For many years it was a huge deal in the southern half of the state but not a noteworthy season opening in our North Florida coastal waters. Things have changed in a big way. The September 1 opening of Snook … Continue reading → The post Snook Season a Big Deal Now appeared first on Gary's Tackle Box.

By the first of August the annual run of saltwater shrimp up the St. John’s River has usually started in earnest. But up ‘til a week or so ago shrimping fans had insisted that the river crustaceans were scarce-to-nonexistent. Experienced … Continue reading → The post River Shrimping Cranks Up appeared first on Gary's Tackle Box.

The start of Dog Days has always brought a rather scarce period for fishing stories. Days are long but they’re hot—-sometimes unbearably—and neither fish nor fisher is found often in rare form. This year things seem even tougher. Ridiculously copious … Continue reading → The post Heavy Rains Toughen the Fishing appeared first on Gary's Tackle Box....

This year we’ve seen both low and high water levels in local lakes. For fish-catching this natural fluctuation is preferable to constant unchanging levels. And over the last few weeks the ‘new’ water seems to have trumped the summer heat … Continue reading → The post Wet Summer Brings Good Fishing appeared first on Gary's Tackle Box.

The couple-month spell of very rainy weather has freshwaters in North Florida pretty much full. This is generally a good thing ensuring that our lakes will remain high in the foreseeable future but it also brings a touch of trepidation. … Continue reading → The post Strong Rains Bring Strong Fishing appeared first on Gary's Tackle Box.

The 2021 Bay Scallop Season had gotten off to a strong start in the Steinhatchee area before Elsa rolled through as a tropical storm. Chances are the scalloping will still be just fine once the sun peeks out again. In … Continue reading → The post Elsa Brings Mixed Blessings to Anglers appeared first on Gary's Tackle Box.

One of fishing’s best loved and most important pioneers has passed away. Enshrined in the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame Ocala’s Glenn Lau was an incomparable legend of early bass research — a videographer/cinematographer and lifelong outdoorsman. When interest in … Continue reading → The post Remembering Glenn Lau appeared first on Gary's Tackle Box.

Doug Johnson’s eighteenth Reeling for Kids Saltwater Challenge is in the books and as usual the salty shootout produced lots of great catches. Young Tipton LaPerle led the Junior Angler Offshore winners with his 30.30-pound kingfish. Dillon Moss secured second … Continue reading → The post Reeling for Kids in the Books appeared first on Gary's Tac...

Doug Johnson’s 18th Annual Reeling for Kids Saltwater Challenge is in progress having commenced at daylight Friday. It is expected that when the smoke clears the field of accomplished competitors will have pulled some fabulous catches from the gulf’s Big … Continue reading → The post Opening Weekend Delivers for Snapper and Grouper appeared first...

When Capt. Sean Rush announced last week that he had made his best bass catch ever people who know him sat up and paid close attention. Widely regarded as the best North Florida guide specializing in shiner fishing for trophy … Continue reading → The post Giant Bass Limit on Rodman / RFK at Hand appeared first on Gary's Tackle Box.

Here’s a quick Top Four list of best bets for 2021 Memorial Weekend fishing in North Florida — two in salt water and two in fresh water: Inshore or near-shore for redfish cobia or tripletail out of any gulf port … Continue reading → The post Memorial Weekend Fishing Looks Promising appeared first on Gary's Tackle Box.

Inshore gulf action has been good out of most ports despite often-blustery conditions. Keith and Claudia Obeck a Texas couple honeymooning in Florida hired Capt. Travis Blucher to take them out from Cedar Key on Tuesday. The Obecks are used … Continue reading → The post Gulf Action Heats Up appeared first on Gary's Tackle Box.

Last year was a lost one for many purposes. Though less significant among the multitude of life-altering losses the Covid pandemic also interrupted long traditions of annual fishing tournaments. During ‘normal’ years there really is no off season for tournaments … Continue reading → The post The Big Boy Tournaments Return appeared first on Gary's...

I know of no organized annual fishing event that has lasted longer. The Builder’s Association of North Central Florida held its 57th Annual Family Fun Fishing Tournament on Saturday. As it has through its most recent history this year’s well-attended … Continue reading → The post Nice Weather Weekend Brings Good Fishing appeared first on Gary's Ta...

Another weekend with sub par weather again limited good fishing reports but results from Saturday’s Xtreme Bass Series tournament on Orange Lake were actually better than many expected given the conditions. The winning weight of 19.09 pounds (taken by Jody … Continue reading → The post Offshore Gulf Anglers Celebrate 2021 Red Snapper Season appear...

Aware of the dividends it will pay through the coming year most freshwater anglers are pleased that April has brought such nice abundant rainfall. If they could change one thing it would be to stop the rainiest days from persistently … Continue reading → The post Success in Foul Weather appeared first on Gary's Tackle Box.

The cause was worthy the turnout again stellar. Everyone enthusiastically supported the annual Breast Cancer Awareness Association Fishing Tournament held Saturday at Sandy Point on the Santa Fe River. Well there was one exception... the bass weren’t … Continue reading → The post Rough Weekend Still Produces appeared first on Gary's Tackle Box.

Some years panfish fans find that there is a brief lull in catches during late March and early April. During this period the speckled perch that had recently inhabited the shallow spawning cover in local lakes have moved back out … Continue reading → The post Hot Weather Favorites in Place appeared first on Gary's Tackle Box.

It would have been hard to imagine a nicer day than dawned on Saturday — one that also happened to fall a day ahead of the first full moon of spring. On the stellar spring day Doug Stringfellow and I … Continue reading → The post Stellar Day Brings Great Catches appeared first on Gary's Tackle Box.

It’s late in what has been an above-average speckled perch spawning season on several of our area lakes. Not surprisingly Newnan’s and Orange have produced best. The full month of February often marks the peak of the speck spawn and … Continue reading → The post Speckled Perch Spawn Not Done Yet appeared first on Gary's Tackle Box.