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!
Fishing Line Perilous for Pelicans
Fishing is an important part of the Florida lifestyle as well as its economy. In spite of the obvious benefits, this leisure-time activity, on occasion, can lead to problems for birds and other wildlife such as sea turtles and manatees. According to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologists, monofilament fishing line and fishing …
Lionfish invasion: FWC moves forward with management changes, May 2016
Yes, there are lionfish all over the Gulf of Mexico, including some of the waters off Levy, Dixie, Taylor, Jefferson, and Wakulla Counties. They live in deep waters, but are invasive and should be considered so. Here’s a recent post from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: News Release Wednesday, April 16, 2014 Media …
A Beginner’s Guide to Boating
If you’ve been thinking about getting out on the water, this is the guide for you. Free copies of this Guide are available by clicking HERE No matter if you love the open sea, enjoy the whirl of a reel or just like the wind whipping through your hair, the water is there, waiting for …
Fishermen and Boaters–Do You Know How to Swim?
There are some surprising figures regarding fishing/boating and swimming. Did you know that a large percentage of anglers and boaters don’t know how to swim? And do you know that fishing guides and boat captains who hold U.S. Merchant Marine licenses are not required to know how to swim? Swimming isn’t hard, and there are …
The Wacissa River–An Unspoiled Stretch of Fishy Water in Florida’s Jefferson County
The Wacissa River begins (where else?) but near the village of Wacissa, in southern Jefferson County. As the crow flies, the headwaters are but 20 or so miles from urban Tallahassee, but in terms of time, it may represent centuries. The headwaters are fed by numerous springs, including several with first magnitude flows. Depending on …
Rent a Houseboat–and Have a Suwannee River Adventure
Tired of hotels, motels and even crowded campground? Then consider a houseboat vacation on Florida’s scenic Suwannee River. Consider renting a houseboat from Miller’s Marina in Suwannee. After a quick training session, you get your captain’s papers and are ready to go. The 44-foot houseboat comes complete with flush toilet, shower and full kitchen, and …
The Advantages of Using Plastic Shrimp Instead of the Real Thing
Many Big Bend anglers are convinced that plastic (can you say “fake”?) shrimp are the equal of live shrimp when it comes to fishing on our coastal grass flats. It used to be that artificial shrimp looked nothing like the real thing, but in recent years they’ve almost reached a degree of hyper-reality! D.O.A. Lures’ …
Successful Fishing and Boating Depends on Your Understanding of Weather
This is NOT what you want to see if you’re headed to our Big Bend coastline to boat or fish! A fun day on the Gulf or local rivers is very dependent on weather. And in Florida, in all seasons, it’s important to keep a “weather eye” peeled for weather approaching from the west. In …
Captain’s Cove Outfitters–Tackle and Bait in Inglis, FL
I recently visited with Jim and Nicole at Captain’s Cove Outfitters on SR40 in Inglis. If you’re headed to Yankeetown or any of Levy County’s great fishing spots, you’ll find the store just off US19, marked by the BIG ice plant out front. And in addition to some excellent advice on the local bite, you’ll …
Seatrout Anglers! Don’t Fergit Yer Measurin’ Stick!
There are millions (probably billions!) of seatrout in our local rivers and creeks right now. But while some are of the “keeper” variety, many are small. And ever since the late Capt. Paul Cronk had his photo published in the Gainesville Sun with President Carter and what seemed to be a short trout, Capt. Rick …