crystal river grouper fishing report

Although they are small, pinfishes can be quite tasty. Thankfully the Nature Coast, which includes Crystal River and Homosassa, was spared, as Have you ever been to one of those large family gatherings where one of the grandparents or great parents is talking about a family member only to throw the words Bless His Heart into the story? Fishing charters take anglers out along the Crystal River to catch gag grouper. February 19, 2023. Thats why so many people decide to go fishing for grouper in Crystal River! 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. Come out with Finders Keepers Charters and try to catch these tasty fish on light to medium tackle either bottom fishing or trolling lipped plugs. Check out our June Fishing Report to learn the inside tips and tricks to catching grouper. Take a fishing charter trip on crystal river: Perfect if youre fishing for grouper in Crystal River! 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!! Trout bite is firing up. 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! captnickwarrington@gmail.com. Really good fighting fish. It sits on the Crystal River where you can swim with manatees. Some reservations may require a deposit. Sport Fishing Slip While most anglers may think that targeting Grouper typically requires a long run offshore to deeper waters, many would be surprised to learn that the Nature Coast of Florida is the epicenter for targeting Gag Grouper in shallow water. Make sure to know what your going for and the season that is legal for your choice of catch. Get a bite to eat at Grannies Country Cookin Restaurant. Shallow Water Grouper Fishing For many people the idea of Gag Grouper and shallow water do not go hand in hand. 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. You wont be disappointed, 12645 W Fort Island Trail, Crystal River, FL 34429. 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!! Hard fighters paired with being a delectable table fair make it a fish everyone can enjoy. I'm a Native Floridian, and have been fishing the Homosassa, Crystal River, and Ozello area all of my life. But if youre planning to go during the colder months, keep in mind that most freshwater species are seasonal. Experience Crystal River waters with a licensed & insured local -- Captain Brandon Branch. Contact fishing booker thay no who tofix you up with and the guided we have met are straight shooters, Ask your Captain - they know the area and the best catch for the time of year you visit, Bring a jacket if you are fishing in the am , gets cold early morning , warms up nicely mid morning. Gag grouper fish will often hide in crevices, under ledges, or among rocks and coral. The waters can be choppy on the boat ride to fishing site. Email Us! Should You Go Fishing in Crystal River in January. Throwing lures is one of the most exhilarating ways to catch them. All rights reserved. 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. Drink water!! There are others, but these two have the densist population and are the most readily available to target. All rights reserved. Nice fishing! These young anglers put on a fishing cli. These fish are extreme tackle testers so you better be ready for the battle with some high quality gear and some beefed up tackle. Every cold front pushes another wave of fish into the area. 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. Nick Warrington Sep 16, 2021 A look into the best grouper fishing in the state of Florida You've probably seen it on TV or you've seen it on YouTube: shallow water grouper fishing puts Crystal River on the map. 12645 W Fort Island Trail We are the experienced fishing character that can help you catch grouper, along with many other types of fish. Another way to target Grouper is with trolling plug. The time we all look forward to has arrived once again: Grouper time! Looking for the best time of year to fish in Crystal River? The health benefits of this fish include low-fat content, omega-3 fatty acids, high protein, and a lot of vitamins. There are several ways to catch a grouper fish from shore. I love fishing the Nature Coast. Curious about fishing for grouper in Crystal River? No v, Get my money's worth out of this one!!! There is something to do for everyone in our area. Contact us today with questions. We went for Scallops. Reports Winter Time Fishing The Nature Coast Jan 17, 2023 Happy New Year anglers!! Consider the following advice on how to catch and hook the catch of a lifetime, right here in Crystal River, FL. If you want to catch a lot of grouper fish, you need to use the best bait for grouper. Redfish and Snook on fly + Grouper are lurking. Either use SPF 50 sunscreen or wear long shirt/pants. 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. Located on US Hwy 19, Grannies kitchen has over 2,000 Google reviews and 4.6 stars. Crystal River Shallow Water Grouper Fishing Capt. Our miles of hard rocky bottom provides an ideal habitat for these fish. Crystal River, Florida Fishing Report October 2021 Nick Warrington Oct 26, 2021 Shallow water grouper fishing has been hot! We use 65lb braid and 100lb Fluorocarbon Leader to pull these fish from their homes. The gag groupers mouth can also open up wider than most other fish because it has muscles that allow it to expand and contract. Happy Holidays Anglers. Email Address: 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. Including Homosassa, Ozello, Crystal River, Yankeetown, Waccasassa, and Cedar Key. With temperatures averaging in the low to mid-50's at times, the fish have been less aggressive than normal. It has high levels of mercury, which can cause problems such as bloody stool, mood swings, memory loss, or muscle weakness. They can be found in the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean, as well as here in Crystal River, Florida. All grouper fish have large, thick bodies and wide mouths, despite the fact that there are many species. With the Thanksgiving holiday on our doorstep and Christmas right around the corner many families are planning their annual family fishing trips to the Nature Coast and wondering what the action has been like. Usually, between 8 and 30 feet of water, these