Crystal River Mix.....
An absolute awesome day with Scott and Johnny and the father and son team did great. The inshore trout action started our trip and using DOA jerk baits around the bars got our day going. We caught several fine keepers, a bonus flounder and we then headed offshore. The offshore action was fabulous with grouper, grunts, and trigger fish, but the sheepshead were not to happy. However, Scott picked up a fine triple tail and turned some hefty gags on light tackle for an exciting afternoon. A great day guys and I can't wait until next time... Capt. Dan
Crystal River Inside and Out...
A nice mix today on both some inshore and offshore fishing. I had some great friends from high school on board that I haven't seen in quite sometime and we had a blast. From jigging trout, to dropping knocker rigs on the rock piles; the bite was on today. The team had a great mix of trout, sheepshead, grouper, trigger fish, grunts and hog fish. A couple of the species we caught today, the seasons were closed; but we had a blast catching and releasing. I really enjoyed the day and I thank you all for the fun time... Capt. Dan
Crystal River Offshore...
The perfect day to go offshore with Meredith and Blake for the day and the rods stayed bent. I took the couple to the 25ft range and dropped down live shrimp on knocker rigs. The bite was on and literally every drop produced a fish. We had a nice variety of species and a real beauty of a mangrove snapper too. The water was clear and seeing the fish swim around under the boat is always a treat. What A fun day and I look forward to doing it again soon... Capt. Dan
Flat Calm Grouper....
Today was the old saying "you could have taken a canoe offshore" kind of day; and I was very pleased to have Joe and Joanne experience it. We left from Pete's Pier just before 9am and made or way offshore. We reached the 25ft range after about a 45 minute run and quickly trolled up a limit of quality sized gag grouper. Rapala x-rap 20's were the plugs of the day and our next target was bottom fishing for a mix of species. Grunts, mango snapper, trigger fish and a hog fish kept us busy and we had a smooth ride home back to the dock. Thank you both for the great time and I'll see you soon... Capt. Dan
Crystal River offshore, before the front...
An awesome bite offshore today and the grouper were running down the plugs. I had Gary, Ron and Josh on board for the day and we made the run to the 25ft range and trolled up a beautiful limit of hefty gags. The grouper were biting well and four of the keepers today were over the 12lb mark up to 17lbs. The team finished up their limit by noon; and we anchored down and filled the cooler with some grunts to add some more tasty fillets to the mix. I'm not sure how the next couple of days will play out with the strong cold front coming, but we'll keep our fingers crossed and hope the fishing stays good... Capt. Dan
Hogs, Gags and Breaking in the New Engine....
A great day with an old friend. Bo joined me for the day and I haven't fished with him for close to 15yrs. I went to school with Bo throughout the years, played all the sports together and it sure was a fun to be on the boat together again. Today we ran way south to put some time on the new engine and break her in right. We trolled up a limit of gags up to 17lbs and only took one fish on each rock we trolled over. I've been dying to catch a hog fish on hook and line and I've spear fished several, but never on rod and reel. Well, I stopped on a high profile rock in 23ft of water and finally did it. We had to cull through lots of grunts, but mission accomplished "and we actually caught two". I thank you Bo for the fun day and please check out my Crystal River Fishing Facebook page for additional pictures as always.
Homosassa Offshore....
My team and I made the 20 plus mile trek offshore Homosassa today and we found the red and gag grouper. David, Charlie and Tom were with me for the day and since the shallow water grouper bite has slowed some, I was ready to hit my offshore hot spots. Our first stop was in 32ft of water and "wow," the red grouper were on fire. I beleive we caught 12 keepers that had to be released and not one gag grouper came aboard. I was a bit worried, but our next stop south; produced our limit of gags. Great grouper action and fast and furious action with grunts, sea bass and a bonus trigger fish made the day. I thank you all for the fun time and congratulations on the fine catch... Capt. Dan