Where’s The Beach?—at Horseshoe Beach!

If you’re heading to Horseshoe Beach, forget about swimming and sunbathing along sandy shores. But if you’ve got fall fishing on your mind, you’re heading in the right direction. This small fishing village is located at the dead end of CR351, about 25 miles southwest of Cross City and US19/98, on a small peninsula jutting …

Have An October Adventure On Taylor County, Florida’s Flats

Taylor County doesn’t have the “flats market” cornered. In fact, on the Big Bend we have just one huge grass flat along our Natural North Florida coast. .  Taylor County’s 40-mile stretch, from Steinhatchee north to mouth of the Aucilla River, is just a fraction of the available fishing territory. And, if I had to …

Snook On The Big Bend? You Bet–Provided We Have a Warm Winter!

Snook are probably the most fun and abundant gamefish in Florida.  They run, they jump, and if you want to keep one for dinner during open season, they’re delicious to eat.  However, they’re also highly susceptible to cold water temperatures and are some of the first fish to be found floating dead after a hard …

Heading To The Water? Use Florida Boat Ramp Finder For The Best Access

If you’re heading to the Gulf, the rivers or the lakes in our Natural North Florida region, be assured we have plenty of boat ramps with public access for your use.  And the best way to find them is to use the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Boat Ramp Finder.  It’s a complete listing, …

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 …

Floating Grass Slowing Your Fishing This Summer? Try a Weedless Frog Lure!

On our Natural North Florida Big Bend, floating grass seems to take over our coast during late summer months.  And there are numerous conspiracy theories as to why huge mats of grass clog the intakes of outboard motors and make fishing for redfish and seatrout with topwater lures almost impossible.  It’s not that our grass …

Tips For Successful Scalloping During Rainy Season on Florida’s Big Bend, 2015

In the late summer, water visibility can hinder and slow the harvest of bay scallops.  This year, they’re plentiful along our coastline, but are often hard to see. We’ve had more than our fair share of rain on the Big Bend, too. Mornings have been calm, but with high humidity and high air temperatures, thunderstorms …

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 …

“Early Birds” Catch The Fish–Summertime Fishing on Florida’s Big Bend

There are several reasons to get up early and go fishing on hot summer days.  One, if you’re fishing from one of our busy scalloping areas (Steinhatchee, Keaton Beach, St. Marks), you’ll beat the crowds to the water.  Another, the weather is more likely to be calm, unlike the afternoons when thunderstorms usually develop. The …