3-Day Trip: Wildlife Watching in North Florida
North Florida’s wet and warm climate is home to an assortment of unique and exotic wildlife. The forests are filled with woodland animals such as foxes, squirrels and snakes. The beaches are spotted with a wide variety of birds and other aquatic wildlife. And, state nature trails are filled with lizards, insects and creatures of …
3-Day Trip: Fish North Florida’s Hidden Coast
The shorelines of Florida’s northwest counties are known for more than their white, sandy beaches and quaint, coastal cities. Their waters are abundant with a wide variety of salt and freshwater fish, and each county offers an assortment of boating, scalloping and other water activities. From freshwater kayak fishing to deep-sea charters, Florida’s northern shores …
A Natural North Florida Winter Traditon– Trout in Suwannee’s Coastal Creeks
There are probably no two wintertime trout spots on Florida’s Big Bend more famous than Dan May and Barnett creeks, south of the Suwannee River. These are not piddling little ditches draining small patches of coastline, but big creeks that rival some of Florida rivers in overall size and tidal flow. January‘s deepening winter usually …
Start Searching For Cedar KeySheepshead, Winter 2015/16
While opportunities abound for anglers to target many species in our Natural North Florida area in January, it’s the thought of big sheepshead that really gets local folks excited. Cold winter weather sparks the natural spawning cycle of sheepshead and the big females, some as large as ten pounds, school over and near artificial and …
Rum138: More Than A Paddling Destination in Southern Columbia County
Travelers to the springs areas of Natural North Florida near High Springs often ask me about Rum138. Doug and Merrillee Jipson’s lovingly-presented creation is hard to explain. There, you’ll find an excellent kayak and canoe outfitter, a first-rate art gallery–and you can even get your hair styled! Rum138 is definitely worth a visit, if for …
“Seenie Otey” Is Just A Short Paddle From Cedar Key
On the charts and maps of Cedar Key and Dixie County, Florida it’s named “Atsena Otie Key”. But to locals, it’s simply “Seenie Otey”. In any case, this island is just a short paddle from the beach and harbor at the south end of the town of Cedar Key. There, you can launch your own …
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 …
Hike, Bike, Swim, Camp and Paddle at Florida’s O’Leno State Park
One of Florida’s first state parks, O’Leno State Park was first developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The park is located along the banks of the scenic Santa Fe River, a tributary of the Suwannee River, and features sinkholes, hardwood hammocks, river swamps and sandhills. As the river courses through the park, …
Don’t Miss These 2015 Holiday Events in Lake City, Florida
Lighting of the Park & Santa in the Park (All of December) Olustee Park Downtown Lake City, FL 386-752-3690 www.lakecitychamber.com Lake City Snow Day and Christmas Parade (December 12, 2015) Downtown Lake City, FL 386-752-3690 www.lakecitychamber.com