Apa/ar:l1ce Bay. G u If. MexIco

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Big Bend. Angling Roundup Call it the Nature Coast or the Forgotten Coast, but either way it's a region full offishing opportunities that often get overlooked. Let's take an angling tour of this area.

3 Big Bend. Angling Roundup Call it the Nature Coast or the Forgotten Coast, but either way it's a region full offishing opportunities that often get overlooked. Let's take an angling tour of this area. by Polly Dean I ~ When one visualizes the Florida coast, what often comes to mind are the heavily populated beaches and huge condos that pervade the horizon. Fortunately and true to its moniker of "Natural North Florida," there exists an area of the Big Bend coastline that even today remains nearly as untouched and unspoiled as it did decades ago. This region runs from its western end at Panacea in Wakulla County, east around the bend and ranging southward to Yankeetown in Levy County. The fishing villages of Steinhatchee and Horseshoe Beach also fall in this unspoiled and somewhat "forgotten" area. Anglers however, should not overlook this gem of a coastline and its waterways as prime fishing destinations, whether you prefer freshwater or the salt. You won't find chain hotels 0)" shopping malls when planning your fishing trip to the Natural Coast. But anglers do find outfitters that provide advice, taekle and kayaks for rent. There are also marinas offering boat ramps or guided trips. Additionally, there are clean acconunodations and restaurants offering hearty meals, including those willing to prepare your fresh catch that evening. For the non-anglers in your party, this out-of-the-way destination has plenty to offer including quaint villages, bed-and-breakfasts, wineries, hundreds of natural springs, museums and state parks. PANACEA BOWFISHING Captain Vic Davis of Panacea offers fishermen a variety of trips, but Olle of his most unique is his nighttime bowfishing charter. Experiencing bow fishing is something that should not be missed! It doesn't matter if you have ever shot a bow and arrow before. It is fun for everybody whether you are and experienced angler or hunter or have never hunted before. Capt. Davis provides the bows and gives a brief lesson on shooting them. We had a choice of a compound bow or a recurve and the draw weight was fairly light on both, as our prey was usually only a few feet from the boat. The bow of Davis' 23-foot Explorer boat is rigged for the nighttime adventure with three powerful spotlights. Two anglers - or perhaps the better term is hunters - could stand on the bow, one on either side, poised to shoot, as the captain very slowly ran across the shallows. The shooters target stingrays, flounder, sheep shead, mullet and gar. We had several shots at fish and rays that evening and were even able to bring a few fish to the TI'oat Uk. the on. C.pt... am ram.u.howlng off... coaaon around Ho... ho. Beach. Photo by PoUy D.o. boat. The trick when shooting fish is to aim under them. This is due to the distorted view of where the fish actually are in the water. Captain Davis also guides conventional. angling day trips for inshore species, as well as scallop shark and alligator trips. For bowfishing be sure to check the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission regulations for the list of non-game fish species allowed to be taken with a spear or bow. 37

ST. MARKS The rural county of Wakulla is an outdoorsman's paradise. Eighty-nine percent of its acreage is classified as national forest, wildlife refuge or commercial forestland.

4 ST. MARKS The rural county of Wakulla is an outdoorsman's paradise. Eighty-nine percent of its acreage is classified as national forest, wildlife refuge or commercial forestland. The spring-fed Wakulla and St. Marks rivers nourish the county's marsh flats attracting redfish, trout, flounder and sheepshead along with a variety of other saltwater species. Amid the ample saltwater opportunities, anglers also can fish the pristine, picturesque Wakulla or St. Marks rivers for freshwater species. Two favored species to target are largemouth and Suwannee bass, the later of which is unique to very few waters in North Florida and a small portion of South Georgia. Suwannee bass are scrappy fighters like their smallmouth cousins. The Suwannee bass is a member of the black bass family and similar in appearance to the largemouth. It is a smaller species, with the world record being less than 4 pounds. A 2-pounder is considered a good-sized fish. The lower jaw of the Suwannee bass runs to under the eye, unlike the largemouth where the jaw extends well beyond the eye. Suwannee bass usually have teeth on the tongue, where the largemouth does not. The black, tannic, though clear spring water is home to a number of sunfish species as well. As my fishing party learned, this freshwater option was a great alternative when strong winds forced us to Capt. Vic Davis offlln nlghttlma a. canlons for bowflshlng at Panacea In WakuUa Coanty.. Photo by PoUy Dean. The Pine Lodge Bed & Breakfast In Lavy Coanty offen qaalnt and historic cottages or bedrooms In the main house.. Photo by PoUy Dean. forgo the saltwater flats. The scenic St. Marks River is a rare treat for anglers and you may discover that you have your camera in hand almost as much as your rod. The St. Marks and Wakulla rivers are ideally suited for fishing from a kayak or canoe. Robert Baker is the third generation owner and operator oft-n-t Hideaway Rental, an outfitter for canoeing and kayaking the rivers. He also guides anglers on the rivers, as well as the coastal waters. Baker grew up on these waters, paddling his grandmother at the age of six on the Wakulla River as she looked for manatees. Baker is an avid fishermen and knows how to catch about any species of fish that occupies his native waters. During our day on the river Baker targeted Suwannee bass and had success in landing a pair ofthem on Rebel Crawfish crankbaits. When floating the tannic water, if you are able to see where a deeper channel drops off of a shelf, this is a likely spot for a Suwannee bass to hold. A gold Rebel Pop-R worked well in catching some largemouths, too. Fly rods are also suited for this type of fishing. Several redbreasts and spotted sunfish - or stump knockers as they are often called - were caught using white popping bugs and Rubber Legged Dragon fly patterns. T-n-T Hideaway Rental is located on the Wakulla River. The outfitter rents kayaks, canoes and paddleboards, as well as catering trips to your angling or sightseeing needs. Visit them at or call (850) STEINHATCHEE Steinhatchee is the ultimate fishing destination, but not necessarily a wellknown one. It is still an unspoiled village attracting fishermen to its expansive estuary teeming with redfish, trout, sheep shead, mackerel and cobia. Additionally it is a great place for scalloping in the summertime. Captain Steve Kroll has been fishing this area for more than 30 years and has been a full-time guide for the last dozen years. He greatly favors fishing with light tackle, using jigs or topwater lures. Those methods proved to work well for my fishing partner Sue Cocking and me. Sue and I tossed a chartreuse 1I16-ounce jig with a Morning Dawncolored Bass Assassin soft bait. And, the redfish action heated up quickly! We used a fast retrieve to keep the jig from snagging on the shallow rocky bottom. We still hung up a few times in the 3-foot water, but in just a couple hours we boated a dozen or so redfish, including our limit of keepers within the slot limit. We even had to throw a few back that were too big to take home. Soft baits in the Electric Chicken pattern of chartreuse and hot pink 38

