Category: Hunting and Fishing Seasons

As of April 1, 2018, recreational gag grouper season is officially open in the coastal waters of Wakulla County! Find out how you can enjoy the season safely and responsibly while soaking up the pleasures of this wonderful time of year.

Everything you need to know for a successful fishing season

The grouper is an iconic species of fish throughout the waters of the Gulf of Mexico; prized by both anglers for its abundance, as well as by diners for its tender flesh and mild, clean flavor. Every year, visitors and residents of Wakulla County have an opportunity to test their mettle in the gulf waters off the coast and fish for this remarkable species.

Wakulla County is a haven for anglers, and there are numerous tackle shops and outfitters here that can supply you with everything you need for your gag grouper excursion. On the way to your preferred launch area, be sure to stop by one of the local suppliers such as Shell Island Fish Camp and Marina, Rock Landing Marina, or AMS Marine Supply to ensure you are properly stocked for your journey.

There are several convenient places throughout the area where you can begin your fishing adventure. Some of the ramps, like the St. Marks City River Park ramp and the Newport ramp launch into the St. Marks River, which you can then follow into the Gulf of Mexico. If you prefer to launch directly into the gulf you have several options available to you as well, including the Rock Landing ramp and the ramp at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge Visitor’s Center.

Always remember to fish safely and legally

Gag grouper season is one of the best times of the year for angling enthusiasts, but it’s important to remember the proper protocols before you hit the water. Most importantly, you must have a valid Florida fishing license on you anytime you are fishing. Also, remember to follow size and catch limits to ensure that these beautiful fish remain in our waters for generations to come. Gag grouper must be at least 24 inches in order to be kept, and each person can only harvest four fish per day (two of which may be kept). Finally, remember to bring sunscreen and drinking water, and always practice safe boating no matter where you are.

Plan an exciting natural adventure in Wakulla County

Fishing for gag grouper is just one of many opportunities in Wakulla County to connect with nature and embrace the spirit of the outdoors. We encourage you to book a few nights in one of our accommodations that suits you best, and take the time to dig deep into the natural wonders of Wakulla County. Whether that means hiking, wildlife watching, or simply more fishing, we’ve got you covered!

The 2017 season for harvesting bay scallops in Wakulla County has started and it runs all the way to September 24, giving you plenty of time to harvest these succulent delicacies!

Learn how to scallop before hitting the shores

One of the great things about harvesting bay scallops is that it’s simple enough for anyone to do it. Unlike some types of fishing, you don’t need extensive practice and expensive lessons just to be successful. All you really need is some underwater gear (mask, snorkel, fins, etc.) and a net, and you can get in on the scalloping action. Although a boat will usually allow you to get to the best scalloping grounds in the region, it isn’t strictly required.

Everything you need to have in order to scallop

When it comes to the 2017 scalloping season in Wakulla County, safety and abiding by the law are the top concerns. In terms of safety, you need to ensure you are taking every possible precaution to protect yourself and others when you hit the water. This includes:

• Swimming with a partner
• Putting up a dive flag so others know where you are
• Bringing plenty of drinking water
• Using sun protection

Legality is the other main issue you need to be aware of. Scalloping in Wakulla County waters requires you to have an active Florida saltwater fishing license accessible on you at all times. Additionally, make sure you abide by the harvesting limits set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission:

• 2 gallons whole bay scallops in shell, or 1 pint of bay scallop meat per person
• Maximum of 10 gallons of whole bay scallops in shell, or 1/2 gallon bay scallop meat per vessel

Getting the most out of your scallop harvest

Bay scallops from Wakulla County have a sweet and mild flavor of the sea and is the perfect complement to many different dishes. All you need is a little butter, salt, and pepper to make delicious scallops, but there are numerous ways to jazz them up a little as well. Consider stirring them into a pasta dish with fresh sautéed summer vegetables. Just make sure to wait and add them near the end; these little beauties can overcook quickly and become rubbery if you aren’t careful.

What to do after you hit the waters

Scalloping is just the beginning of your exploration into all that Wakulla County has to offer. Use your scalloping excursion as an excuse to stay with us for a long weekend, and save some time for some other activities such as horseback riding on the coast or traversing the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.

Grouper are among the most iconic marine life in the Gulf of Mexico, and residents and visitors alike welcome the arrival of gag grouper season every year. This year’s season kicks off on April 1 and runs all the way through June 30, so get ready to grab your tackle box and hit the open water.

Grouper—the celebrated fish of the Gulf

When people think of fresh gulf fish, grouper is likely one of the first species to come to mind. It’s been a seafood staple throughout the region for many years, and it’s a prize catch for anglers of all skill levels. When the calendar turns to spring, recreational fishermen from throughout the region and the country know that it’s time to hit the shores of the Gulf Coast and catch some gag grouper!

Anglers who travel to Wakulla County in search of gag grouper this spring should be aware that there are some regulations they will need to follow in order to have a fun and successful fishing journey. Gag grouper must be at least 24 inches in length in order to be harvested, and there is a limit of two gag grouper per person. Check out the maps provided by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for the boundaries indicating where grouper may be landed during this season.

