It has been HOT, with water temperatures in the gulf nearing & exceeding 90°F some days. This unseasonably hot water temperature has created more storms early in the season, making offshore trips more challenging. Even the number of "pop-up storms" caused by the heat and humidity can be a hazard for boaters. We take boating safety seriously and constantly check weather reports and apps to stay on top of conditions that can change rapidly. Keeping with the adage that there’s never too much of a good thing, the boat is equipped with both Simrad Radar & Sirius XM weather to provide us with two instant readout weather tools. While we don't want to run to new areas when the fish are biting, the water is nowhere to be when lightning and high winds are forecasted. 

Offshore Fishing

Crystal River offers excellent offshore fishing opportunities for those willing to make the ride.

Red Snapper: Fishing has been good in waters 70 feet deep and beyond. These longer runs are possible, but high winds and heavy thunderstorms have severely limited how often we can get out for them. Average fish are in the 12-pound range, but 20-pound fish are frequently caught. Look for them to push deeper to 100-120’ as waters continue to warm.

Red Grouper: Bottom fishing for red grouper has been phenomenal during June. We have been finding fish in depths ranging from 30 to 80 feet, with a majority of the keeper-sized fish caught in 90 feet or more. With the number of snapper in the area, we have been using oversized baits to get past the other species. Red grouper were common before the severe red tides in 2014; we are glad to see the populations coming back.

Gag Grouper: Gags are still abundant but not in season yet. They offer a great fight and fantastic pictures, but we must send them back after the fight. Don't forget to ask us about booking a trip for the next season.

Yellowtail: The High Octane has been seeing good catches of Yellowtail snapper in 80-90 feet of water. Live shrimp on a 1/8 oz jig head is the ticket to hooking into these wary fish. While many anglers associate the Keys with Yellowtail, we're seeing more and more of these every year, and they are a welcome sight. 

Mangrove Snapper: Mangroves are being caught anywhere from 5' of water to 100'. It should come as no surprise that the larger ones are found out deep. Light leaders are your friend with how clear the water is out there. 4-5 pound fish coming in beyond 60' of water.

Mahi-Mahi: Offshore anglers can encounter mahi-mahi (dolphin fish) through the summer. These colorful and tasty fish are often found near floating debris, weed lines, or offshore structures. Casting a piece of cut bait, shrimp, squid, or artificial jigs can entice strikes. While these are not a species we specifically target, it is always worth scanning the blue water for a piece of flotsam that could yield a mahi.

Scalloping

Our season opened July 1st.  From the first week and a half it’s definitely better than last year! How many people bring back varies on how well they see them & conditions on the water but I can grab 2 gallons in about an hour. As always going on a lower tide will help you out for sure. If you’re looking to go out on a scalloping charter give us a call before you book & we’ll try to pick an easy tide for you. Still have a little bit of weekday availability in mid to late July as well as August for those looking to get the family out for some scalloping fun.

Light Tackle

Crystal River's inshore waters present a multitude of angling opportunities. The flats, creeks, and mangrove shorelines teem with fish, allowing anglers to catch various species, including redfish, snook, trout, and tarpon.

Redfish: June & July is an excellent time to target redfish on the shallow flats on the lower tides and the mangrove edges at high tide. These powerful fish can be found tailing or cruising in search of food. Anglers can entice redfish into biting using live shrimp, pinfish, or cut bait. Cut bait is a summertime favorite as it takes the pinfish awhile to pick away at it.

Snook: Snook fishing remains productive throughout the summer. Our big snook are holding in the deeper rockpiles in 20 to 30 feet of water. When we say big, we mean big. We have landed multiple snook over 40 inches that were tempted by free-lined baits.