Florida Outdoors: Catch a Big Bass for Big Prize Pack

If you catch a Florida TrophyCatch bass (8 pounds or more) in Putnam County by the end of next September, you could be in line to win $2,500 in prizes. Visit Palatka is teaming up with the FWC TrophyCatch program for its 14th season (Oct 1, 2025-Sept. 30, 2026) for “Hooked on Putnam,” which offers a prize package to one lucky bass angler. To participate, anglers must catch, document and submit a qualifying TrophyCatch bass from qualifying waters during the season.

The prize package includes:

• 3 Night Stay in Palatka
• 1 Day or (2) ½ Day Fishing Charter
• $200 Gas Card
• 3 x $200 Dinner Gift Cards
• Activities & Excursion Vouchers

The winning angler will be determined by a random drawing following the season. Anglers receive one entry for each qualifying catch. Click to read contest rules. To see the list of Putnam County water bodies on the TrophyCatch website, click here. (Select Putnam in the “County” drop-down menu. Then click the down-arrow beneath the “Body of Water” to view the list of water bodies in Putnam County.)

Slow Down for Manatees

November is Manatee Awareness Month, highlighting a time when Florida’s manatees are starting their seasonal movements to warmer waters around the state. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reminds Floridians and visitors should be extra mindful this time of year to watch for manatees when on the water.

Despite their large size as adults, manatees can be tough to spot in the water. Boaters can better see manatees by wearing polarized glasses, going slow and abiding by all manatee protection zones. During colder months, seasonal manatee zones require boaters and personal watercraft users to reduce speed in or avoid certain areas to prevent collisions that can injure or kill manatees. Manatee protection zones are marked by waterway signs; maps of these zones are available online here.

• Learn more about Florida manatees.

Apalachicola Bay Oysters

The FWC has begun accepting applications for the 2026 commercial and recreational Apalachicola Bay oyster harvest season. Applications will be taken until Dec. 16; the 2026 season runs Jan. 1-Feb. 28.

Commercial harvesters must have a commercial Apalachicola Bay Endorsement to participate this season and to secure their participation in future seasons. More info can be found here.

There will be 245 Apalachicola Bay Recreational Opportunity Permits available for the January-February 2026 season, and available permits will be distributed through a random lottery to qualified applicants. To qualify, applicants must have a recreational fishing license unless they are exempt and be current Florida residents. Applicants will have the opportunity to rank their preferred harvest reefs, and those who are selected in the lottery will be given one bag tag for the season. Applicants must apply through GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.

The rules for Apalachicola Bay wild oyster harvest will take effect later this year. The bay remains closed for wild oyster harvest through Dec. 31, 2025. For current commercial and recreational oyster regulations, visit MyFWC.com/fishing and click “Saltwater Commercial Regulations” or “Saltwater Recreational Regulations.”

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