Wakulla County is your gag grouper headquarters

When you come to Wakulla County for gag grouper fishing, you’ll find all of the facilities and supplies you need for your trip, along with some fantastic hospitality from the locals. It doesn’t matter if you are going fishing for the first time and starting from scratch, or if you’re almost completely outfitted already and just need to pick up a few finishing touches; the marine supply stores throughout the area can help you be prepared for a day on the beautiful gulf water.

Also, there are numerous boat ramps and launch sites into the Gulf of Mexico throughout the county. And even if you don’t have access to your own watercraft you can still get in on the gag grouper action. There are several fishing charter companies in the region who would live to take you out on the water.

Go beyond your rod and reel to experience more that Wakulla County has to offer

Gag grouper fishing off the shores of Wakulla County is an amazing experience, but it’s only one part of what makes this natural landscape such a special place. So while you’re in the area, take some time to hike secluded nature trails, photograph wildlife species in their natural habitat, or kayak through a lush stream. Wakulla County’s abundance of accommodations and natural activities make it the perfect spot for your gag grouper fishing excursion.

Scalloping in the bay waters is one of the most beloved summer traditions in Wakulla County for residents and visitors alike! The vast shallow grass beds near the water create an inviting habitat for sweet, succulent bay scallops, and while you’re out there trying to harvest them you have the added benefit of taking in the incredible scenery of Wakulla County in all its summer glory. This year, the scalloping season lasts from Saturday, June 25 until Saturday, September 24, so you have three whole months to test your skills in our spectacular waters.

What you need to know about scalloping in Wakulla County

Scalloping with friends and family is great fun, but it’s important to remember that you have to follow state regulations at all times, just like when you’re fishing. You have to have an active Florida saltwater fishing license in order to harvest scallops, and it has to be on your person at the time. For more information on obtaining a Florida saltwater fishing license, visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Additionally, there are limits to the amount of scallops each person can harvest. Some of the relevant limits on scallop harvesting include:

• 2 gallons of intact scallops per person (in the shell)
• 10 gallons of intact scallops per boat (in the shell)
• 1 pint of scallop meat per person
• 1/2 gallon of scallop meat per boat

By adhering to all the Florida regulations for scalloping, you can help ensure that everyone has a chance to responsibly enjoy this special season.

Tips for safe and fun scalloping

They whole family can share in the scalloping adventure, but there are a few safety guidelines you should pay attention to. If you’re diving from a boat, always put out a dive flag to let others in the area know your location. You’ll also probably want to carry a mask, snorkel, and fins for optimal comfort and performance, and it’s a good idea to always go diving with a buddy. If you need to rent a boat, there are several options available across Wakulla County.

Also, if you’re not from the area you may not know just how intense the Florida sun can be during the summer, so don’t forget to bring ample sun protection and drinking water. It’s easy to get dehydrated quickly out there on the water.

What to do with your catch

Now that you’ve secured your harvest, it’s time to get cooking! You can use a scallop knife to separate the muscle, open the shell, and scoop away the inedible bits (or you can pay a service to clean them for you). The cooking possibilities are nearly limitless, but you can’t go wrong with simply sautéing them gently with butter and parsley or stirring them into a risotto. The goal is to let the sweet scallop meat shine, and to not overcook them since they can become rubbery.

While you’re in town, make sure you make a trip of it and stay at one of the many fish camps, camping spots, hotels, and lodges in the area! You can visit the Accommodations page on our website to learn more.

Happy scalloping!

For anglers, the Tarpon is one of the most exciting kinds of fish to go after. Because Wakulla County is one of the best places to find them, we have put together some tips from local Tarpon fisherman, Bernie Sloan.

If you haven’t seen our previous blog on why Wakulla County is the best place for Tarpon fishing, be sure to check it out first.

Bait Fishing vs Fly Fishing

Basically, there are two types of Tarpon fishermen, i.e., the fly fisherman and the bait fisherman. Fly fishing has several advantages. One advantage is that the fly fisherman doesn’t have to deal with catching and handling bait—a sometimes messy and time-consuming activity.

All the fly fisherman has to do is cast his specially designed fly just in front of and a bit above the Tarpon’s nose, and most often even the most lethargic Tarpon can’t resist this morsel. But this is easier said than done, because fly fishing for Tarpon requires great skill with a fly rod, and the fly fisherman must be constantly ready to make his cast. Sometime this means waiting for hours for that one opportunity to place the fly in front of a passing Tarpon.

Quick Tips

The advantage for bait fishing is that almost anyone can do it. A very basic way to bait fish is to start with a medium heavy rod with a reel that will hold at least 150 yards of 40 pound monofilament line.

This line should be fastened to a 80 to 100 pound monofilament leader about 5 feet long. An important part of this rig is the 8/0 or 9/0 circle hook. The circle hook became known to fishermen a decade or so ago, and Tarpon fishermen were among the first users. This hook dramatically improved the catch rate for Tarpon. It is important that the circle hook be tied with a loop knot.

A hungry Tarpon will bite almost anything. Bait fishermen use either live bait under a float or dead bait on the bottom. For live bait, 5 or 6 inch Pinfish or a Gulf Menhaden are excellent.