structures provide habitat for baitfish, other species (snapper and grunts for example), and provide ample ambush points for gags to hide in. If you catch a few and then don't see any for a while, don't get discouraged. Whats not to love about warm sunny days and ice-cold celebratory cocktails? Gag grouper season runs June 1st-December 31st. Very knowedgable, very friendly and great fisherman. Catching a grouper isnt the hard part. No v, Get my money's worth out of this one!!! The time we have all been looking forward to, cooler weather, has arrived here in Crystal River! If you are new to the area, new to inshore grouper fishing, or traveling from afar to come and try your hand at this unique fishing opportunity, a seasoned guide will be key. Although not as durable, frozen baits can get the job done as well. Oops, there was an error sending your message. The mackerel bite was on ? Grouper is a delicious fish. Come prepared for a strong swim. 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. 9340 W Fort Island Trail Inshore Half Day(4 Hours) 1-2 People, 20212023 Crystal River Sport Fishing. The speckled sea trout bite has been great the red fish are moving out to the outer islands wanting to feed plenty of sheep pad and mangrove snapper on the rock piles. Mostly considered an offshore species, juvenile gags mature in bays and deeper grass flats close to . The freshwater springs off the coast are home to several species of fish including snook, redfish, and of course, gag grouper. They have small mouths and relatively large eyes. The odd predicament left the docile . Grouper can be caught on a variety of lures like spoons and jigs, but they are smart fish, so you need to be strategic about the type of bait you use as well as your choice of equipment. Skip to main content. We look forward to. Gag grouper are an ambush predator that loves to hide inside of structure. Well as the old saying goes for every mile you venture off our coast it only gets a foot deeper.. A live pinfish on the bottom has given us the best outcomes so far this year. data-event-category="Navigation header guest". 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! There can be a few cold fronts that move through, but . If you ever wondered about one of the best grouper fishing opportunities in the state of Florida, wonder no more. Some of our favorite baits include the Rapala X-Rap Magnum 15, 20, and 30 as well as the FMAG 18. Fish to 20 pounds are not unusual, and trust me, theres nothing like battling one of these bruisers on spinning tackle in shallow water. While these underwater structures hold gag grouper, it is not every single one of them. Are you new to fishing for gag grouper? Our numerous shallow water rock piles make our area arguably the best place to grouper fish in the state of Florida. Redfish and Snook in the backcountry + Grouper are lurking. This will help you identify them when its time to go out on your fishing trip. Learn all about the different snapper varieties here. We pair these up with 7' Daiwa Harrier X rods to land these beasts. Learn all about it in our Oct fishing report. The most prevalent of these features are rock formations. This small town with just over 3,000 residents might not seem like the type of place where youll find world-class fishing. 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. What is the key to snapper fishing in Crystal River, FL? Grouper can be caught on a wide variety of baits. Meanwhile, gag grouper fish are known for their large mouths that give them a wide gape when feeding. 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. We have recently been fishing in anywhere from 10-20 feet of water yielding great limits of quality gag grouper. An unusual water rescue was staged in a Florida river after witnesses reported a discarded fishing lure had somehow pinned a manatee's flipper to its face. Welcome to Tarpon Country ladies and gentlemen!!! You can feel the shear stopping power of these fish when they hit the lure. What to expect on your upcoming charter? Crystal River, Florida, makes an excellent choice for charter fishing. Also, try casting behind the structure where you think the grouper might be holding out of reach. Casey is a god, basically the best fisherman ever. 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. We often see dolphins, manatees and tons of different species of birds, including white pelicans. It is relatively easy to identify grouper fish. While your selection of fishing hooks is a personal choice, a circle hook can leverage your grouper fishing experience. Welcome Spring Breakers!!! Pinfish are very good eating fish and are often caught using fishing lines and hooks. S from Cincinatii, OH Had a great time on the water and caught fish for dinner. . That said, there is a peak activity season where most anglers switch to targeting them specifically. But it is worth it to find the fish! Shallow water or inshore fishing and grouper do not go hand in hand in most areas. He or she will help you set up the gear, give you tips on how to catch fish. Battle some of the hardest fighting fish in Florida all while experiencing the beauty of the Nature Coast on your guided fishing trip. They are most abundant in tropical to subtropical waters. As the cooler weather starts to set in, fall is upon us. Don't be affraid to try something new, but at the same time don't totally give up what brought you success to begin with. The snook bite continues to stay really strong on the hard incoming tides on the outside points using live bait and fast moving weedless jerkbaits. In fact, the area has been one of the most popular charter fishing spots in this part of Florida for many decades now thanks to the accessibility and abundant natural resources. Florida Fishing in in October. Trying to decide what time of year to book a trip? At the same time, they are some of the best-tasting fish in the ocean and most do just fine with a cooler full of these two. Learn where, when, and how to catch fishing in Crystal River, Florida with High Octane Fishing Charters. These young wranglers kept the rod, bent all day. Including Homosassa, Ozello, Crystal River, Yankeetown, Waccasassa, and Cedar Key.