Guided Fishing Charters On The Gulf Coast Of Florida
Based in Crystal River, Citrus County, Florida
The Fish
Redfish are one of
Big Bend’s top game fish. They can be found from the open gulf and passes, to
water so shallow that their backs are exposed. Crystal River, Ozello, and
Homosassa have some of the best rock flats for finding schooling redfish.
Redfish mature in the backcountry shallows until they are around 3 or 4 years
old, which puts the fish around 8-12 pounds. At this point the fish move
offshore to spawn. The average fish is around 4 or 5 pounds. They can be caught
on a variety of natural and artificial baits. Redfish are tireless fighters,
capable of long powerful runs. These runs are most enjoyed on 8-12 pound test
line, saving 15-20 pound line for the big bull reds. Redfish can be caught year
round, but March through December are the prime months.
Speckled trout are
one of the most abundant inshore game fish in the state of Florida. These fish
can be found almost anywhere we fish in the Big Bend. The speckled trout fishing
is a fun and exciting type of fishing mainly because they are a schooling fish,
and usually when one is caught there is likely to be more. Trout eat a variety
of baits, but one of the most exciting ways to catch a trout is on a top water
plug. We also tend to catch many of our bigger trout on lures such as jigs,
mirror lures, and soft plastics. However, fishing a live shrimp or baitfish under
a popping cork is about as sure a thing as you can get. The average trout caught
in our area will be in the lower end of the 15-20 inch slot limit, but there are
days when numerous fish are landed over the 20 inch slot. No matter the size,
there is nothing more exciting than seeing a hefty sea trout thrash its golden
mouth on the surface, just after eating your top water lure.
Tarpon are one of
the premier game fish in our waters. The silver king has been known to challenge
every aspect of an angler’s skill. The flats of Homosassa are world renowned for
their abundance of world class fish. The Flats of Homosassa is the area where
the first tarpon over 200 pounds was ever landed on a fly. The tarpon is truly the most challenging game fish in our area. The fish are
usually spotted rolling from a distance. Once spotted, the anglers then move in
on trolling motor power to present a bait to the fish. Top baits include
threadfin herring, pinfish, and crabs. But if you would like a real challenge
try throwing a fly in front of a hefty tarpon. Hold On! For years, tarpon
fishing has been regarded as one of the most exciting forms of fishing Florida
has to offer, mainly because of the tarpon's unforgettable acrobatics after it is
hooked. One jump from the hooked silver king will have you hooked for life.
Tripletail are
one of the strangest looking and best eating fish in the water. They can be
found hanging out under crab trap buoys, markers, and just about anything that
floats. Tripletail will eat almost any bait you can get in front of them. They
may seem like an easy target, but they take full advantage of their
surroundings. Hooking them is the easy part, keeping them on the line is the
problem. Tripletail use the buoys, ropes, markers, or anything they can to get
you wrapped around or broken off. Fishing for tripletail is unique in itself. It
usually consists of running to particular markers and then look for weed lines.
When a good weed line is spotted I usually run a good distance away keeping an
eye on the weeds for something unusual. When fish are spotted, you take a wide
circle and proceed close under trolling motor power. This is feast or famine
fishing. Some days you see ten sometimes none. Conditions have to be right, and
when they are this can be a nice change from the flats.
Cobia are full time
residents here in the Big Bend of Florida. They migrate north in the spring and
south in the fall along both coasts. Cobia can be caught almost anywhere. Gulf
wrecks, open bays, and backcountry grass flats can all hold cobia. Hands down,
the hardest fighting fish in the area are cobia. The forked tail of the cobia is
meant for one thing speed and power. A popular method of cobia hunting is
running from marker to marker dropping baits as you go. The minimum length for
cobia is 33 inches. Tackle depends on where the fish are spotted. When spotted
in the open, line as light as 12 pound test is adequate, but for the most part
15-30 pound is ideal. Cobia are wonderful on the table, so it makes sense to use
tackle suited to the surroundings you are fishing. Hook one and you will most
likely be hooked forever.
The big mouth
bait stealer is a better name for this light tackle target. The sheepshead is a
welcomed surprise here in the Big Bend. A local favorite, the sheepshead's
availability and table fare make it one of the most sought after game fish in
the area. Sheepshead can be a challenge due to the local they are extracted
from. They tend to inhabit areas which have a lot of rock and or a lot of food (crustaceans).
