CRYSTAL RIVER

Hello from Crystal River. Hopefully, everybody’s out enjoying the nice summertime weather. I know we are here in Crystal River and the fishing has been great.

The redfish bite has been great on the early morning incoming tides here lately. I’ve been fishing, using a live pinfish, shrimp on a jig, or cut bait. Like always, I spend the first part of my trip looking for mullet. This time of year, with the heat, I try to fish early in the morning or later in the afternoon up until dark. The bite is usually good when it’s cooler.

The snook has also been great. I’ve been using artificial bait such a DOA Jerk Baits and live pinfish. The key to snook fishing is to know where they sit and lay, and cast to them without their seeing you, that usually gives you a better hook up ratio.

The trout bite has been OK in the early morning on the shallow flats. You can usually find a few on good hard bottom, using your favorite selection of artificial baits. Also, the deeper flats in the 6-to-12-foot range hold trout. While targeting trout in deeper water, I use a 1/8-ounce jig head, tipped with my favorite Little Jon.

Hopefully everybody gets an opportunity to get out and catch some fish.

Until next month.

Capt. James Kerr 352-362-6893 Citrusfishingchaters.com

July brings fireworks, BBQ’s, scalloping and good fishing! Scallop season is in full effect. Scalloping is a big to-do on the Nature Coast and brings people from all over. Scalloping is a great family time event for everyone. You don’t have to be a fisherman to enjoy scalloping. However, if you do want to get out and do some fishing, July is a great month. Red fishing is pretty strong in July and our snook fishery is still getting better each month. Look offshore for decent trout fishing on or near the near shore rock piles along with nice mangrove snapper. I like to head offshore this time of the year on the low tide, and pick up groceries. Shrimp on a 1/4 oz jig head will keep the kids happy around rocky areas, and not to mention mangroves are great table fare. Also, while out there, the trout bite can be pretty productive in the deeper water. I like to fish the 8-foot range off shore in the summer with DOA Jig heads rigged with the MirrOLure lil Johns in glow or watermelon red flake. On the incoming tides, hit the outside points of St Martin Keys for redfish. Gold spoons work well but free-lined pin fish will keep the rods bent. Look for jumping mullet during the last two hours of the incoming tide. If you want to get out and do some scalloping, plan your day around the last two hours of the outgoing tide. The rock island tripod would be a good starting area. Remember to keep a look out for other boaters and bad thunderstorms. This time of the year we get some bad afternoon storms that produce a lot of electricity. Be safe out there. Be safe and tight lines!

Capt. Jonathan Hamilton www.stumpnation.us

352-424-3260

BEAT THE HEAT!

The hot weather is finally beating down on us as we’ve had a fair amount of wind and some rain to keep us running long enough to forget about the heat. Inshore, the redfish will be in a true summertime pattern; the outer points and outside flats and oyster bars will be littered with schools of mullet and redfish. Two hours before high tide and the first two hours of incoming is the peak bite every single day like clockwork. A 4/0 circle hook 30 pound seaguar flurocarbon leader, and a generous size of chunk mullet works every time.

Offshore and nearshore, I’m getting reports of the red snapper in 90 to110 feet of water. It’s a long run, but the fish are enormous, with many each trip into the 20-pound range! That long drive might finally be worth it for two fish, or perhaps not. Inside 20 to 35 feet of water, the mangrove bite remains strong. Light leader and a big live shrimp freelined, always gets the big ones . If you’re looking to beat the heat like my post suggests, get out super early, then get off the water around 1 pm and you’ll have enough energy to do it two days in a row! Tight lines guys.

rout continue to be scattered and the sporadic bite, though concentrated around the high tide, is still more unpredictable than consistent. That said, we may have limits one trip and struggle the next day.

Live pinfish under Back Bay Thunders are the best ticket for success while our largest trout for the last two trips has come in on an Assassin 5-inch shad bounced on a 1/8-ounce Assassin Jighead. My better patterns lately have been Laguna Shrimp, Pink Ghost, Chartreuse Ghost, Violet Moon, Cantaloupe (sea shads) and Orange Gold Shiner 4.5 to 5.5 feet of water is producing the most fish, while some days we have caught good trout in 6 to 7 feet of water.

There is very little white bait out there unless you move to 12 to 14 feet and although some reports said trout were being caught in 11 to 12 feet, it doesn’t appear to be a very popular trend, at least not from Keaton.

We have found reds scattered also, and again, this is due to the lack of bait in the shallows. It is common, at least for the last few years, for reds to leave the hill and creeks and move out on the deeper grass flats and feed with the trout in July. Our Gulf water temps are around 80 to 82 degrees, and that is lower than this time last year. We have caught reds on Assassin soft plastic, gold weedless HEX spoons and on live pinfish under Back Bays. www.onemorecast.net onemorecast@gtcom.net cell: 850.838.7541

Cobia have thinned since the first moon in June, which is usually their spawning time. There may be a few still out there, but definitely not as plentiful in July, as in May and early June. Keep a live blue crab handy, so when one shows up trailing a hooked fish back to the boat, you can slip it to him with a 30 or 40 lb. outfit.

Meanwhile, Let's Go Fishing!

Pat McGriff dba One More Cast guide service for 30 years!

Hey guys and gals, Hope everyone had a good June! Fishing is definitely starting to slow down with the heat. Problem is, or was for June, the lack of rain which usually helps cool things down. Hopefully, we will start getting those afternoon showers more consistently for the next couple months.

Speaking of weather, especially with scallop season in full swing, I just want to touch on how fast stuff can turn on you, on any body of water in Florida. Play it safe guys. I’ve seen stuff come out of nowhere and topple boats

If you want to get out and do any trout fishing or red fishing, give us a call. I will try to fit in some scallop trips as well. Until next time, Keep It Reel Native!!!

Fishing in your “Anna” dress is sure to bring good luck, especially if catching the elusive Suwannee River Pink Plastic is your goal.