worked as well. If the bite slowed on the Assassins, we switched to a white Berkley Gulp! To contact Capt. Steve Kroll visit his Web site at www.pepperfishkey. com or call (352) 222-4085.

5 worked as well. If the bite slowed on the Assassins, we switched to a white Berkley Gulp! To contact Capt. Steve Kroll visit his Web site at com or call (352) Another Steinhatchee guide, Capt. Jim Henley, can be reached at www. fishingwithcaptainjim.com. Don't be fooled into thinking that the sleepy fishing village of Steinhatchee doesn't have top-notch accommodations. Steinhatchee Landing is a luxury 35-acre resort offering one- to four-bedroom Victorian and Cracker-style cottages with numerous amenities geared for families and groups. For details, visit Also be sure to visit Fiddlers Restaurant where you can have your fresh catch prepared for dinner. Check it out at lteinhatchee Landing blends into Its sal'l'oandings With flnt-rate accommodadons With an aid Florida flavor.. Photo by PoUy Dean. HORSESHOE BEACH Even more off the beaten path is Horseshoe Beach, located to the south of Steinhatchee. Fishermen here find much of the same angling conditions and action as found in Steinhatchee. Capt. James Farnell guides on the surrounding waters, specializing in light tackle, artificial lure trips. He also guides fly fishermen. Captain Farnell has a few favorite lures. We used gold Johnson Spoons in 1/2- and 3/4-ounce sizes. This is his go-to lure for redfish. Farnell prefers a 20-pound monofilament leader tied directed to 10-pound braided line. He believes using swivels on his connections negatively impacts the natural movement of the lure. Another of his favorite lures is the MirrOdine suspending twitch bait in either or 2 5/8-inch lengths. We fished shallow waters, rarely going deeper than 5 or 6 feet. We cast to sandy potholes amid the grass flats. Mixed bottoms of rock, grass and sand were likely locations for finding fish. When the winds picked up and the bite slowed, we switched to free-lining live shrimp. The speckled trout were receptive to the baits, but their take tended to be very soft on this day. I began keep light tension on the line between the rod and bait. When I felt any resistance at all I set the hook. Most times there would be a fish on the line. Capt. Steve Farnell's Web site is or he can be reached through Mangrove Creek Outfitters in Chiefland at YANKEETOWN Yankeetown bears the charm of oldtime Florida. It holds a great deal of history and it's share offamous visitors, some who now call this town home. Quaint, quiet streets lined with large oaks shrouded in Spanish moss lead the way to B's Marina and Campground, miles from the Gulf of Mexico on the Withlacoochee River. Captain Rick LeFiles guides anglers on the beautiful Withlacoochee and surrounding waters. LeFiles specializes in light-tackle and fly-fishing for redfish, trout, snook and other species. He is a treat to fish with because of his extensive knowledge of the history surrounding Yankeetown. The Captain is always willing to share this colorful information with his customers, whether they are fishing with him or just enjoying one of his eco-tours on the river. Besides trout and redfish, anglers fishing the Withlacoochee and nearby inland waters can expect to find sheep shead, flounder, black drum, Spanish mackerel and tarpon. The Withlacoochee is a scenic waterway where anglers can also enjoy fishing from a kayak or canoe. More information about fishing with Captain Rick LeFiles can be found at Great accommodations and restaurants are available in the Yankeetown area. Just down the road from B's Campground is Ike's Old Florida Kitchen restaurant, a signature landmark located on the river. The Pine Lodge Country Inn is a bed-and-breakfast offering rooms and cottages in nearby Inglis. It was built in the 1940s and shares a history with other sites of being visited by Elvis Presley as he spent the summer of 1961 in Yankeetown filming his motion picture "Follow That Dream." Visit for room availability. The Nature Coast in the Big Bend portion of the Sunshine State is truly an unspoiled area, but rich in angling opportunities for fishermen and other visitors. More details on the area are available at

FISHING SARASOTA MANATEE CHARLOTTE

FISHING SARASOTA MANATEE CHARLOTTE The Florida Gulf Coast is a paradise for fish. Freshwater streams and rivers flow from Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte County into a bay protected by the barrier islands.