Crystal River Fishing Report • August 2024

Capt. Nick Warrington • August 22, 2024

The Redfish Run

August marks a prime time for redfishing in Crystal River. From now until the end of September, both "Bull" reds and slot fish are staging before heading offshore to spawn. These fish are in abundance, making it an ideal time for anglers of all experience levels to get in on the action.

Cut ladyfish, mullet, or live pinfish, are your best bets. But when you get in a frenzy they'll eat just about anything. It's not uncommon to catch them on a bare jig head this time of year when they're fired up. Be sure to your baits fresh (especially cut baits) as pinfish will peck your hooks clean.

Redfish are known for their love of structure. The miles long line of rock that jets out from the power plant is almost a redfish highway this time of year. Great fishing can still be found around the mangrove islands and surrounding flats. Early mornings you should be able to see these fish "pushing" in the shallows. Cast your baits way in-front of them and get ready for some drag screaming fun.

Mangrove Snapper Madness

Before the recent hurricane, the mangrove snapper bite was nothing short of phenomenal. Some days, anglers were able to hit their limit in a single spot. These nearshore waters were teeming with snappers, providing an exhilarating experience for those lucky enough to be out on the water.

For those looking to catch mangrove snapper, aim for waters 5-20 feet deep. Drifting live shrimp on 1/4 oz jig heads back to them has been the most effective method. While the snappers close to shore might not be the largest, they are delicious and provide excellent action.

Unfortunately, the hurricane disrupted this hot streak. Since then, the bite has been lackluster, but there's hope things will return to normal soon. We're optimistic that as the waters stabilize, so will the snapper’s feeding habits.

Scallop Season Struggles

This year's scalloping season hasn't been the best. Overall numbers are down, and scallops are deeper than they’ve been in recent years. However, every cloud has a silver lining. The hurricane has stirred up the waters, providing more food for the scallops, helping them grow significantly over the past few weeks. Currently you only need about 20 of them to equal a gallon. When the deeper portion of our scalloping grounds clear up hopefully better catches prevail.

Looking Ahead

2024 Gag Grouper Season

September 1st marks the opening of the gag grouper season, and anticipation is building among the fishing community. With only 15 days to target them expect it to be busy on the water as anglers seize this prime opportunity to harvest these delicious fish.

To gear up for the season, ensure your tackle is in top shape. Known for their ability to break you off in the structure make sure you have heavy enough mainline & leader. We typically start with 80# braid and 80# leader but will go up to 150# leader depending on the structure we're fishing. Don't be shy about tightening the drag either. We fish them pretty much locked down. It takes about a 30" fish to get any line out of the reel.

Inshore fishing

Some of the best inshore fishing of the year is right around the corner. Once the first cold front of fall hits expect trout fishing to improve significantly. Snook opens up September 1st as well!

Crystal River September Fishing Report

By Capt. Nick Warrington • September 25, 2026

September has been all about grouper. With one of the longest gag grouper seasons we’ve had in years, we’ve taken full advantage of it. The weather has cooperated for the most part, allowing us to get out on the water almost every day with very few cancellations. And the gag grouper fishing has been excellent.

Crystal River August Fishing Report

By Capt. Nick Warrington • August 31, 2026

August has definitely been a change of pace for me. This is my first year in a while that I haven’t spent the entire summer running scalloping trips, so I’ve had a little more time to focus on our offshore and inshore fishing. And honestly, the fishing has made the change pretty easy! We’ve had some ex cellent catches lately, with strong numbers of snapper and grouper and plenty of bait showing up throughout the area. With gag grouper season just around the corner, things are really starting to line up for what should be an awesome fall.

Crystal River June & July Fishing Report

By Capt. Nick Warrington • July 18, 2026

July is in full swing, bringing hot weather, afternoon thunderstorms, and some great fishing opportunities along the Nature Coast. If you can get an early start and stay ahead of the weather, the fishing has been well worth the effort. Red Snapper Red Snapper fishing has been best in 100 feet of water and deeper. There hasn't been many quality catches inside of that depth lately so be prepared for a long ride. Frozen threadfin herring and sardines have been producing the majority of the fish. One challenge has been the sharks, they’ve been relentless over the past couple of weeks. On some spots, it’s been nearly impossible to get a snapper to the surface before a shark gets to it, so don’t be afraid to move if they’re becoming too much of a problem.

Crystal River May Fishing Report

By Capt. Nick Warrington • June 1, 2026

There’s plenty happening on the Nature Coast right now. Gag Grouper season dates have been announced, Red Snapper season is underway, and anglers are finding success on everything from Mangrove Snapper to Cobia. Here's the latest from Crystal River. Gag Grouper Dates Released The dates are officially set for Gag Grouper season, running September 1st–30th. Some are upset, some are happy but with back to back years of 14 day seasons we'll happily take it! The good news is the fish are here. Gags have been fired up lately, and we've caught them everywhere from 5 feet of water out to 105 feet. There’s certainly no shortage of fish around, and the upcoming season is shaping up to be a good one. We still have a few openings available for both full-day and half day trips.

Crystal River April Fishing Report

By Capt. Nick Warrington • May 4, 2026

April is that transition month for us here in Crystal River and we’re starting to see a noticeable shift both inshore and offshore. Water temps are climbing int o the 70’s, and with that comes the first real push of our springtime migration. Cobia, kingfish, Spanish mackerel, and sharks have all started to show up in the area.

Crystal River February & March Fishing Report

By Capt. Nick Warrington • March 20, 2026

Sheepshead Sheepshead season is winding down, but the bite has still been very good while it lasts. We’ve seen strong numbers throughout February and into early March, with some quality fish in the 6–8 pound range. Most fish are being caught in 8 to 35 feet of water around rock piles and structure, with live shrimp continuing to be the bait of choice. If you’re looking to get in on this bite, now is the time to go before it wraps up and we wait until next January for it again.

2026 Scalloping in Florida - When, Where, & How To

By Capt. Nick Warrington • March 12, 2026

Crystal River, Florida, a hidden gem nestled along the Gulf Coast, is not only known for its breathtaking natural beauty and picturesque landscapes but also for a unique and thrilling summer activity: scalloping. This delightful underwater adventure combines exploration, relaxation, and a dash of adrenaline, making it a must-try experience for locals and visitors alike. In this article, we'll dive into the current scalloping season, catch limits, and techniques.

2026 Complete Guide to Crystal River Cobia Fishing

By Capt. Nick Warrington • March 12, 2026

There are few fish in Florida that attract as much attention as the Cobia. A migratory nearshore fish, the Cobia is prized for its combination of fight and table fare. How these fish are targeted in Florida makes them even more attractive to anglers who, at times, will custom design their vessels to make targeting them easier. This article will cover the ins and outs of cobia fishing, such as the state tackle record, fishing techniques, peak seasons, and even a recipe for preparing your catch.

Crystal River December & January Fishing Report

By Capt. Nick Warrington • January 23, 2026

Winter fishing in Crystal River is in full swing, and while cold fronts and weather windows have made things a little tricky at times, the fish are still cooperating for those willing to pick their days. December and January bring some of our favorite opportunities of the year, with solid offshore bottom fishing and dependable inshore action when conditions line up. Here’s a breakdown of what we’re seeing on the water.