CONTACT US: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Fish and Wildlife Research Institute 100 Eighth Avenue SE St. Petersburg, Florida 33701 727-896-8626 http://MyFWC.com/ BoatingGuides Boating_Guides@ MyFWC.com Hernando County Tourism Bureau 31085 Cortez Blvd. Carraige Hills Plaza Brooksville, Florida 34602 352-754-4405 http://www. naturallyhernando.org Hernando County Office of Tourism 8731 Citizens Dr. Suite 340 New Port Richey, Florida 34654 727-896-8626 http://www.visitpasco.net Partial funding for this project was obtained through the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Fund. Additional funding for this project was obtained from a gront through Visit Florida.

There’s a reason Hernando and Pasco counties are known as part of Florida’s “Nature Coast”. Thanks to its distinctive and diverse natural setting, a visitor can find an almost endless variety of sport and adventure on the water or along the shoreline. The spectacular coastline features clear blue-green waters, expansive seagrass beds and marshes, as well as numerous bays. A key ecological feature of the Nature Coast is extensive seagrass beds, which serve as nurseries for many fish, shrimp and crab species. In addition, seagrass beds support adults of these and other species as they prey upon the rich variety of organisms that occur in these habitats. Seagrass beds along the west coast of Florida support several endangered and threatened species, including sea turtles and manatees. Scallops may be spotted within seagrass beds and are often easiest to find near the border between a sandy or muddy bottom and a grass bed. These popular shellfish attract recreational divers and snorkelers each year during bay scallop season. This part of the Nature Coast has some of the best flats fishing that Florida has to offer. There are miles and miles of vegetated shoreline and oyster bars, as well as acres of seagrass flats that attract an abundance of saltwater game fish. Exciting challenges await both novice and experienced anglers. The Nature Coast offers a bountiful catch of sea trout, red drum, flounder, shallow water grouper, snook, cobia, tarpon and more. Several artificial reefs are within easy boating distance of the shore and are considered by many as exceptional areas for scuba diving and spear fishing. In addition to fishing, the Nature Coast’s abundant wildlife offers extraordinary visual experiences. Common sights along the Nature Coast include bald eagles, ospreys, ducks and wading birds, as well as river otters, manatees and sea turtles. This Web site was last updated on August, 2013. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions about this Web site, please e-mail us at boating_guides@MyFWC.com. Would you like to receive notices of changes to this Web site and the Boating and Angling Guide to Hernando and Pasco Counties? If so, please e-mail us and include SUBSCRIBE-PHC in the subject line.