Fishing and Boating
Our Fishing and Boating expert, Capt. Tommy Thompson, will tell you where the best fishing spots are, what’s biting, and tips on making your fishing and boating trips an exciting adventure!
The “411” on Fishing Steinhatchee’s North Shore in Winter Months
The close-in coastline south of Steinhatchee often gets more than its fair share of attention by anglers, especially during the cool early-winter months. There are, of course, a couple of good reasons. First, the bottom is rockier there, providing shelter and warmth for the bait fish and crustaceans that are of interest to inshore species …
“Christmas Trout” on Natural North Florida’s Big Bend
On our Big Bend, in warmer months, slot-sized spotted seatrout tend to roam the grass-covered bottom from Yankeetown to St. Marks, feeding on pinfish, shrimp and just about anything that gets within range. That includes a myriad of artificial lures and baits, ranging from soft plastics rigged under popping corks to hard-bodied lures, retrieved with …
Give The Gift Of A Santa Fe River Paddling Trip This Holiday Season–or Anytime
Natural North Florida’s Santa Fe River can be crowded during the warmer months (we really don’t have cold month!) so late fall and winter are the perfect time to enjoy the solitude and beauty of the river. An easy and fun trip is from the US27 Bridge in High Springs to Columbia County’s park at …
Steinhatchee Fishing Forecast, December 2015 From Capt. Davidson
Fishing has really picked up on Florida’s Big Bend Gulf coast. Here’s a forecast from Capt. Rick Davidson at Steinhatchee’s Sea Hag Marina: It’s always exciting, because even with the mild temperatures we’ve had, there are already some trout being taken in the river. When we get to more normal temperatures for December, especially after …
Sneak Off to the Big Bend’s Big Trout Rivers This Fall and Winter
In recent years, the days between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day have almost become one long ‘holiday vacation’. With the exception of the retail sector, folks seem to slow down, work shorter days, and even sneak away during the middle of the week to take advantage of excellent cool-weather trout fishing. Cool weather and waters …
Fall Means Flounder on Our Natural North Florida Gulf Coast
Cooling Gulf of Mexico waters means that the fish, especially flounder, are hungry and willing to eat almost any bait presented them. Flounder are voracious eaters, attacking small minnows (mostly killifish, or mud minnows), small mullet and shrimp. They lay on the bottom near rocks, almost invisible except for their distinctive shape, both eyes facing …
Fish Natural North Florida’s “Dog Head” in Taylor County Gulf Waters
Each fall, anglers departing Steinhatchee or Keaton Beach ask me about the best place to drift and catch spotted seatrout. My standard answer is “Dog Head”. A staple of our Big Bend fishery, seatrout hang out over lush grass beds, hunting for the pinfish, white bait and crustaceans that swim there. And successful anglers, …
The Best Fishing at Suwannee—and Maybe At Cedar Key—Suwannee Sound
October’s cooling waters seem to have a positive effect on the fishing in Suwannee Sound, the stretch of rugged coastline between the mouth of the Suwannee River and Cedar Key. Keeper seatrout have moved off the deep flats. While not yet holed up in the rivers and creeks, they’re moving closer to shore, especially around …
Kayak to Atsena Otie Key—An Easy and Informative Trip at Florida’s Cedar Keys
The locals call it “Seenie Otie” but it’s official name is Atsena Otie Key, It lies just about a quarter mile south of the boat basin at Cedar Key. And it offers some interesting sights to see if you paddle across the sound. Cedar Key was once a railroad terminus and western shipping point for …
Steinhatchee’s Northwest Territory–Great Florida Fishing!
The close-in coastline south of Steinhatchee often gets more than its fair share of attention by anglers, especially during the cool early-winter months. There are, of course, a couple of good reasons. First, the bottom is rockier there, providing shelter and warmth for the bait fish and crustaceans that are of interest to inshore species …