Activities – Forgotten Coast Fun

Don’t Forget Your Florida Fishing License

Admin — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 00:20:37 +0000

There are some exemptions for who needs a fresh or salt water fishing license. For example, Florida residents 65 or older and children under 16 years of age do not need a license. If you are fishing on your homestead or the homestead of a spouse or child, you don’t need a license. That’s also true if you are a minor child fishing on the homestead of your parent. In addition, Florida residents who are totally and permanently disabled do not need to obtain a fishing license.

You can purchase a fishing license online at https://gooutdoorsflorida.com/ or by downloading the free Fish | Hunt FL mobile app in the App Store or Google Play. You can also by call toll-free 888-FISH-FLORIDA (888-347-4356) to purchase a license.

Survivors Bait and Tackle on SGI Has a New Look Under New Ownership

Admin — Sun, 12 Jun 2022 21:59:06 +0000

Survivors Bait and Tackle on St. George Island opened up this spring under new ownership, and customers have been impressed with the changes so far. In addition to expanding its bait and tackle selection and adding camping accessories and beach gear, Survivors also rents golf carts.

Survivors Bait and Tackle is open 7 days a week, from 6:30 am to 6:00 pm. Located at 28 W Pine Avenue, St. George Island.

Scalloping Season on the Forgotten Coast

Admin — Sat, 11 Jun 2022 18:49:00 +0000

Late last year after working closely with the local community, the FWC set August 16 through September 24 for the 2020 Scalloping Season. According the the FWC, those particular dates were selected to allow the FWC to “balance stakeholder and community desires with the sustainability of the scallop populations.”

Bay scallops may only be harvested in state waters from the following zones:

St. Joseph Bay and Gulf County: Aug. 16-Sept. 24. This region includes all state waters from the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County to the westernmost point of St. Vincent Island in Franklin County. NOTE: The area marked with FWC buoys south of Black’s Island is a Bay Scallop Restoration Area and no scalloping or anchoring is allowed there.

Franklin County through northwestern Taylor County (including Carrabelle, Lanark and St. Marks): July 1 through Sept. 24. This region includes all state waters from the westernmost point of St. Vincent Island in Franklin County to Rock Island near the mouth of the Fenholloway River in Taylor County.

Direct transit of legally-harvested bay scallops is allowed through closed areas.

Don’t Miss the Stargazing When Visiting the Forgotten Coast

Admin — Wed, 08 Jun 2022 23:45:28 +0000

St. George Island

As a barrier island with a limited population, St. George Island is perfect for stargazing. Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park is tucked away at the east end of the island, far from the lights of a major city. Visitors have the rare opportunity to gaze upon a truly dark sky, with the best views of the night sky in the region. In fact, staff are working toward achieving designation as a Dark Sky Park with the International Dark Sky Association.

All Florida State Parks close at sunset; however, they offer several ways to gain after-hours access to the park to enjoy the dark skies:

Reserve a campsite in the family campground online or by calling Reserve America.
If you are a Florida State Parks Family Annual Pass holder interested in gaining access to the preserve after sunset, please visit the office during the regular office hours and sign up for an after-hours permit, which would grant you access to the park’s common day use areas after hours.

Please note that the entrance is closed daily 15 minutes after sunset; only registered campers or after-hours pass holders are allowed entry after dark.

Stargazers have the chance to see stars, planets and other celestial bodies in incomprehensible numbers and unforgettable brilliance. Jupiter and Saturn are both clearly visible in the night sky. You might be able to witness the International Space Station making its orbit around Earth, or witness the wispy white and purple glow of the Milky Way rising over the white sand dunes.

Dr. Julian G Bruce State Park Official Website

Cape San Blas

Cape San Blas is also an excellent place to view the night sky when on the Forgotten Coast. You can see a map of the Cape San Blas night sky here to see which planets and objects are visible and where to locate them.

The T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park on Cape San Blas sustained significant damage to the camping facilities during Hurricane Michael in 2018. The Category 5 winds carved a breach connecting the Gulf of Mexico to the Eagle Harbor. Though the road leading to the campground is gone now, a land bridge forms sometimes now when the tide is low. You can apply for an overnight recreational pass if you wish to spend a few hours stargazing after sunset.

