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!
Interested in Oysters? Head to Ouzt’s Too in Newport, FL
I’m “old school” and only eat oysters in months whose spelling includes an “R”. Yes, I realize we now have cleaner waters flowing over oyster beds these days and have excellent refrigeration technology, but I’m still not a fan of oysters taken from warm water. Warmer conditions mean an increased danger of contamination, and oysters …
Fish Suwannee Town and the Mouth of the Suwannee River
The Suwannee River is the second largest river in Florida, flowing from Georgia’s Okefenokee Swamp to the Gulf of Mexico. At the Gulf, the river serves as the boundary between Levy and Dixie counties, on Florida’s Big Bend. This part of our Nature Coast is secluded, and therefore offers some excellent angling without the hustle …
GULF SPECIMEN MARINE LABORATORIES at Panacea, Wakulla County–Fun and Informative For Everyone!
Gulf Specimen Marine Lab invites you to come out and visit our gift shop where you will find some unique gifts for your family and friends. Remember all proceeds helps support the aquarium and our mission.
The Great Goliath Grouper
You’re not likely to find Goliath grouper, which can easily tip the scales at 500-pounds close to shore on Florida’s Big Bend. But there’s not reason to suspect that when you think you’re hooked up to a rock on one of our offshore reefs and it starts to move, that you have a Goliath on …
Cold Weather Means Big Seatrout at Steinhatchee
It’s December, and the cold-ish weather has brought cool water temperatures to the Gulf and River at Steinhatchee, in Taylor County. That mean lots of seatrout are schooling, and anglers returning to the Sea Hag Marina have been bringing in steady limits (5 fish, one can be over 20″, none under 15″). Many folks are …
Getting To Know Your New Boat
From The Fishing Wire: Every new boat requires an owner break-in period. Experiences from this new owner just may help you with yours. Dan Keating has owned several boats over the years and is an avid fisherman. When he decided to replace his aging center console with a new Yamaha-powered Contender® 32ST, he realized it …
Investigate the Inside of Cedar Key’s Islands and Find Seatrout and Redfish
All too often anglers spend lots of time circling the islands near Cedar Key, failing to realize that on higher tides that there’s enough water inside the islands to float small boats and paddlecraft. Two examples are Atsena Otie Key and Snake Key, located due south of the boat basin at the end of SR24. …
Florida Removes Venting Tool Requirement for Reef Fishes
Soon Florida anglers will no longer be required to have and use a venting tool when fishing for reef fish in Gulf of Mexico state waters. During its Nov. 21 meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) removed the requirement in Gulf state waters, making state regulations consistent with rules in federal waters. …
Using Nautical Charts (and Variations)
NOAA has recently (2013) announced that printed nautical charts are being discontinued. However, there are many options for printed charts, mostly geared to fishermen, as well as electronic versions of charts embedded into the systems of GPS and combination GPS/Sonar units for boats. If you’re looking for a good fishing chart that’s detailed enough to …
Catch More Fall Fish on Florida’s Big Bend, Rig “Carolina Style”!
From Capt. Rick Burns: This week I’ll share one way of how to go about catching our sometimes sluggish Autumn fish with live or cut bait. I love the thrill and challenge of fooling fish with plugs and artificial lures. But, when these times can render some fish “lockjaw lethargics”, you sometimes have to revert …