Category: Fishing

A valid Florida fishing license used to be the main paperwork question for anglers heading toward Magnolia or Lowry Lake. Since September 1, 2026, that is no longer enough: the new Camp Blanding fishing permit requirement adds a separate access … Read the rest

Florida has reached an awkward point with flathead catfish: they are prized by trophy anglers and watched closely by fisheries biologists. That tension is now moving into public view as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission gathers input on … Read the rest

Late September can fool a Florida catfish angler. The calendar says fall, but Florida fall catfish fishing does not begin everywhere at once, and a cool morning does not automatically send fish toward deep winter water.

The better signal is … Read the rest

Flatheads do not spend an entire September day waiting in one depth for an angler to find them. If you want to catch flathead catfish consistently in Florida right now, think in two parts: where the fish hold in daylight, … Read the rest

September has arrived in Northwest Florida, but the Escambia River has not received the message that summer catfishing should be winding down. The current Escambia River channel catfish bite remains strong, and the more useful story is not which bait … Read the rest

A productive Florida catfish tournament practice day should answer more than one question. Finding fish matters, but tournament teams need to learn which water levels, depths, bait presentations and travel routes make those fish repeatable. A single large flathead found … Read the rest

MegaBuc Vicksburg gave serious catfish teams plenty to study after the July 27-28, 2024 event in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The verified recap shows 241 anglers, 92 teams, a $200,000 purse, and a $100,000 grand prize, which made every boat-control decision and … Read the rest

Florida Boater Freedom Act fishing rules have changed one part of tournament day: state officers generally can no longer stop or board a vessel solely to conduct a routine safety-equipment inspection. For catfish competitors, that can mean fewer interruptions on … Read the rest

FWC has put the Apalachicola River under a closer catfish lens. The Apalachicola River catfish study is tracking channel, blue and flathead catfish to understand which species are present and whether non-native predators are changing one of Florida’s most biologically … Read the rest

Catfish tournament strategy is no longer just about who brings the biggest fish to the scale. Modern events are starting to look more like a market, where teams weigh conditions, pressure, rules, species, payouts, and conservation value before deciding where … Read the rest