Whats not to love about warm sunny days and ice-cold celebratory cocktails? Email Address: Try casting around these areas and luring in grouper with baits such as shrimp or squid strips. We often see dolphins, manatees and tons of different species of birds, including white pelicans. If youre thinking about heading out on the water to catch one, be sure to come along with Crystal River Sport Fishing! Redfish and Snook on fly + Grouper are lurking. Best of all, its always open and ready to welcome anglers year-round. We went for Scallops. Learn all about the benefits of charter fishing here this time of year. Looking for an Orvi, Shout out to my boy Casey Males for knocking out s, Another great day of fly fishing with my main man, This gorgeous view will becoming up For Sale very, Great Day fly fishing the Backcountry of Crystal R, One of my top 10 guiding moments!! Exploring the Benefits of Crystal River Fishing Charters: The Top Reasons to Book Now, Snapper Fishing in 2023: What to Expect from Crystal River, FL, Where, When, and How: Catching Fish in Crystal River. Let's start by saying grouper can be caught 365 days a year out of Crystal River, but the absolute best bite occurs during the fall as these large grouper push in closer to shore as our waters cool. Including Homosassa, Ozello, Crystal River, Yankeetown, Waccasassa, and Cedar Key. Shallow Water Grouper Fishing For many people the idea of Gag Grouper and shallow water do not go hand in hand. How shallow one may ask? I love fishing the Nature Coast. Now one might think that targeting Grouper in such shallow water would mean catching smaller fish, and while some fish are smaller, some of the largest Grouper we catch throughout the year come from these shallow depths. Big spinning reels or conventional reels spooled up with a 60-80lbs braid paired with a 60-80lbs leader will give you the upper hand in putting these fish in the boat. Along the expansive grass flats here, rock formations make up nearly half of the bottom structures. Contact us today with questions. Thats why so many people decide to go fishing for grouper in Crystal River! If so,, Preparing For Backcountry Winter Fishing In Crystal River, Crystal River offers some of the best fishing in Florida, and winter is a great. Gag grouper are present and fairly active all year long. Covering the inshore and offshore waters of Floridas Big Bend. He or she will help you set up the gear, give you tips on how to catch fish. Tight Lines!!! This can cause you to miss the fish. A shiny red-and-white fishing plug floated past our boat in the Gulf of Mexico, as we cast for trout on the Steinhatchee grass flats. They have small mouths and relatively large eyes. What to expect on your upcoming charter? Email Us! Sport Fishing Slip Sport Fishing Slip Shallow water or inshore fishing and grouper do not go hand in hand in most areas. More Info on Crystal River Grouper Fishing Charters, 2023 crystalriverguideservice.com All Rights Reserved | Page One Fishing. Anywhere from 15-30 you can expect to catch quality grouper on live and dead baits. An egg sinker, swivel, circle hook, and your favorite leader is all you need to make the most effect rig for catching Grouper, the fish finder rig. The weather here in Crystal River this time of year is what we all dream of. A standard bottom rig with a live pinfish on the end is a combination they cant resist. They can be found in tropical and subtropical oceans all around the world, including off the coast of Florida, through the Caribbean to Brazil, and around the Pacific Ocean from California to Japan. Fishing reports for the Crystal River, Florida area, including Homosassa. Caught trout, Spanish mackerel, and red fish. Grouper has a subtle taste and it is not overly fishy. Let's work on making this year the best year ever!!!. If you're looking to charter a Florida flats fishing guide, I hope to hear from you soon. Check out the May fishing report for Crystal River Fishing, offering insight on what's biting now! Web Design by SteamWorks | Page One Fishing. Its keeping it. So no matter when you decide to go, youll always have plenty of fish to catch. Learn all about the different snapper varieties here. Drink water!! Pinfish are one of the most commercially important species in many areas of the world. This will help you identify them when its time to go out on your fishing trip. A fishing charter is a great way to enjoy a day out with friends or family while catching fish at the same time. Bring a rain jacket just if you fish in the summer. If you ever wondered about one of the best grouper fishing opportunities in the state of Florida, wonder no more. Captain Jayce is the go-to gag grouper fishing charter captain in Crystal River, FL. Skip to main content. We will be back., Irene Rubin Fort worth, Texas Great Guide- Great Fishing, Matt A. from Kill Devil Hills, NC I mean, capt. Inshore Half Day(4 Hours) 1-2 People, 20212023 Crystal River Sport Fishing. S from Cincinatii, OH Had a great time on the water and caught fish for dinner. Its hard to believe that May is already in the rearview mirror. The captain can also offer bait if needed. Summer time mangrove snapper fishing is always a target to keep the rods bent free lining live shrimp in 10-20 feet you can expect mangroves from 2-5lbs along with grunts, hogfish and the occasional grouper. There are others, but these two have the densist population and are the most readily available to target. 