Wintertime Bass Are Biting in North Florida’s Santa Fe River

  From Tommy Thompson, Fishing and Boating blogger and Regional Editor, Florida Sportsman Magazine: We have some terrific lakes (Rousseau, Orange, Newnans, Santa Fe) and some “fishy” rivers. Some, like the  Suwannee, Withlacoochee, Waccasassa, and Steinhatchee meet the Gulf and saltwater anglers are often surprised with largemouth catches all the way to the mouth. Another, …

Natural North Florida Dining Essentials: How to Eat a Blue Crab

Visitors to local restaurants along our Big Bend Gulf Coast (and inland, too!) are often intimidated when a large plate of steamed blue crabs arrives at their table.  Sometimes they’re accompanied by nutcrackers and hammers, but for the most part, getting to the “meat of the matter” is simply a hands-on operation. When you order …

National Archery In The Schools Florida State Tournament, 2/28/15, Newberry Sports Complex

Welcome to the Easton Newberry Sports Complex! The Easton Newberry Sports Complex, located in Newberry, Florida, is a shared-use facility that combines the Easton Newberry Archery Center with a multi-use recreation facility. The archery program focuses on training archers and coaches, developing curriculum, and in providing a world-class venue to host archery events. Discover Archery. …

Don’t Miss a Hearty Meal at Conestoga’s Restaurant in Downtown Alachua, FL

Rick Robertson and his crew at Conestoga’s Restaurant in downtown Alachua, Florida have just one thing on their minds:  letting you leave after some pretty good eating and with a full belly! Open for lunch and dinner, Monday thru Saturday, Conestoga’s is located at 14920 Main Street in Alachua (Phone (352) 462-1294), just a few …

Manatees Headed to Warmer Water with Cooling Temperatures in Florida

From:  The Fishing Wire The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) encourages boaters to help protect migrating manatees by looking out and slowing down for these aquatic mammals that often rest or congregate underwater and can be difficult to see. “During Manatee Awareness Month, the FWC encourages the public to celebrate manatees by learning …

Lucky’s Market Opens it’s 8th U.S. Location in Gainesville, 1/7/15

  It’s not often that a grocery store becomes a travel destination, but the new Lucky’s Market in Gainesville has it’s sights set on becoming just that.  Located at 1459 NW 23rd Avenue in the Verde Plaza (and the almost 20-year empty Pic ‘N Save space), Lucky’s is a welcome addition to Natural North Florida’s …

News Flash! Big Bend Inshore Fish Celebrate The New Year 2015

After somewhat of a “fish drought” in late 2014, Big Bend fishing for spotted seatrout and redfish has picked up significantly since New Year’s Day 2015.  I’m not sure exactly why, possibly due to some sunny days and cooler water temperatures, but there seem to be plenty of fish being caught from Yankeetown to Panacea, …

Sailing South? Transient Sailors Welcome at Steinhatchee, FL

If you’re sailing (or motoring) south towards  Florida’s southwest coast there’s a big gap (about 130 nautical miles!) between the end of the southbound Intracoastal Waterway at Carrabelle and Tarpon Springs, where it assumes it’s marked route.  That being the case, it’s always nice to find safe haven and anchorage, especially if the weather starts …

Gulf Red Grouper 4-Fish Bag Limit Effective 1/1/15

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved changing the Gulf red grouper daily bag limit from 4-fish to 2-fish within the 4-grouper aggregate bag limit at the November 2014 meeting. This change is pending until similar regulations take place in Gulf federal waters and is not expected to occur until sometime in Spring 2015. …