BigBendFishing.Net

Staying down there most of june and some of july. Need fishing tips and ideas for the kids and wife. Looking for some good day trips on the boat and by car. Where to eat, buy tackle,gas, groc, etc.

At Alligator point, for fishing, you're right in the middle of it all. There are numerous reports on this forum of fishing everywhere from Shell Point all the way over to Lanark. There is no really close place to shop there, but Advantage Marine in Medart carries bait and tackle. There's a small IGA type store in panacea you can buy groceries. Just watch the fishing reports, and be sure to post some of yours when you get here

If they're little it's a tricky thing to find the right place for kids but I do like the gulf beach side of Bald Point.
There's always a lot to see and you can just set up sand spikes with bait and/or cast lures.
Sand castles, sun bathing, cooler, all close enough to the car. The fishing is decent.
Watch out at Bald Point proper though. Lots of oysters and current.
It's not much for fishing unless you can get out on the bars.
Lanark, backside of Dog Island, and Dog Island Shoal are great day trips.
Poseys has an awesome fried Flounder.
Angelos is an option but the BP deli at Mashes Sands is really good.

There's always Wally World in Crawfordville and the IGA in Carrabelle. The ladies will love Apalachicola, good restaurants and shopping. St Joseph is a nice beach for sunsets. St George is nice as well. Gotta take the St Marks / Wakulla River cruise. Watch out for manatees. That's where it seems everyone goes to cool off in the afternoon. Although, its out of the way from Alligator Point by boat. Its a shame you missed the Sopchoppy Worm Gruntin' Festival and Panacea Crab Festival. When is "white trash bash" at Dog Island? It may be Memorial Day weekend, not too sure. I don't think it is as bad as it sounds but I have never been so... St Vincent has exotic deer as it used to be a privately owned hunting preserve. Alligator Point is a nice central location to come play.

There is a little aquarium in Panacea that kids like. Also, for good ole fried seafood, the coastal restaurant in pretty good and reasonably priced. Last time I ate at Posey's, I wasn't impressed, but they have been the go to place for years. Spring Creek Resturant is another must go place. Great ole time Florida Cracker seafood resturant. If the marine research institute has an open house, don't miss it. For 4th of July, Port St. Joe has a neat day planned for kids, including a pirate invasion. Haven't been in years, but there used to an old man at the KOA there that knew just about everything to do in the area.

Oh and fishing is pretty good both in the bay and out on the gulf. I used to run my boat about a mile out from the point and back to the east. There was a big sand bar where you could snorkel and find some of the biggest sand dollars ever. In July, the closest scalloping is out of Lanark. Basically, if you go east, you are in the marsh lands of the gulf, if you go west, you are in some of the best beach areas of the gulf.

TTT

good info for new people to the forum., Like me

boggob wrote:. When is "white trash bash" at Dog Island? It may be Memorial Day weekend, not too sure. I.

I saw this mentioned on another forum, anyone know any details?

I would like to check it out this year if they still have it.

Never mind, a google search showed me to much

Lieutenant Charlie Wood conducted a multi-agency detail to coincide with the annual ‘White Trash Bash that occurs on Dog Island on Memorial Day weekend. This year the event was split between Dog Island and Alligator Point. Twenty-one FWC Officers from six counties (Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jefferson, Leon, and Liberty) participated along with six Alcoholic Beverage Agents, seven Highway Patrol Troopers and eight Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputies. The results of the detail were: 113 vessels boarded, 656 public contacts made, 56 citations issued, 63 written warnings issued and two arrests. The violations included boating under the influence, driving under the influence, possession of alcoholic beverages by underage individuals, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, insufficient boating safety equipment, expired vessel registration, excessive speed, driving while license is suspended or revoked, possession of open alcoholic beverage container in vehicle, and failure to wear seat belt. One medical emergency was reported and the individual was transported on the Orion to paramedics waiting on the mainland. The officers utilized eight patrol vessels and one fixed-wing aircraft to conduct the detail.

Crum's In Panacea for bait & tackle. Good prices, good selection.