What to Do When You’re There

Once you have located a place where Tarpon are likely to be, or better yet, you have seen Tarpon near your boat, simply float your bait out about 30 or 40 yards, place the rod in a rod holder and wait. At the same time, you can put dead bait (Mullet or Menhaden) on the bottom as far as you can cast them from the boat. No special weights, etc., are needed, just the dead bait on a hook.

When the Tarpon bites, you will know. Hang on, and try not to panic.

It is best to use a guide when you are either fishing in a new area or for an unfamiliar species. You can be successful fishing for Tarpon by using some of the techniques mentioned above, but it will probably take you more time and your chances for success are not as great as they would be with a guide, and local guides are easy to find in Wakulla County.

At the end of the day, Wakulla County waters have plenty of Tarpon ready to be caught, so it might be best to make a weekend trip out of it and take your time enjoying what the area has to offer. Be sure to download our visitor’s guide and keep an eye out for more great events coming.

The Tarpon (megalops atlanticus) is one of the most exciting game animals in the world. The thrill of having a 5 foot, 100 pound fish come rocketing out of the water in a spectacular series of leaps is an experience no angler ever forgets. Making this event even more thrilling is that often the strike is quite near the shore, sometimes with pine trees in the background. Having an animal this large, this beautiful, and this violent strike your bait in shallow water is stunning.

Why Wakulla County

Wakulla County is a great place to fish for Tarpon. The adults of this species are migratory, and they begin to arrive in this area in late spring and continue to arrive during the summer months. There are juvenile Tarpon that live here year-round. These juveniles range in size from their larval stage to a length of about 42 inches. Adult Tarpon in this area may be as long as 72 inches plus. Tarpon fishermen use a formula in which the ratio of a Tarpon’s length and girth gives a reliable estimate of the fish’s weight.

Where Tarpon Like to Go

Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that one hunts for Tarpon rather than fishes for them. It is a sight fishing game. As with other game species, Tarpon have places they like to go, and the Tarpon fisherman knows where these places are. There is no great mystery here, because Tarpon are constantly on the move and they quite often follow familiar paths or tracks, most often quite near the shore.

Especially in a place like Wakulla County where there are numerous creeks, rivers, and bays, Tarpon like to swim along these crooked shorelines as close as 10 to 50 yards. Tarpon tend to swim nearer the shore when the tide is rising and the impetus of the tide flow brings them in a bit closer.

Knowing What to Look For

The Tarpon is the oldest bony fish, and over the eons it has developed a rudimentary lung which allows it to thrive in both salt and fresh water – also in water with low oxygen content. Perhaps because of this rudimentary lung, Tarpon come to the surface quite often, and fishermen learn to look for the tell-tale “twin fin” pattern that just breaks the water. These two fins are the Tarpon’s dorsal fin and tail, and this pattern helps distinguish a Tarpon from other fishes such as Sharks.

Keep an eye out for another upcoming blog on insider tips for Tarpon fishing in Wakulla County from local fisherman Bernie Sloan, and be sure to download our visitor’s guide to see what other things you can do while you’re here. In addition to being a great scalloping location, Wakulla County also offers a wide range of nature-based activities that make it the perfect place to come and enjoy the great outdoors.

It’s that time of year again – scalloping season – and there is no better place to get some sun and search for your scallops than in Wakulla County. From June 27th to September 24th, locals and visitors come to the bay area to charter boats, enjoy the gulf breeze, and gather scallops. To help our local and visiting scallop hunters, we’ve put together some tips and things to remember, so you have a safe and productive trip on the water.

Permits & Limits

Keep in mind that to go scalloping, you need to have a Florida saltwater fishing license. This is true even if you are scalloping from the shore. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has several options for licenses, so make sure you get the one that’s right for you.

The daily limits are two gallons of whole bay scallops in their shells or one pint of bay scallop meat per person. There are no size limits for bay scallops, and although landing or dip nets are permitted, hand-harvesting is encouraged.

Safety Tips

Make sure you have a mask and snorkel, fins, and a dive flag. This will help to ensure that other boats know where you are and can avoid coming too close. All boaters need to stay at least 100 feet from these dive flags in rivers, inlets, or channels, and in open waters, they need to stay at least 300 feet away.

It is important that you stay near your boat while swimming and diving for scallops. This is especially true if the weather conditions are beginning to get rough or if there are waves forming. Be cautious of staying out in the sun too long, and always use a high SPF sunscreen that is water resistant.

Your “Must Have” Checklist

There are some things that you will need to make sure you have with you for your scalloping adventure. Whether you bring them with you or plan on buying them while you are in town, these are things you don’t want to forget:

• Florida Saltwater Fishing License
• Mask & Snorkel
• Fins
• Net or Bag for Collecting Scallops
• Dive Flag (on the boat or buoy)
• Boat (optional – bringing or renting)
• Sunscreen
• Drinking Water
• Scalloping Knife (or cash to pay for a scalloping service)

We hope that you enjoy your time scalloping and that you all stay safe. If you are looking for other adventurous things to do in nature, download our free visitor’s guide today!