Fish were plentiful on the hard bottom in 2-6 feet of water. You can spot the hard bottom by the yellow patches with rock grass, or kelp coming up near the surface. You will also see the round sponges in various sizes scattered on the yellow patches.
Staying inshore, the red fish were still around, and fishing has been good, however the large schools we were enjoying in August and September have dispersed, but there are still plenty of nice fish around. Gold spoons have been working well, and are excellent at covering a lot of area enabling you to locate fish. Shrimp and cut bait are still a go-to bait.
Offshore, the grouper action in 6-20 feet of water is just about as good as it gets! Casting plugs to the shallow rocks, trolling, and dead and live bait are all producing some big fish. With the stained water offshore from all the runoff spotting the rock piles has not been easy. Use your GPS and throw out a matching jig. Then back off and work the area thoroughly. Remember, some of the large grouper roam around the structure, then head for their home after you hook them. Tight drag and a heavy braid and leader is a must to turn these hard fighting fish.
Back inside, the snook began to show up all over. Plenty of small snook ware being caught as you work your favorite red fish spot. In these same areas, the big ones are lurking, and when they hit you know it's not a red as they peel off the line on that first run !
Oct - Dec have offered great fishing out of Crystal River and Homosassa. A large variety of fish were caught including red fish, speckled trout, grouper, Spanish mackerel, black drum, sheepshead, pompano, mangrove snapper and more !
I hope everyone enjoyed a plentiful Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas in 2017. I know I'm thankful for my fishing friends and guests this past year, and I look forward to more great fishing in 2018.