During some of the winter cold fronts, sheepshead are about the only fish
willing to bite. That is a plus considering that these fish usually school up in
the hundreds on many of the local pilings and honey holes during the cooler
months. A variety of crustaceans are their preferred food, with a shrimp or
fiddler crabs being the best baits.
Mangrove
Snapper are one of the most abundant fish in the area. They are mainly caught as
a by catch while fishing for other targeted species but their fight and table
fair make these snapper well worth the effort. They are mainly caught on or near
hard bottom or where in areas where there is a strong tidal flow. Small baitfish
and shrimp are the preferred live baits. Mangrove snapper make great light
tackle targets, and are a favorite of mine for small children. It isn’t uncommon
to catch over 50 to 100 in a day.
There
are a variety of grouper available in our area. The most commonly caught is the
gag. Mostly considered an offshore species, juvenile gags mature in the bays and
deeper grass flats, which make them a light tackle possibility. Slot fish are
rare inshore, but still a possibility. A majority of our grouper fishing is done
by SIGHT CASTING! That is right, we fish for grouper in water as deep as 20 ft,
but if you are looking for a unique angling experience the Big Bend area has
many shallow rocks in less than 10 ft of crystal clear water, which makes sight
casting for grouper a real possibility. Many of the little rocks and reefs we
fish, will be teeming with life, snapper, trigger fish and sheepshead are just a
few of the species that inhabit the local inshore rocks with the grouper. This
is truly a scenario where you will actually feel as if you are fishing in a
aquarium.
Flounder are a
bottom dwelling fish found in a variety locations. Passes, backwater bays,
beaches, and anywhere there is hard bottom are some of the many spots flounder
can be caught. Once again, flounder are not usually the target species, but are
a welcome addition.
Mostly associated
with sight fishing in the keys and tropics, but through out the winter months
the permit can be one of the best bets at the power plants and on the flats.
Usually, targeted with light tackle the permit is one of the most prized fish in
Florida, mainly because of its illusiveness and size. The permits reputable
fighting power draws anglers from all over the world to our area in hopes of
tangling with one of these silver bullets. The permit has an erratic fighting
style that can only be described as down right dirty.
Close relative of the Permit. Found in inshore and nearshore waters. Beaches, grass flats, and passes good spots to start looking. Usually not a target species, but when found, they make great light tackle targets, and are wonderful on the table.
Mackerel may be
encountered under bait schools in the gulf, the bays, and anywhere in between.
Fights consist of fast runs and occasional jumps. One of the most abundant and
exciting fish in the sea, they make great fun and memories for young children
and adults who act like children. Their meat is good fried, broiled, grilled,
and smoked. A variety of artificials resembling baitfish work well, and live
pilchards are hard to beat. No matter how you hook one, I can guarantee you that
the mackerel will put up a fight all the way to the cooler.
These fish are
caught around oyster bars, docks, and structure, usually while targeting another
species. However, during the winter months these fish become a prime species
mainly due to the large schools they travel in. Black drum are close relatives
to the Red fish and thus can be fished for in the same manner. A crab or a shrimp
in front of a hungry black drum could spell instant success.
Jacks may be
encountered anywhere you fish in Florida. Pound for pound one of the hardest
fighters in the water. These fish generally run in schools, which can make them
easy to see and catch due to the thrashing water they create while feeding. Not
as glamorous as a snook or redfish, but nothing that swims will hit a fast
worked top water lure harder than a Jack Crevalle.
Often called the
poor man's tarpon due to their drag screaming runs and jumps. Can be encountered
almost anywhere, but are most often caught under bait schools or while drifting
the flats for trout. The ladyfish is a schooling fish and during the spring,
summer and fall month’s schools in the thousands and even the millions can turn
the water literally into a silver mass. And as you guessed it just throwing a
bare hook into the mass can ensure a hook up. It is not uncommon to catch over a
hundred in a day. But the best part about lady fishing, is that they are fun to
catch, and as an added bonus, they make great redfish bait.
Captain Kelly Kofmehl
352-746-6928 / 352-302-5861 (cell)
spottails2007@embarqmail.com
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