2023 FishingBooker.com. Grouper works in a variety of dishes, including the classic fish sandwich. There is something to do for everyone in our area. Because its all about gag grouper fishing this time of year. This is a popular spot with the locals with a great atmosphere. Copyright Reel Florida Fishing Charters 2019-2021, Crystal River Little League Opening Day!!! They tend to stay close to the bottom where there is plenty of cover. Check out our June Fishing Report to learn the inside tips and tricks to catching grouper. These fish are hearty and dont give up easily! The waters can be choppy on the boat ride to fishing site. 12645 W Fort Island Trail October is prime time for inshore and nearshore fishing in the Crystal River area of Florida. Make sure to know what your going for and the season that is legal for your choice of catch. | Sitemap, Website Design & Marketing by Hooked Marketing, Max: 4 Inshore & Grouper / Max: 6 Scalloping. Why is this cooler weather so special, you may ask? Grouper fish come in a variety of colors and patterns, but most have large scales. My boy Andy's l, Great day on the pond targeting Reds on fly. Tip: arrive early as this restaurant gets very busy! Trolling Rapala Xraps or other hard baits across the top of the structure can produce very well by keying in on the Groupers aggression and triggering a reaction strike. There are several ways to catch a grouper fish from shore. See what fish are biting now in Crystal River and find out where to catch them. Redfish, Snook, Speckled Trout, and Gag Grouper are all biting well this time of year, and the weather is usually cooperative, with sunny days and mild temperatures. Crystal River is home to a unique shallow-water grouper fishery that is home to an extremely healthy population of gag grouper. Though there are multiple species of grouper fish, they all have large, thick bodies and wide mouths. Tons of redfish, trout, mackeral, and cobia invading the area. With water temps in the 70's fishing in 10-30' of water has been very good and as it continues to cool off we only expect it to get better. We talked to a local angler who knows everything there is to know about catching these creatures in the waters of Crystal River. 8000 sized spinning reels spooled with 65-80 pound braid and 80 pound leader is what you need to get these fish in the boat. Crystal River is a pristine coastal fishery that is known for epic battles with snook and tarpon, houses many of the most sought-after inshore species anywhere, but it also holds one of the most unique experiences found along Florida's coast - Shallow water grouper fishing! One of the notable considerations of eating grouper is its mercury grade. These fish are extreme tackle testers so you better be ready for the battle with some high quality gear and some beefed up tackle. But if youre planning to go during the colder months, keep in mind that most freshwater species are seasonal. Keep in mind that you dont want to set the hook when you use circle hooks. Caught trout, Spanish mackerel, and red fish. They will take out a prop or lower unit in a heart beat. Back in early 60's the US Navy used our coastal waters to test dummy MK 82 bombs and Mk 76 smoke bombs. These same big-lipped diving plugs have been all the rage for about three years among anglers trolling for grouper off Florida's Coastal Bend in the Gulf of Mexico. There can be a few cold fronts that move through, but . Its that time of year again where anglers from all over the world descend onto the flats of Crystal River and Homosassa looking to accomplish one goal/life long quest: CATCH A BIG ASS TARPON ON FLY! It has high levels of mercury, which can cause problems such as bloody stool, mood swings, memory loss, or muscle weakness. The trout fishing has slowed down with warmer temperatures we have been fishing from 12-16 feet slow jigging mirrolure little johns in . The best Grouper fishing found along Crystal River and Homosassa can be found along the shallow waters of our Foul Area also known as the Old Bombing Range. Over time the constant bombardment of dropping these heavy dummy bombs created large areas of scattered craters that have become perfect hiding areas for hungry Grouper. We use 65lb braid and 100lb Fluorocarbon Leader to pull these fish from their homes. And good to eat. They can also be fished using live or dead bait such as cut fish or chicken parts. Crystal River Shallow Water Grouper Fishing Capt. Even with a 50, one of us got really burned. Once you find the school, live pinfish has been a great bait to keep these fish fired up. I always tell my clients the first three cranks are the most