CRYSTAL RIVER HOMOSASSA

Hello from Crystal River; hope everyone is doing good and enjoying the water.

Between the cold fronts, this time of year can be some of the best fishing in our area. It’s slowly starting to warm back up and get more into spring patterns and the trout fishing has been really great. I’ve been using Mirrordines and DOA jerk baits.

I like to target the 1-to-3-foot water depth, looking for the good hard bottom, and I prefer the low outgoing tide. Some days you have to move around until you find them, but once you start getting strikes, work that zone.

The redfish have been really good. I prefer live shrimp on a long shank hook.

For artificial, I’ll use a 1/4 gold spoon or a paddle tail on a 1/4 jig. I focus on the islands, creeks and shorelines that are holding mullet and usually find what we are looking for.

Snook are starting to setup on the outside islands and creeks, getting ready for the warmer months.

I like artificial while targeting snook. DOA bait buster are my goto. I’ll use a fast retrieval looking for breaks in the current or work under the trees.

Capt. James Kerr

352-362-6893

Citrusfishingchaters.com

March is one of my favorite months for fishing in our region. I love catching big trout. There’s something about a gator trout inhaling a nose hooked jerk bait in shallow clear water, where you get to see it. And March is the prime month for shallow water trout fishing. I really think that a big trout might truly be one of my favorite species that we have on the Nature Coast. I always look forward to this time of the year. Spring is in full effect, and with the rising water temperatures, these big trout start transitioning from offshore, and our rivers, back out to the rock flats. When trout fishing, look for hard yellow bottom on the second part of the incoming tide. These fish will not get on the rock until there’s enough water for them to feel comfortable, so you can get in there early, and actually keep them from coming on the rock. So be patient and wait. I like the DOA CAL 5 inch, in Glow or Glow/gold flake nose hooked on a 3/0 J hook. That’s my go-to. MirrODines also work pretty good as well.

Red fishing will start to increase as well, on the outer islands. Fish will be transitioning out of the back and start working their way back to the outside. Shrimp under a cork is kind of hard to beat this time of the year. With the water clarity being so good, fly fishing can be good in March. I like throwing shrimp/bait fish pattern flies in these conditions. Near shore rock piles will start coming alive with plenty of action for everyone. Grunts, snapper, and mackerel will keep your rods bent, and make for one heck of a fish fry. Shrimp on a jig head will keep you busy.

Springtime fishing in Homosassa is really my favorite time of the year to fish. I hope you can find the time to get out and enjoy it as much as I do.

As always stay safe.

Capt. Stump 352-403-2073 www.captainjhamilton.com

WINDY, WINDY, WINDY!

Thus far, that seems to be the predetermined weather report for this year. Fishing remains steady inshore or nearshore, but finding a nice slick calm day to go has been limited.

Inshore, the redfish have had a great push into the creeks, and with higher tides and warmer weather, the majority of our fish will begin to push out onto the flats and points and islands here in our area of Yankeetown/Wacasassa. All of the people with jetboats, mudboats and airboats will have to share the backcountry with the less fortunate of folks, so to speak.

Onto positive things, snook season is now open, so everyone including me, is looking forward to a few snook dinners.

Nearshore, the tail end of sheepshead fishing will be great. March Is always the best month to catch a big breeder, so be mindful of that, and release the big ones and keep the smaller ones for dinner. Cobia will begin to trickle in towards the end of the month with a few tripletail as well, so it should be the beginning of an action packed spring!

Capt. Andrew Fagan

Instagram : Capt_redfishdrew EBB TIDE CHARTERS