Alligator Point

The exquisite stargazing, along with unsurpassed tranquility, are considered some of the best reasons to visit Alligator Point, Florida.

This pristine, rural beach community is located 45 minutes south of Tallahassee, and there are no crowds, no strip malls, and no movie theaters. In fact, it doesn’t even have a t-shirt shop. You will find miles of quiet beach, along with unparalleled opportunities for fishing, relaxing,and stargazing.

When Visiting the Forgotten Coast, Don’t Forget to Look Up

Admin — Wed, 08 Jun 2022 01:40:00 +0000

The Forgotten Coast is a paradise for birdwatchers. With its coastlines, forests, rivers, and bays, the Forgotten Coast is home, or at least a temporary home, to an incredible variety of birds, including bald eagles, osprey, falcons, warblers, herons, egrets, owls, cardinals, and so many more.

Winter is an excellent time for spotting many species of water birds, including ducks and loons and other water birds enjoy the relatively warm waters of the Gulf Coast.

Some of the best spots for birding on the Forgotten Coast include St. George Island State Park, Bald Point State Park, Old Carrabelle Beach, and the entire town of Apalachicola.

The Forgotten Coast is home to a wide variety of beautiful birds

St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge Allows You to See Online What Birds Have Been Spotted

Admin — Sun, 20 Sep 2020 18:39:00 +0000

Birding is one of the most popular activities along the Forgotten Coast, and St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge is one of the best places to see the wide variety of birds that visit the area. While some birds only stay for a short while along their migratory route, other species can be spotted much of the year enjoying the pristine environment. In addition to the fascinating bird life, you may also spot American alligators, West Indian manatees, and deer, along with many other species.

The St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge provides habitat for 278 species of birds throughout the year.

See what birds are being spotted at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge with their e-Bird Tracker before you visit

If you’re curious to see which birds have been spotted recently at St. Marks, you can use the world’s largest biodiversity-related citizen science project, eBird (https://ebird.org/home) to find bird distribution and other data.

Some of the Many Bird Species Found at St. Marks

Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons
Wood Storks
Red-Cockaded Woodpecker
Little Blue Heron and Great Egret
Green- and Blue-Winged Teals
Piping Plover
Fish Crow

This unique refuge was established in 1931 to provide wintering habitat for migratory birds. It is one of the oldest refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System. It encompasses 68,000 acres spread out between Wakulla, Jefferson, and Taylor counties along the Gulf Coast of northwest Florida.

The refuge includes coastal marshes, islands, tidal creeks and estuaries of seven north Florida rivers, and is home to a diverse community of plant and animal life.

If you would like to experience the incredible range of wildlife diversity to be found on the Forgotten Coast, plan a trip to St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.

Military Mondays at St James Bay Golf Club

Admin — Sat, 07 Mar 2020 03:54:52 +0000

Monday’s are Military Appreciation Day at St James Bay Golf Club in Carrabelle, Florida. In appreciation of their service, Veterans and Active Duty Personnel can play golf for only $25 every Monday through January 4, 2021.

Ranked one of the top golf courses in Florida, St. James Bay Golf Club is located at 151 Laughing Gull Way, Carrabelle, Florida.

Life Finds A Way: The Forgotten Coast’s Birds and Hurricane Michael

Admin — Sat, 25 Jan 2020 20:03:26 +0000

The destruction of Hurricane Michael along the Florida Panhandle will never be forgotten. The loss of property for the human population was staggering, as homes from Panama City to Panacea were damaged or destroyed. It wasn’t only the people who suffered, as animals lost an astounding amount of habitat with the destruction of trees and forests in the path of the storm.

However, as it always does, animal life along the Forgotten Coast has found a way to endure, despite the catastrophic damage to our trees and forests. This nest build upon a broken tree near Tyndall Air Force Base is just one example of animal populations adapting to their changed environment.

Have you noticed any unusual nesting spots along the Forgotten Coast? If so, let us know!