Summering in Simmering Suwannee Sound, Levy County Fishing At It’s Best!

Many anglers write off fishing our Big Bend waters in summer, simply giving in to the crowds of scallopers who invade our coastal ports, boat ramps, restaurants and motels. But we do have excellent summertime fishing opportunities in our less-busy darker waters. And Suwannee Sound, between the towns of Suwannee and Cedar Key, tops my …

Paddle With PaddleFlorida on the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail: October 22 – 27, 2015

Natural North Florida’s Suwannee River Wilderness Trail offers a unique opportunity to see and paddle one of America’s great rivers.  The Suwannee River starts its journey in Georgia’s Okefenokee Swamp and meanders through north central Florida until it reaches the Gulf of Mexico at the town of Suwannee. One important yearly kayak event is the …

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, …

Anglers–Be On The Lookout! Cobia Are Swimming Along Florida’s Nature Coast

  Our Big Bend channel markers provide good cover for predators. Proof comes in the springtime when visitors to our coastline question the appearance of boats circling almost every marker at Cedar Key, Suwannee and Steinhatchee . Spring is “cobia time” and lots of anglers are on the lookout for ling, crab-eaters, or lemon fish–as …

“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 …

Red grouper Bag Limit Changes to 2 on May 7, 2015 in Florida’s Gulf State and Federal Waters

The red grouper recreational bag limit will change from four to two fish per person in Gulf of Mexico state and federal waters, excluding Monroe County, on May 7, 2015 This change was approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) at its November 2014 meeting. The Commission hopes that this change will …

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, …

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 …

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 …

News Flash! Big Bend Inshore Fish Celebrate The New Year 2015

After somewhat of a “fish drought” in late 2014, Big Bend fishing for spotted seatrout and redfish has picked up significantly since New Year’s Day 2015.  I’m not sure exactly why, possibly due to some sunny days and cooler water temperatures, but there seem to be plenty of fish being caught from Yankeetown to Panacea, …