Past couple of months have been a whirlwind for us here in Crystal River, Florida, between trying to make the most of our extelmly short grouper season and getting back to back hurricanes. Let's take a look at what's been happening on the water and what you can expect as we move forward.
Our extremely short gag grouper season this year offered some good fishing. Some days we had to work a little harder for them than others but with water temps near 90 degrees we had no complaints. Over the 15-day window we were given, the weather held up perfectly, allowing us to fish each day. There's talk of a longer season next year, our quota does increase each year and as long as we didn't go over "quota" this year we should expect quite a few more days to fish in 2025. Lots of fishing pics to chose from but here's a few:
Inshore fishing for species such as redfish, trout, and spanish mackerel has been about as good as it gets the past few weeks. Trout fishing especially, we have good numbers of fish still out on the deeper flats (5-7' of water) and the number of fish in the backcountry is increasing every week. Seeing some quality fish over 20" as well. Popping cork and a live shrimp has been the best bet. Look for this cold front that just moved through to push everything in shallower.
Mangrove snapper have been chewing quite well in 20-40' of water. Water has been a little on the dirty side since the storm which is great for snapper fishing. Knocker rigs or freelining 1/8th or 1/16th oz jigs tipped with shrimp.
Hogfish- Fall also offers us the ability to target hogfish. Arguably the best eating fish in the state of Florida they fire up quite a bit this time of year. I've seen some quality fish come from as shallow as 15' so far but 40-50' seems to be the most productive numbers wise. Think hard live bottom instead of high relief spots when looking for hogfish.
The hurricane left its mark on our community, and many of us have been busy with recovery efforts. From gutting houses due to the 8-9' of storm surge damage to ensuring our boats are safe, it's been a challenging few weeks. But the good news is, we're back to fishing. 90% or so of hotels & restaurants are already back open and ready for business. For those heading out on your own expect things to be moved around a little bit. The marker 12 area in the main channel claimed a couple of boats post storm but the channel markers are properly repaired/replaced now.
Lots to look forward to in the upcoming months along the gulf coast!
Late fall & winter is when shallow water boats earn their keep. Cool temperatures and low tides pool fish up in the deeper cuts & pockets in the back country and if you have a boat that can run shallow enough to get to them anglers are in for a treat.
For those without a skinny running boat the main river is a great place to fish in the winter. Just bring plenty of tackle and be ready to retie quite often.
Apparently the fishery management "Magic 8 Ball" deemed we didn't catch enough red snapper this summer so they're opening it back up! November 18-December 31st for for hire vessels. For those looking to go on a long boat ride and catch some big snapper we have openings!
Did a 10hr trip a few weeks ago and they were fired up on mangrove snapper spots. We caught some really nice ones on light tackle in 80-100'.
Sheepshead season is right around the corner! Starting in January and running through the end of March it's my personal favorite time of year. These guys school up offshore in the winter in 8-40' of water. Eager to chow down on a live shrimp it's easy fishing. Dropping shrimp straight down to the bottom it generally doesn't take long to get a bite.
We've already caught a few offshore and by mid December I wouldn't be shocked to see a half dozen or so while targeting mangrove snapper & hogfish.
Whether you're an avid fisherman or a beginner, now is a perfect time to grab your buddies, join us on the water, and create unforgettable fishing memories. Tight lines and safe adventures,
-Nick
Offering Inshore, Flats, Light Tackle, Offshore, Deep Sea Scalloping, and Grouper fishing charters we have all your fishing needs covered here at High Octane Fishing Charters.
