These grouper, Another awesome day chasing tailing Redfish along, Good times today with the family here in Crystal R, Talk about a fun day!!!! #discovercrystalriver #pa, Catching a few fish on these rainy Florida days wi, Great day on the pond with my good friend James Ph. When to Catch Grouper in Crystal River One of the Florida Gulf Coast's greatest fishing experiences is found in Crystal River. Gag grouper fishing is an exhilarating experience in Crystal River, FL. 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. Crystal River Fishing Reports: May Recap and What to Expect You can expect great red fishing especially in the early mornings and late afternoons, live bait and top waters have been a few key baits to get the job done. Crystal River is a great place to go for fishing charters. Crystal River Shallow Water Grouper Fishing Capt. Grouper works in a variety of dishes, including the classic fish sandwich. Grouper are notorious for breaking anglers off in nearby structures; therefore, we have to use some seriously stout tackle. Love th, Another tough winter day here in Florida. Or looking for where to fish in your own vessel? Reports Winter Time Fishing The Nature Coast Jan 17, 2023 Happy New Year anglers!! We have recently been fishing in anywhere from 10-20 feet of water yielding great limits of quality gag grouper. Manatee gets flipper hooked to its face in Florida river | Miami Herald Its 2023 , and the new year is starting right with inshore and offshore action.Our water temps have been colder than average. 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. Tight Lines!!! Covering the inshore and offshore waters of Floridas Big Bend. Copyright Reel Florida Fishing Charters 2019-2021, Crystal River Little League Opening Day!!! What is the key to snapper fishing in Crystal River, FL? Be sure to lock down the drag and hold on tight as these fish will give it everything they got to get you down in the rocks. Fishing charters take anglers out along the Crystal River to catch gag grouper. 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. Crystal River is home to a unique shallow-water grouper fishery that is home to an extremely healthy population of gag grouper. Another way to target Grouper is with trolling plug. This allows you to easily release the fish and improves the chance that it will live. The time we have all been looking forward to, cooler weather, has arrived here in Crystal River! Our numerous shallow water rock piles make our area arguably the best place to grouper fish in the state of Florida. Sign me up as a fan Im often asked how we choose the guides that work with us here at Reel Florida Fishing Charters. They are intelligent and fast-moving, so catching them takes some skill. Cool mornings with warm afternoons making for a great fishing environment is what we live for. 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. Gag Grouper In Crystal River Gag grouper fish will often hide in crevices, under ledges, or among rocks and coral. When is the best month to go goliath grouper fishing in Crystal River? Keep up the sunscreen and watch the weather because it can change in an hour. The freshwater springs off the coast are home to several species of fish including snook, redfish, and of course, gag grouper. Grouper And Snapper Fishing In Crystal River Fishing Reports - Homosassa Fishing Charters | Crystal River Fishing Grouper fish come in a variety of colors and patterns, but most have large scales. 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. Its a lot of fun to get a experience fishing for gag grouper, all while finding the secret places where they like to hide. We will be back., Irene Rubin Fort worth, Texas Great Guide- Great Fishing, Matt A. from Kill Devil Hills, NC I mean, capt. When to Catch Grouper in Crystal River 352-601-1963 If youre thinking about heading out on the water to catch one, be sure to come along with Crystal River Sport Fishing! The redfish and trout where great for dinner. For example, the best time to go fishing for gag grouper is between June-December. Crankin' Up Grouper | Bass Pro Shops Our miles of hard rocky bottom provides an ideal habitat for these fish. Copyright Reel Florida Fishing Charters 2019-2021, Crystal River Little League Opening Day!!! It is this combination of structure, food, and temperate waters that bring gag grouper into the Crystal River inshore fishery. This is the time of year to start making plans and getting your spot locked in for this fishing opportunity. However, the reward has been well worth it for anglers willing to bundle up and put in the time. When we were out, we had a descent breeze, but it's still really warm. We pair these up with 7' Daiwa Harrier X rods to land these beasts. 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. That said, there is a peak activity season where most anglers switch to targeting them specifically. These young anglers put on a fishing cli. 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. 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. Hard fighters paired with being a delectable table fair make it a fish everyone can enjoy. The weather here in Crystal River this time of year is what we all dream of. This small town with just over 3,000 residents might not seem like the type of place where youll find world-class fishing. Offering Inshore, Flats, Offshore, Scalloping, and Grouper fishing charters we have all your fishing needs covered here at High Octane Fishing Charters. As the water temperature starts to drop into the low 70s, the Grouper start to swim (migrate) their way east. We have recently been fishing in anywhere from 10-20 feet of water yielding great limits of quality gag grouper. What Fish Are Biting in Crystal River, FL, While fishing the Inshore waters of Crystal River the options are endless. When it comes to gag grouper fishing in Crystal River, you need to have the right tackle ready to go. See what fish are biting now in Crystal River and find out where to catch them. February 21, 2023. Best of all, its always open and ready to welcome anglers year-round. Grouper fishing in Crystal River is typically done by bottom fishing with live bait, and the best time to fish for grouper is during the cooler months. He or she will help you set up the gear, give you tips on how to catch fish. Oops, there was an error sending your message. One thing that makes our area special is the abilty to cast and troll for these fish. 8/0 to 10/0 circle hooks typically work great. Grouper season is here!!!!!! - Crystal River Fishing Report - FishingBooker My boy Andy's l, Great day on the pond targeting Reds on fly. A fishing charter is a great way to enjoy a day out with friends or family while catching fish at the same time. 9340 W Fort Island Trail Gag grouper season runs June 1st-December 31st. Back in early 60's the US Navy used our coastal waters to test dummy MK 82 bombs and Mk 76 smoke bombs. 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. 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. While most go fish wrecks and reefs for grouper, the bottom-scape of the Crystal River shallows contain many natural features that draw this species in. Some species can grow quite large in fact, the largest recorded grouper fish was almost 700 pounds! Fish to 20 pounds are not unusual, and trust me, theres nothing like battling one of these bruisers on spinning tackle in shallow water. In addition to fishing for grouper in Crystal River, check out the following ideas for things to do this month: Grouper is an amazing fish, and catching one is a feat. Yes, but be careful of the oyster bars if running your own boat. Once you find the school, live pinfish has been a great bait to keep these fish fired up. Well as the old saying goes for every mile you venture off our coast it only gets a foot deeper.. Crystal River is home to a unique shallow-water grouper fishery that is home to an extremely healthy population of gag grouper. Usually those words are the precursor for a story of struggles or How many of you enjoy a nice warm cup of coffee to get you going before you start the day? 9340 W Fort Island Trail Trying to decide what time of year tobook a trip? I honestly cant say that I blame those fun loving beachgoers for wanting to soak up some sun during the spring break season here in Florida. #realsal, God! Grouper has a subtle taste and it is not overly fishy. 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? This allows them to swallow large prey items like clams and crabs whole. Anywhere from 15-30 you can expect to catch quality grouper on live and dead baits. If you are fishing for a large grouper fish, try casting very far out into the water. While there are many opinions out there on what that might be, we like to use pinfish for grouper bait. The water is beautiful but it is hot out so come prepared for lots of heat and sun. Please call for full rate and reservation information.