July is known for its hot weather, but that doesn't mean you can't have a successful day on the water. In fact, the waters of Crystal River offer some fantastic opportunities throughout the summer.

Scallops

We’re currently two weeks into scallop season, and we’ve gathered some valuable insights. The scallops are on the smaller side, which is typical this early in the season. They only live for about a year and generally don't reach full maturity for a few more weeks. The majority of scallops are found a bit deeper than in the past two years. Trips during lower tides have been more productive than those with high tides. This trend offers a hint on planning your scalloping adventures for the best results. It's a great way to beat the summer heat and make some family memories!

Mangrove Snapper

July is the perfect time for mangrove snapper fishing nearshore in Crystal River. These rock piles, ranging from 5 to 20 feet deep, are teeming with them. Freelining shrimp on 1/8th or 1/16th oz jig heads is a proven method to get plenty of bites. You generally won’t need to chum on most days, but having a block handy isn't a bad idea. If you’re quick enough to set the hook, you’ll be rewarded with a limit of snapper. Expect the bite to last through the end of September.

Red Snapper

Although the Red Grouper season just closed, Red Snapper fishing remains open for another six weeks. Best fishing on our last few trips has been in 95-100 feet. Frozen threadfin herring has been the bait of choice lately. It's also essential to keep an eye out for floating objects, as there have been reports of schools of mahi-mahi in the area. These opportunities can add an extra layer of excitement to your fishing trip.

Redfish

Redfish are beginning to school up in their usual summer hangouts around the outer spoil islands and rocky points. Our redfish stage here before moving offshore to spawn in a couple of months. When the water temperatures rise, fresh cut ladyfish or pinfish are excellent bait choices. We're anticipating the arrival of bull redfish schools in about 3-4 weeks.

Other great catches

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