Places We Recommend
These are heart felt endorsements and not paid advertisements. We have received no compensation for these endorsements and ask for none. We believe honest and ethical business should be recognized, and we believe these businesses to be honest and ethical.
Jensen’s Twin Palms Resort
Captive Island, Florida
www.gocaptiva.com
229-472-1727
The Jensen brothers always give their guest four star treatment. Why not five star treatment? Well if they made you anymore welcome no one would leave. The cottages are superb and the rates are reasonable. The grounds of this resort are safe for the kids and the docks are roomy and new. For those of you who fish (and who doesn’t), the fishing grounds are close and productive. You can buy tackle, gas and snacks. If you like you can rent a slip for your own boat or rent one of theirs. They rent runabouts for fishing or pontoon boats if you need more room. If you don’t trust your ability with a boat you can catch one of their water taxies.
Often on weekends in the afternoon there will be a band playing on the shore by the docks. The guests gather under the checkee or around the tables to enjoy the music and conversation of the day’s happenings. Songwriters from allover the US, and Canada come to Jensen’s to try out their new material. You never know who you might see.
Jensen’s is the only place we stay when we are in the Pine Island Sound area. For a taste of “Old Florida”, you have to stay here.
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Lost Key Charters
Captain Dennis Arsenault
www.lostkeyfishingcharters.com
Cell# 850-255-0532
Toll Free# 866-696-3692
Capt."D" is native of the Gulf Coast and has fished the local waters since childhood. He holds a 50 ton Masters License and is insured for up to 4 people. He can navigate the local waters safely and responsibly to get you where the fish are. Fishing the pass, inshore structure or the grass beds, if you like light tackle fishing you'll love fishing aboard the Miss Stephi. Dennis provides; fishing license, rods & reels, bait & tackle, and ice & water.
He is a well respected guide on Perdido Bay where he fishes around Perdido Pass, Walker, Ono, and Robinson Islands. The target species are; redfish, trout, sheepshead, flounder, pompano, mackerel, bluefish, and mangrove snapper.
Lost Key Charter’s boats are clean well maintained, Coast Guard inspected and approved, with all the safety equipment required.
Member Orange Beach Fishing Association& Coastal Conservation Association of Florida.
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Carriage Inn
16840 Hwy. 98, Cross City, Fl. 32628
352-498-3910
The Carriage Inn is a step back into the sixties. The rooms are as clean as any big modern chain and the atmosphere will bring back memories of traveling with your parents. This mom & pop motel is to be experienced soon because cool places like this won’t last long, and the owner is soon to retire. The building and parking lot are shaded by centuries old oak trees and lined with palms. They also have a good restaurant and buffet. Cross City is located just about ten minutes north of the Suwannee River, on US hwy. 27 and about twenty minutes from the Cedar Key turn off in Chiefland. One hour north to Keaton Beach and you are in some of the best scalloping grounds in Florida. Fishermen who like a clean, safe, and quite place to stay come to the Carriage Inn.
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Monroe Canal Marina
Stringfellow Rd., Pine Island, Florida
We’ve been using this ramp for several years. It is located near some of the best fishing grounds in south Florida. They have a small store with marine gas, but no slips. The ramp is deep and clean with plenty of parking. The ramp entrance and turning area are roomy. On our last trip we found that the marina had changed hands, and the place is even better than before. The new owners are a young couple and are making all the right changes. We found our favorite lures and that was a nice surprise.
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Half Hitch Tackle
2206 Thomas Dr. Panama City Beach, Florida
www.halfhitch.com
Email: pc@halfhitch.com
850-234-2621
This is a complete saltwater tackle center, with a repair shop. They can fix most reels and they do a very good job of it. You can even get cast net lessons there, and they can tell you where the bite is at any given time. All the pros shop at Half Hitch. If you can’t find it they can order it. Check out their on line shopping.
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Big Bend Properties
20860 Keaton Beach Dr., Perry Florida 32348
Vickie@bbpfl.com
www.bbpfl.com
Office: 850-578-2898
Many people don’t know where Keaton Beach is so let me explain. Keaton Bch. is a small village on the west coast of Florida about 30 minutes southwest of Perry Florida. There are only a few rental houses and even fewer condos in Keaton Beach. The Motels are in Perry and there aren’t many of them, I recommend you call ahead. These motels fill up fast on weekends and they are almost always booked in season (May thru Sept).
When we go fishing or scalloping in the Keaton Beach area we rent a house thru Vickie at Big Bend Properties. We have never been disappointed, and they will even direct you to the bite, if you ask. Most of their houses have dock space, but the trailer parking can be tight. There is an excellent public boat ramp just as you come into town, and you can get marine gas at the local marina/grocery store. Until you learn the lay of the land, or bay, stay in the marked channel. This area of the gulf is very shallow, the grass beds are healthy and the locals and marine patrol aim to keep it that way. Fines can be very steep for cutting up the sea grass. You may also encounter a rock as some areas have many, so be careful. It is not uncommon to see a boat being toed in with a damaged foot.
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Wefing’s Marine, Inc.
131 Hwy. 98, Eastpoint, Florida 32328
www.wefings.com
850-670-8100
This is an outboard service, and boat sales center. We have had good service with reasonable rates here and we recommend them in your time of boating need. I’ve been ripped off before when traveling as have some of you and that is the last thing you need. Some service centers can see you coming from a mile away, and I think they take great pleasure in taking advantage of you while on the road. Wefing’s knows how to treat their customers and I believe them to be honest.
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Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort & Marina Cove.
6800 Sunshine Skyway Lane, St. Petersburg, Fl. 33711
1-800-227-8045
www.sunspreeresorts.com/marinacove-ss
The charm of this place for me is one of the staff, Mr. William Styles. You would be hard pressed to find a nicer or more helpful person. You can rent a slip to overnight your boat so you can be on the water early. This motel sits at the foot of the northern end of the Skyway Bridge so the run to some excellent fishing is short. I witnessed keeper redfish, and snook being caught off the motel seawall. I myself caught a snook and a few ladyfish off the wall. There is a boat ramp close and the staff at the motel can give you easy directions.
Tampa Bay is the largest bay in the state and you can choose from a variety of situations in which to fish. There is fishing in the deep channels, or on the grass flats, or you may choose to fish the mangroves. If you like structure there is plenty of that to be found.
Many of our fishing reports come from Tampa Bay.
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Old Pine Island Marina & Tackle
3187 Stringfellow Rd. St. James City, Fl. 33956
239-283-2548
Before you splash your boat, this is a good place to stop for much of the tackle you will need for fishing the Pine Island Sound, and their rates are in line with other tackle shops. This is a good place to get the information you need to fish this area if you are new here. They have hard to find fishing cloths for kids too.
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BEDCO Outlet (fishing tackle)
2399 Transmitter Rd. Panama City, Fl. 32404
850-785-6463
This guy has some stuff you won’t find anywhere else. His hours are odd to say the least so you should call ahead. I’ve never found him open before 11:00am, and have had to wait until 2:00. He stays open sometimes till seven, so I’ve been told. The wait is worth it if you need something special, but call ahead. His prices are right.
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