CRYSTAL RIVER

Hello from Crystal River! With the warmer weather setting in, the fishing has been great here on the inside.

Reds are starting to school, and the bite has been great. I focus on areas with hard bottom and lots of active mullet. Live pinfish are always a great choice for bait, free lined on a circle hook. Another good choice when the water temps start to rise, is fresh cut bait. I like the beginning of the incoming tide and last of the outgoing, when targeting reds.

Trout are out in the deeper grass flats looking for cooler water. Look for spotty broken bottom. This time of year, I’ll jig for them using 1/8 oz. jig tipped with soft plastic.

Give me a call to get out the water this summer.

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

May is such a great month for a wide variety of fish. From snook, trout, redfish, snapper, grunts, mackerel, and cobia, it’s going ON in May! The nice thing about May is that it’s a transition month. Fish are moving around. I like spending time near-shore, exploring our vast rock piles. It’s a great way to learn new spots and maybe find some good grouper spots for the fall. Near shore rocks this time of the year, can produce nonstop action!

Look for trout to start moving to the near-shore rocks in the 6 to 8 foot ranges. I like jigging with the watermelon red flake MirrOLure Little Johns on a DOA 1/8th ounce jig head around rocky bottoms. Around those rock piles, you will find a plethora of fish willing to eat a shrimp rigged on that same jig head, Grunts, mackerel, snapper and blue fish will keep the rods bent. While you’re offshore, keep a lookout for cobia. They should be in this time of the year. Live pin fish on a heavier rod will work well for a cobia swimming at the surface!

Inshore will still be holding some trout. Look for the yellow bottom areas on the incoming tides. Redfish will be on the outside points. I like using free-lined live pin fish this time of the year. Snook will also eat pin fish as well. For the artificial guys, nose hooked DOA CAL will produce solid snook and trout bites.

For the fly anglers, I like to pole the St. Martin Keys on the last hour of the outgoing tide. Once the water gets low enough, you will find tailing redfish on the middle of the flat up to 100 plus yards from any shoreline. These fish are super spooky, so stealth and patience is key. I like to throw really small shrimp pattern flys. Near-shore rock piles will produce great action on the long rods. I like to tie clouser flys on long shanked J hooks for the rocks. The long-shanked hooks limits the break offs on mackerel. Use shrimp or a chum block or get them fired up and then its game on!

May 6th is the Homosassa

Mullet Toss and Spring Festival

For more info go to https:// homosassacivicclubinc.org

May 20th is the 2nd annual Ladies Fishing Tournament out of Florida Cracker Riverside Resort. For more info visit https:// floridacrackerfishing.com

Be courteous to fellow anglers and boaters. Seems like everyone is in such a big hurry and only considerate of themselves and not others. Think about your actions on the water. How will you affect another boater? Or yet, how about the kid who might be about to catch the fish of a life time? Enjoy our time on the water. Make good memories.

As always stay safe.

Capt. Stump

352-403-2073 www.captainjhamilton.com