important, if you can get three cranks, most of the time you already have that fish coming to the boat. The Gulf Coast of Florida experienced a devastating weather event earlier this month when Hurricane Ian made land fall off the coast of Fort Myers Beach as a near category 5 storm. I want to be just like capt Casey when I grow up., Casey Russell is a highly experienced guide. Captain, Owner, and Fishing Guide At Florida Fishing Adventures in Crystal River, Florida. The weather this year has provided challenges and opportunities to change up our tactics and find fish in places where they maybe wouldnt have been in a normal" season. #realsal, God! Book with Captain Bryan! Happy Holidays Anglers. A live bait, such as a pinfish, is grouper candy and is hard for them to resist. Our miles of hard rocky bottom provides an ideal habitat for these fish. Gag grouper fishing is an exhilarating experience in Crystal River, FL. If you are itching to hook a gag grouper or 10, one of the best ways to begin is by going on a fishing charter in Crystal River. We have recently been fishing in anywhere from 10-20 feet of water yielding great limits of quality gag grouper. They are often caught as bycatch in commercial fishing but are also fished for sport or food. Copyright Reel Florida Fishing Charters 2019-2021, Crystal River Little League Opening Day!!! Looking for an Orvi, Shout out to my boy Casey Males for knocking out s, Another great day of fly fishing with my main man, This gorgeous view will becoming up For Sale very, Great Day fly fishing the Backcountry of Crystal R, One of my top 10 guiding moments!! Gag grouper season runs June 1st-December 31st. Why Fishing in Crystal River, FL is One of the , Crystal River Fishing Reports: May Recap and Wh, While fishing the Inshore waters of Crystal River the options are endless. If you catch a few and then don't see any for a while, don't get discouraged. As the cooler weather starts to set in, fall is upon us. All of the great guides here at Reel Florida Fishing Charters hope that 2022 was a prosperous year for everyone and we wish all of you the very best going into 2023. Are you visiting Crystal River in the month of June? We went scalloping (not fishing). These are limestone formations that are not found in this many of a number anywhere along the Gulf coast except here. For most people, moderate intake of mercury in fish is not a concern, but you do want to be aware of what youre putting in your body, especially if you eat grouper frequently. The mackerel bite was on ? Some reservations may require a deposit. Florida Fishing Adventures. I'm talkin, Don't let the grey beard fool you!!! open menu Crystal River Sport Fishing Sport Fishing Slip 12645 W Fort Island Trail Crystal River, FL 34429 Map/Directions (813) 486-4642 captjaycemassaro@gmail.com Hours Always Open Reviews Book Fishing Charter Follow us on. Crystal River is home to a unique shallow-water grouper fishery that is home to an extremely healthy population of gag grouper. captnickwarrington@gmail.com. It is relatively easy to identify grouper fish. A beautiful scenery paired with a healthy and thriving habitat provides an amazing estuary for fish such as, When it comes to fishing, the gag grouper can be a challenge. These locations are expansive flats with a unique ecology that draws in this awesome species of grouper. What would you recommend to anglers fishing in Crystal River, Florida for the first time. If you want to catch a lot of grouper fish, you need to use the best bait for grouper. I love fishing the Nature Coast. You can certainly eat it if you wish! Please call for full rate and reservation information. Caught over grass flats with sabiki rigs or traps, these frisky baits are sure to catch a grouper's eye. Whether you're an inshore or offshore angler, there are incredible opportunities to catch some serious "dinners." The highlight, though, without a doubt, is chasing down shallow water grouper. All rights reserved. Well as the old saying goes for every mile you venture off our coast it only gets a foot deeper.. Crystal River is known for its gorgeous clear waters, but did you know its also a hot spot for grouper fishing? Fishing the many rock piles that line the foul area with large Rapala f18 Swimming Plugs has also shown to be a great way to get these hard fighting fish to bite in tough conditions. February 19, 2023. Oops, there was an error sending your message. Love th, Another tough winter day here in Florida. As for the Redfishing here in Crystal River, it couldnt be any better. It is a beautiful, natural, rural area. The time we all look forward to has arrived once again: Grouper time! February 21, 2023. 8/0 to 10/0 circle hooks typically work great. Contact Fish Hunter Tours and Captain Bryan Frechette for a great fishing trip. Pinfish are very good eating fish and are often caught using fishing lines and hooks. Meanwhile, gag grouper fish are known for their large mouths that give them a wide gape when feeding. Every cold front pushes another wave of fish into the area.