Author: Tommy Thompson
Fishing Feature: Cedar Key’s Main Ship Channel
Cedar Key In the 1880’s, steamships plied the waters between New Orleans, Havana, and Cedar Key. Yet after the hurricane of 1896 and the depletion of the cedar trees by pencil manufacturers, Cedar Key became a sleepy fishing village on Florida’s Big Bend. But in spite of the town’s loss of commerce and population, its …
Spring is Cobia Time on Florida’s Big Bend!
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 alongside the Barge Canal south of Yankeetown and either of the major channels at Cedar Key. Spring is “cobia time” and lots of anglers are on …
25th Annual Perry Optimist Saltwater Fishing Tournament, Taylor County, FL—May 7, 2016
The Optimist Club of Perry’s 25th Annual Saltwater Fishing Tournament promises to be special! Anglers can fish from 7AM in the Gulf waters out of Steinhatchee, Keaton Beach and Econfina. There’s a $50 per angler entry fee, but the prizes to be won are huge. Largest seatrout, $3000 2nd Largest seatrout, $1000 3rd Largest seatrout, …
Too Windy To Fish The Gulf? Head Up A Big Bend Coastal Creek
Springtime often means that the winds howl on Natural North Florida’s Gulf Coast. It’s not unusual for winds to be light and variable, 3 to 7-knots, in the morning hours, but turn to a 20-knot westerly sea breeze by noon. The land heats up faster than the water, and that convection causes rough …
CCA-Florida’s STAR Tournament Begins May 28, 2016
Everyone needs a new truck, boat and trailer, or valuable outdoor-related prizes. And kids need scholarship money! The 2016 CCA-Florida STAR Tournament begins on May 28 and ends on September 5. Tagged, slot-sized redfish are being released all along Florida’s coastline, and winning is a simple matter of becoming a CCA Member and entering the …
10th Annual Mayhaw Berry Festival, Monticello, FL–May 7 & 8, 2016
Golden Acres Ranch in Jefferson County, FL is hosting the 10th Annual Mayhaw Berry Festival on May 7 and 8, 2016. It’s a free, family oriented event, with a petting area, hayrides, local crafts, art, food–and of course, mayhaw jelly! Golden Acres, located at 704 Barnes Road, Monticello, is a 60-acre, working goat and sheep …
O’Leno State Park and Its Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy
One of Florida’s first state parks, O’Leno State Park was first developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The park is located along the banks of the scenic Santa Fe River, a tributary of the Suwannee River, and features sinkholes, hardwood hammocks, river swamps and sandhills. As the river courses through the park, …
A Beginner’s Guide to Bay Scallop Season: Catching, Cleaning & Cooking Fresh Gulf Scallops
Scalloping is the Natural North Florida’s alternative to South Florida’s lobster season. It’s a combination of complete madness at boat ramps and marinas, motels filled to capacity, family fun, and some of the best eating around. Here is our comprehensive guide to scalloping in Natural North Florida to prepare you for the upcoming season. Read …
A Taste of “Old Florida”: Bill’s Fish Camp at Suwannee
There are very few real “fish camps” left in Florida. Of those that disappeared, many were sold and their valuable (and strategically placed) real estate swallowed up by developers to build pricey condos and vacation homes. Some of that happened at Suwannee, Steinhatchee, Yankeetown and Cedar Key, but there are a few left. On our …
Fishing News: Redfish daily bag limit in Big Bend to change to 1 fish per person
On May 1, 2016, the individual bag limit for redfish (red drum) will drop from 2 fish to 1 fish on Florida’s Big Bend (Pasco County to the Alabama line). The FWC’s Northwest Zone is affected, as shown on the map below: Red drum, also called redfish, channel bass, spottail, red bass or reds, are …