A Few Changes at Florida’s Ichetucknee State Park in Columbia County
Florida’s Ichetucknee State Park is a favorite of locals, as well as visitors to the State. The head spring feeds the river with clean, clear water and pushes rafters, tubers and paddlers downstream for an unequaled view of one of Florida’s most pristine natural areas. For the 2016 “season”, beginning in late May, there have …
Recipe: Captain Tommy’s Pretzel Rolls
One of my pet peeves is “bad buns”. No—not necessarily beachgoers who don’t suit up in front of mirrors, but fried or grilled fish sandwiches whose buns ruin a perfectly good meal. Forget soggy fries or wilted salads—they can be ignored. Just don’t give me a piece of fish on what’s essentially a stale piece …
Off The Beaten Path: Jefferson County Florida’s Short 6-Mile Gulf Shoreline
If, on a fishing trip to the Jefferson County coastline, you think you’re the first human to ever see this shoreline, you’re wrong. This rugged 6-mile stretch of our Big Bend is now, for the most part, uninhabited and relatively unfished, due in part to the fact that it’s rocky and shallow. But now we …
Thoughts Regarding Table Value of Smoothback Pufferfish
From Tommy Thompson, Natural North Florida Fishing Expert Since the spring of 2015, there’s been an “outbreak” of smoothback puffers along Florida’s Gulf Coast, from Tampa Bay to Pensacola. Likely a deepwater species, I’d never seen one until I caught 4 off Steinhatchee on Florida’s Big Bend last year. These are NOT the small porcupine …
HURRY! Enter TODAY! The Florida STAR TOURNAMENT starts 5/28/16!!!
The CCA Florida STAR Tournament starts this weekend! This year CCA STAR has gone statewide and has over $500,000 in prizes & scholarships up for grabs, and all you need to do is sign up and get your clients to sign up as well! The first captain who guides his client to the capture of …
$100 Reward For Tagged Seatrout–Thanks to UF/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station in Cedar Key
The Conservation Fund awarded the University of Florida a grant for $19,500 to fund a tagging study on spotted sea trout in Cedar Key and Steinhatchee. The project is determining tagging mortality rates and fishing mortality to assist with stock assessment and management.To date about 150 fish have been tagged with $100.00 reward tags and …
Fishing Feature: The Importance of Lure Color and Style
Lures catch fishermen; fishermen catch fish. That’s a true statement, and while many anglers on Florida’s Big Bend lug tackle bags and boxes holding vast numbers of lures and baits, most of them have their “go-to” lures rigged and ready to fish. Springtime flats fishing usually begins in earnest when the water temperatures get …
Small Town Getaway: Panacea and The Gulf Specimen Marine Lab
Panacea, Florida is a small fishing community on Wakulla County’s Gulf coast. It’s home to some pretty good fishing and food (Posey’s Up The Creek is my favorite!), but it’s also home to the Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory. Visitors, especially kids, are encouraged to visit the lab and aquarium, and in many cases they’ll get …
Doug Johnson’s Reeling For Kids Tournament, Steinhatchee, June 3 & 4, 2016
Without a doubt, the Doug Johnson Reeling For Kids Saltwater Challenge Tournament is the largest and most popular fishing event on the Big Bend, Former Gator football superstar Doug Johnson started the event about ten years ago, and it’s grown in popularity and size ever since. While it’s not inexpensive to enter your boat and …
The “Shacks” at Steinhatchee—A Cut Above The Average “Shacks”!
Not too many years ago, when they were Paces’ Cottages, what’s now the Shacks at Sea Hag Marina were exactly that–SHACKS! But since the purchase of the property by the Norwood family, and after a lengthy and elaborate upgrade, these cottages and houses are now some of the best rental lodging in Steinhatchee. That’s great, …