“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 …

Satchels and Springtime in Gainesville

  Hi! I’m Tammy, the newest addition to the Natural North Florida blogging team. If you’re new to our site (like me!) welcome to the Sunshine State’s most authentic resource for all things off the beaten path, the hidden gems from Gainesville to Cedar Key to Steinhatchee to Tallahassee, and every nook and cranny in …

Bill’s Fish Camp, Suwannee, FL–A Taste of Old Florida on The Suwannee River

If you’re headed towards Suwannee to do some fishing, consider staying at Bill’s Fish Camp and Motel near the end of CR349 in Levy County.  Located on a canal just off the main Suwannee River, you’ll have good access to some great saltwater and freshwater fishing. Here are some of the particulars: Rooms have a …

Consider a Fishing Vacation at Horseshoe, Florida’s Last Frontier

If you’re looking for a laid-back, peaceful vacation spot, consider Horseshoe Beach, on Florida’s Big Bend.  Located between Steinhatchee and the town of Suwannee, Horseshoe Beach considers itself “Florida’s Last Frontier”.  But don’t worry about the lack of something to do–especially if you fish! The waters near Horseshoe Beach are uncrowded and the fish are …

Eat at Ike’s Old Florida Kitchen at the Izaak Walton Lodge in Yankeetown

Eat at Ike’s Old Florida Kitchen at the Izaak Walton Lodge in Yankeetown by Capt. Tommy Thompson on Feb.02, 2012, under Yankeetown and Waccasassa Mitch and Lorraine Simmons have recently opened up a restaurant in the long-closed Izaak Walton Lodge in Yankeetown.  The menu looks great, and I’m sure the food’s as good as in …

Lunch at The Florida Cafe In Downtown Micanopy

After a hard day of antiquing, treat yourself to a late lunch at the Florida Cafe in downtown Micanopy.  A small cafe with lovely porch seating, the Florida Cafe serves soups, salads, and sandwiches to hungry customers every day.  The BLT is especially good, with perfectly cooked crisp bacon and fresh red tomatoes.  The tables …

Don’t Miss a Meal at Rachel’s Restaurant in Steinhatchee, FL

Rachel’s is open for breakfast (on weekends), lunch and dinner and has become a great hangout for folks wanting a homecooked meal in Steinhatchee.   I’ve listed it in the Fishing and Boating category because one of their specialties is ‘guest fish’–not that the fish are ‘guests’, but that they’ll happily cook your catch for lunch …

Cedar Key, Florida–AKA ‘Clamalot’

Cedar Key’s reputation as a Gulf fishing destination is unparalleled.  This archipelago of small islands juts into the Gulf of Mexico about 60 miles west of Gainesville and provides fishermen excellent access to both inshore and offshore waters. In addition, Cedar Key has become one of the largest producers of clams in the U.S.  Clam …

Suwannee’s a Great Place for Fishing–and Eating!

Not only is Suwannee a great place to fish, but it’s also a great place to eat.  For breakfast, try Sarah’s and for lunch or dinner, go to Salt Creek Shellfish Company (352) 542-7072.  On a recent trip to Salt Creek, I had the soft-shell crab sandwich for lunch and a wonderful stuffed (with crab, …

A Taste of Wakulla County’s Gulf of Mexico Coastline

As fishermen, we typically focus pretty tightly on the task at hand–catching fish.  However, the fish we catch and take home (or photograph and release) are sometimes different from the species that we eat at local restaurants.  If you’re in Panacea, St. Marks–or any other place in Wakulla County, you’ll likely be fishing in some …