Offshore Fishing

Red Grouper & Red Snapper Fishing far offshore continues to impress with excellent catches of red grouper, red snapper, mangrove snapper, and lane snapper. 80-120’ is where you want to focus. Larger grouper and snapper have been preferring live pinfish, while shrimp remain effective for targeting smaller fish. It's a long ride but the payoff is worth it!

Mangrove snapper and hogfish in depths shallower than 70 feet has been less than stellar which is on par with this time of year. Our shallow water mangrove snapper fishing should fire up over the next few weeks and remain consistent through the summer. Look for them on rock piles from 4-20' of water.

Cobia fishing has been active lately, with many fish being caught but fewer keepers than we like to see due to the recently upped 36” size regulation. Most fish are just shy, around 33-35.5 inches.

Gag grouper

There’s no shortage of gag grouper out there right now. Anglers are finding them stacked up on just about any rock pile from 8 to 100 feet of water. While we’re currently waiting for the 2025 season dates, we expect official word within the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, it’s encouraging to see strong numbers across a wide range of depths.

Inshore Fishing:

Summer patterns are here, with water temperatures already reaching the mid-80s. Can't say we do a lot of inshore fishing through the summer. Have a few trips scheduled but for the most part the inshore boat stays on the trailer.

Trout are primarily hanging on deeper flats, exhibiting hit-or-miss activity. Once you locate and land a keeper, it’s crucial to anchor down and work that area thoroughly for best results.

Snook have moved offshore for their summer spawning, providing plenty of fun, even though they are currently out of season.

Looking Ahead

Mark your calendars—red snapper season officially opens on June 1st! Spots are still available but filling fast. Focus on depths of 80 feet or deeper for best results.

Scallop season kicks off on July 1st, and trips are booking quickly. Don’t miss out—book soon!

Don’t miss the excitement—our calendar fills up quickly. Whether you’re looking to reel in a trophy or simply enjoy a great day on the water, now is the perfect time to book your Crystal River charter!

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