Last Updated on August 23, 2020 by Capt. Louie
What Beautiful weather we are having here on the Nature Coast. This time of year produces some of the best fishing as we start to get our first cold fronts of the year. All of the fish we have been targeting are starting to move into their winter patterns slowly as the water temperature begins to fall. Although we have had an abnormally warm October and stiil have had great Speckled Trout fishing I’m looking for the fishing to improve tremendously throughout the coming weeks. Once the Trout and Redfish move into the many creeks in our mangrove forests we will target both fish at the same time throwing white jerkbaits with a nose hook. Drifting those creeks and working that jerkbait is a great way to find where those fish are sitting. The best part about this time of year is that once you find a few fish there should be many more in a close vicinity.
The redfishing in the coming months can be something special. All summer long we have been throwing bait up into the mullet schools and catching plenty of redfish all day. Once the water cools those fish seek refuge and warmer water in the backcreeks where that water temperature rises faster than anywhere else throughout the day. This is the time of year that finding a school of redfish in the calm waters of the creeks can produce some extreme excitement. Although I enjoy the warm weather that we have had lately Im ready for some “sweater weather†to get these fish moving.
The fish that is really waiting for the weather to cool down is the Speckled Trout. Once the water drops into the 70’s those fish will move into our shallow grass flats throughout Crystal River. A popping cork with an eighth once jig head tipped with a mirror lure little Jon is a staple here in our area and it can be the best artificial bait combination to load the box with tasty Speckled Trout.
We are looking forward to being able to throw a few Gag Grouper into the mix as well when the weather cools down as these fish move in from offshore and can be caught in just 5 feet of water. Throwing large casting Plugs and live pinfish are the best tactics to get a bite from those broomstick tailed beasts. Although the grouper fishing is not something that we can do often it is a fishery that is unlike any other and when we get the weather window, we’ll be at the inshore rocks looking for that bite.
I have recently had a great promotional video made to show all that the Crystal River area has to offer. I have attached it below and would love to hear what you think. Send me an email or give me a call 352-601-1963 to get out there and see it all for yourself.
