gulf of mexico
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 …
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, …
Fishing Feature: Cedar Key’s Main Ship Channel
Cedar Key In the 1880’s, steamships plied the waters between New Orleans, Havana, and Cedar Key. Yet after the hurricane of 1896 and the depletion of the cedar trees by pencil manufacturers, Cedar Key became a sleepy fishing village on Florida’s Big Bend. But in spite of the town’s loss of commerce and population, its …
Spring is Cobia Time on Florida’s Big Bend!
Our Big Bend channel markers provide good cover for predators. Proof comes in the springtime when visitors to our coastline question the appearance of boats circling almost every marker alongside the Barge Canal south of Yankeetown and either of the major channels at Cedar Key. Spring is “cobia time” and lots of anglers are on …
A Taste of “Old Florida”: Bill’s Fish Camp at Suwannee
There are very few real “fish camps” left in Florida. Of those that disappeared, many were sold and their valuable (and strategically placed) real estate swallowed up by developers to build pricey condos and vacation homes. Some of that happened at Suwannee, Steinhatchee, Yankeetown and Cedar Key, but there are a few left. On our …
52nd Annual Cedar Key Arts Festival, April 9 & 10, 2016
2016 marks the 52nd year of the Cedar Key Arts Festival. The town of Cedar Key comes alive with fun for the entire family during the event. Expect great food, professional arts and crafts and a chance to see one of Florida’s best-kept secrets–the town of Cedar Key. Located just an hour west of …
Miller’s Marina, Suwannee, to Become GATEWAY MARINA, March 2016
Things are changing at “Suwannee Town”. Most interesting is that the Miller family has sold the marina bearing their name, and it’s now known as Gateway Marina. “Gateway” is a fitting term, as the marina is the closest to the mouth of the mighty river and to the Gulf of Mexico. Plans for the …