Natural North Florida Springs–Cool in Summer, Warm in Winter

Our Natural North Florida counties (Alachua, Gilchrist, Levy, Dixie, Taylor, Madison, Jefferson, Union, Lafayette and Wakulla) have the largest concentration of natural freshwater springs in the world.  And, when the weather gets hot, they’re the perfect place to cool off.  However, visitors and residents flock to the springs, and their contant 72-degree water temperatures, when …

Going Scalloping On Our Natural North Florida Gulf Coast? Plan Ahead!

Participating in Florida’s bay scallop harvest (see: Bay Scallops: The Gulf of Mexico’s Tastiest Treat) is lots of fun, but before you head out the door and head to Steinhatchee, Keaton Beach, or St. Marks (all in Natural North Florida!), you’re advised to do some preliminary planning.  Other than the “simple stuff”, like having your …

Down The Less-Beaten Path Through The St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

There’s nothing quite like the United States’ National Wildlife Refuge system, and Natural North Florida has three of the best– St. Marks,  Lower Suwannee and Cedar Key.  All are interesting and worth the trip, but The St. Marks Preserve, located in Wakulla County, in the middle of the Big Bend, is especially interesting to visitors …

Kevin’s Redtrout Shootout, Wakulla County, May 30, 2015

It’s back! The Kevin’s Fine Outdoor Gear & Apparel Redtrout Shootout will take place May 30, 2015. Cash rewards will be paid out to the top 10 teams weighing in the heaviest combined weight of (1) redfish and (1) spotted seatrout. With an entry fee of $75.00 per angler and a guaranteed cash purse, you …

Don’t Miss The BBQ at Hamaknocker’s in Wakulla County, Florida!

I write about cooking and food in the monthly “Sportsman’s Kitchen” column in Florida Sportsman magazine, so I guess I’m qualified to make a comment on Florida’s BBQ tradition.  That said, in my humble opinion, Florida has NO BBQ TRADITION.  Yes, we have barbeque (and some folks still consider “grilling” to be barbequing), but mostly …

Third Annual Big Bend Kayak Fishing Classic, May 1 & 2, 2015, St. Marks

The Big Bend Kayak Classic  is a kayak fishing tournament benefiting Meals on Wheels in Wakulla County, FL   BBKC runs on a catch – photo – release (CPR) kayak fishing with prizes awarded for Biggest Redfish / Trout combo, Biggest Redfish, Biggest Trout, Biggest Freshwater Bass, & Biggest Red or Trout or Bass.  There are …

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, …

Looking For A New Adventure? Attend the 2015 Sopchoppy Worm Gruntin’ Festival, April 11

From: The Wakulla News: The 15th Annual Sopchoppy Worm Gruntin’ Festival – which will take place on the second Saturday in April as always, or April 11th this year, in the lovely downtown streets of historic Sopchoppy – promises to be the best ever.  Take a look at the program and you will find lots …

Fish Florida’s Untouched Upper Big Bend Shoreline

Yeah, yeah, yeah. We all know St. Augustine is old. The area surrounding the modern city was first explored in 1513 and it’s grown ever since. But 15 years later, Panfilo de Narvaez arrived in St. Marks, on the Big Bend, with 300 men. What followed there, at the confluence of the St. Marks and …