: It’s that hard to choose just one. In addition to the lovely …

Gulf Specimen Marine Lab, Panacea

One of Natural North Florida’s hidden treasures is Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory, which I recently visited with my family. We were blown away by the variety of sea life at the aquarium and the fact that, unlike typical attractions, you can touch nearly everything there! We dipped our hands into tanks with starfish, crabs, fish …