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Does anyone have any info on fishing the Crystal River area. I am going to meet my sister and my nephew" the one that has the brain tumor" there. Any info on fishing spots and rentals would be greatly appreciated. Thanks,Heath. By the way we are going to be inshore fishing.

I went one time at the end of the spring Tarpon season about 15+ years ago. If my memory is correct, the area was very much like Apalachee Bay. Vast flats and some grass marsh. Not as much marsh as we have, but still significant.I would think you fish the area just like you do here.
FF

It has been about 30 years since I last fished there. If memory serves me, there are grass flats on both sides of the river channel in the gulf with more to the south than to the north. Pretty much like fishing out of Steinhatchee. I caught some nice redfish in the river not far from the mouth of the river. A friend of mine's uncle was a guide down there, but he was in his 60's then, so I pretty sure he is no longer fishing, if he is alive.

Of course my memory is blurred, because I went down there nearly every weekend when I was in the University of Florida law school and I spent most weekends washing the taste of gator out of my mouth.

Homasassa (right up the road), has some great scalloping. The run from the marina to the Gulf is a bit long, but once you get to the Gulf, you can fish / scallop just North of the boat channel. Also, if you get to the end of the driveway at the public ramp, look to your right and find the little bait store. Pay the man $5 to launch and you don't have to wait in the massive line to lauch at the main ramp. The guy at the bait store is the one who told me what marker to scallop near and he was right on the money. (I can't remember the marker number.)

- Steve Stinson

Heath,

I fished there once about 2 years ago. We caught some trout and reds in front of the power plant. Tarpon were busting everywhere but we couldn't get them to eat. We also ran to some structure that was fairly shallow (maybe 20') and caught a couple of short gags as well as a massive hammerhead. You'll be fine fishing, but be warned the ramps and boat traffic can be absolute nightmare.

Good luck.

There are several Mom and Pop motels near King's Bay with a ramp at nearby Pete's Landing. The channel out to the Gulf is wide and well-marked. Lots of nice grass flats and nearshore rock piles that will hold grouper in depths <15'.

Just south, the Homosassa River gives access to more grass flats and some nearby keys. If you go there, be sure to not stray outside the channel or you'll lose your lower unit on the rocks. MacRae's Resort, in Homosassa, has a public launch, clean comfortable rooms and friendly folks. I'd highly recommend it. If you go there, be sure to stop by the Ice House for some boiled shrimp and a cold beverage. Of the two, Homosassa is much more like old Florida. Very cool place to fish.

Here's the link to my article that ran in the October issue of Salt Water Sportsman on the area:

http://www.saltwatersportsman.com/artic ... tal-Waters