gulf of mexico
Poor Man’s Tarpon–Catch A Big Bend Ladyfish!
Fishing’s not always about eating and with the recent cool weather, the Big Bend has been overrun with hordes of fish that are fun to catch—and not necessarily good to eat. Of course, I’m referring to ladyfish—also known as “poor man’s tarpon”. These boys and girls have been fattening up all summer, gorging on white …
Buckeye Reef Off Taylor County Expanded — Sponsored By The Gainesville Offshore Fishing Club
The Gainesville Offshore Fishing Club donated funds to increase the size of the Buckeye Reef. You can find a video of the reef here: https://youtu.be/uuxIgKwYWr0. As you can see from the video, shortly after the culverts were put in place, there were amberjack and grouper present, with schools of baitfish. The GPS coordinates for the …
All About Spanish Mackerel and Bluefish–Fall Big Bend Favorites
From: The Saltwater Angler’s Guide to Florida’s Big Bend and Emerald Coast Spanish Mackerel and Bluefish You can either target Spanish mackerel and bluefish—or they can target you. During the warmer months, finding these species is as easy as finding seagulls wheeling over bait schools in bays, off beaches, or in passes. That’s seagulls–not pelicans. …
Big Bend Waters Cool Down in September–And The Fishing is HOT!
I was pleasantly surprised last Saturday when Steinhatchee Capt. Rick Davidson told me he’d been reading water temperatures in the 70s all day. The day was cool and there were pods of bait everywhere, but I didn’t think that the temps had dropped that much in the past few weeks. That’s a good sign, and …
Four Basic First Aid Skills–On The Water Safety!
From: Miller’s Boating Center Do you feel prepared to handle an emergency out on the water? Would you know how to react if the unexpected were to arise? We don’t like to think about what can go wrong when enjoying a fun day out on the water. But you still need to be prepared in …
Taylor County Florida Artificial Reefs!
Just in time for summer and some great offshore fishing! Taylor County’s offshore marine environment draws diving and fishing enthusiasts from all over the Southeast. With over 50 miles of coastline, Taylor County is in a position to reap major recreational and economic benefits from a successful artificial reef program Volunteers are the heart of …
Steinhatchee is all about recreational fishing!
Steinhatchee is all about recreational fishing. Just a short drive from US19/98, this one-ramp fishing village sits at the mouth of the Steinhatchee River, which empties into the Gulf of Mexico between Cedar Key and St. Marks. What’s between Cedar Key and St. Marks? Not much—thus the popularity of Steinhatchee to anglers from far and …
Fish Shired Island, near Horseshoe Beach in Dixie County, Florida
I always thought Horseshoe Beach was an out-of-the-way and rather desolate spot to begin a fishing trip—until I discovered Shired Island. Located about 5 miles south of Horseshoe Beach at the southern end of Horseshoe Cove, mile-long Shired Island is likely an ancient kitchen midden composed of discarded shells. Prehistoric Americans no doubt found plenty …
Wade Fishing in Natural North Florida
I’m fortunate to have fished much of Florida’s shallow shoreline, and have noticed one big difference between our Big Bend and the rest of the state’s west and north Gulf coast—a decided scarcity of wading spots that are accessible to those without boats. The advantage that non-Big Benders have is barrier islands and their beaches. …
How do successful anglers find bait and the predators that prey upon it?
Anglers of all skill levels sometimes have trouble spotting bait, a critical element in the “fish-catching” equation. Here’s a hint of what to look for on Florida’s Big Bend: Calm, still waters like we often have on fall days, make it easy to spot jumping or schooling mullet. And when it’s calm, even small schools …