The Florida that time forgot - Travel - The Boston Globe

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Recently an article about 5 places in Florida that time for got was published in the Boston Globe. Here is what they had to say about Steinhatchee.

“STEINHATCHEE: Woods and water

Never heard of Steinhatchee? Neither have most Floridians. Located in the wild, river-laced forests of north central Florida, also known as the “nature coast,” this village of 1,600 folks is incredibly quiet — until scallop season, from July to mid-September, when the population swells and the Sea Hag Marina (352-498-3008, www.seahag.com) is abuzz with activity.

Anyone with a Florida saltwater fishing license (easily obtainable) can be a scalloper, and it’s a blast. You don a mask, snorkel, and fins, carry a mesh bag to hold your scallops, and head out in a boat through the Steinhatchee channel to the gulf, and then go north or south for several miles until the inshore waters become clear. Then you look for scallops hiding in the sea grass. They move by snapping their shells and spitting water out — kind of a sandy spurt — and propel themselves in a zigzag motion. Local restaurants, like Roy’s (352-498-5000, www.roys-restaurant.com), will cook your cleaned catch.

Other pursuits are equally outdoorsy, lsuch as paddling the Steinhatchee River and hiking the trails at (totally unimpressive, but interesting) Steinhatchee Falls, following in the footsteps of Timucuan Indians, Spanish explorers, and Civil War troops. Things get a little crazy during the annual Fiddler Crab Festival, held on President’s Day weekend, when everyone turns out for events like the fiddler crab races.

There’s nothing posh about this place, and that’s just the way the locals like it. “Our fine mall is the dollar store,” says Dean Fowler, owner of Steinhatchee Landing Resort. Designed to resemble a typical north Florida community from the early 1900s, Steinhatchee Landing (352-498-3513, www.steinhatcheelanding.com, from $140) is the best place to stay in this fishing village.

The nearest airport, Gainesville Regional, is nearly two hours away, so there’s no danger that Steinhatchee will change anytime soon. “This is the anti-Orlando,” says resident Kevin Kizer. “It’s the country side of Florida, a real blast from the past.””
— By Diane Bair and Pamela Wright

Help raise money to bring the Gulf Specimen Sea Mobile to this years Scallopalooza

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CLICK HERE TO DONATE

From the Go Fund Me website:

The members of Marker 1 Community Outreach Program, Inc, in the North Florida fishing village of Steinhatchee organize a community event every summer called Scallopalooza , to kick of the very important scallop season. Our small community relies on the summer tourism that Scalloping brings. The community event has been hugely successful due to the hard work and persistence of the community and the members of this non-profit group! However, this year we need your help to make our Scollapolooza festival better than ever. 

The kids of our community don't have easy access to things like museums and aquariums, and there really is nothing more special than the kind of hands on education that museums and aquariums have to offer. We have an opportunity to bring the awesome Gulf Specimen Sea Mobile  to our festival this year, but we are inviting you to be a part of this amazing experience. The funds raised will go directly towards the rental of the Sea Mobile, and any additional funds will go towards the rock climbing wall, and other youth activities. The kids of Steinhatchee need positive outlets and bringing these great activities into town for the day will mean the world to them. 

Every penny helps! Thanks for your support, for donating and for helping us bring education and joy to the children of our community.

4 Counties Open Gag Grouper Recreational Harvest on April 1

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From WCTV Eyewitness News:

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- State waters off the coast of Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson and Taylor counties will soon open to recreational harvest of gag grouper.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) says that the regional gag grouper recreational harvest season will run from April 1 to June 30.

This includes all waters of the Apalachicola Bay and Indian Pass, including those in gulf county, and all waters of the Steinhatchee River, including Dixie County.

FWC says gag grouper caught in state Gulf waters (from shore to 9 nautical miles out) off the four counties can be landed on the Gulf County side of Indian Pass and the Dixie County side of the Steinhatchee River, but may not be taken ashore in other areas that are closed to harvest.

To see maps of these areas, go to MyFWC.com/Fishing and select “Saltwater,” “Recreational Regulations” and “Gulf Grouper.”

In the remainder of Gulf of Mexico state waters, anglers will be able to keep gag grouper from July 1 through Dec. 3, with the season closing Dec. 4. State waters off Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson and Taylor counties will not be open during the July-through-December season. Monroe County state waters follow Atlantic grouper rules.

The season in all federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico also opens July 1 but closes Dec. 3, with the last day of harvest being Dec. 2.

In the Gulf, the gag grouper recreational harvest minimum size limit is 22 inches total length and the bag limit is two gag grouper per person.

Recreational anglers targeting groupers in the Gulf may harvest no more than four grouper per person per day (within this four-fish limit, anglers may keep only two gag grouper).

To learn more, visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Saltwater,” “Recreational Regulations” and “Gulf Grouper.”