Hunting & Fishing
Wakulla County is comprised of 243,650 acres of public lands. The Apalachicola National Forest under stewardship of the U.S.D.A. Forest Service manages the majority of this landmass. The St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge under the stewardship of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the second largest land manager. The National Forest and Refuge offer hunting and fishing opportunities within the state seasons. The Wakulla State Forest offers primitive weapons hunting opportunities each season too.
Fishing is allowed year round in Ponds, Rivers, and Lakes on all three mentioned lands. Please consult the following link for:
Apalachicola National Forest Hunt/Fish Information
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge Hunt/Fish Information
Wakulla State Forest Hunt/Fish Information
Fishing: Freshwater
Florida Freshwater Fishing Regulations
Many methods of fishing are used to catch Panfish and Bass. Here is a live bait method for Panfish that's productive when the biting flies are bad.
“pitch fishing”
The tools: Use a 10-14 foot telescoping fiberglass fishing pole, 4-6 pound test line(the same length as the pole), a 1or2 inch cork colored float, a #8 black hook, the smallest split shot you can buy, and finally a cricket box with a hundred or so crickets.
The Order: Remove all excess “tag line” from the eye of the hook, providing a great presentation. Place the split shot six inches above the hook, and the cork twenty inches above the hook. Impale the cricket from mid belly, exiting the chin, exposing the point and barb.
The Placement: Methodically drop the live bait in every gap where vegetation stops and open water is available, working the shoreline by boat or walking. Make sure your shadow is not cast into your fishing zone and utilize early and late hours for prime time activity. How does that sink your cork!
"Bush Hooking/Trot Lining"
This method is a favorite of many freshwater nighttime anglers. Bush Hooking is a method where bait is suspended from a branch or cane pole, usually on bends of a creek or river, with a weight submerging the bait. These lines are unattended for a period of time, usually overnight. Catfish and turtles are usually the main target species of this method. Trot lines are similar and consist of a long primary line anchored out with secondary lines containing baited hooks. See specific regulations for harvest gear.
