Light Tackle

Spotted sea trout are moving from their backwater wintering grounds. Most of our fish have headed out to the grass flats, where they'll reside over the summer. We found these fish held up in the flats with depths between 8-10’  Fishing the “spotty bottom.’, where patches of grass and sand form a checkerboard have been the ticket. These areas of cover make ideal ambush spots for big trout. Soft plastics like Mirro-Lures lil Jon's or Doa jerk baits on 1/8th oz jig heads are great baits in this depth. Be sure to drift a live pinfish out the back of the boat in case a cobia swims by.

Offshore

The cobia has shown up in force this year. The New regulations this year have raised the minimum size from 33"to 36", with a limit of one per angler or two per boat. Our anglers have caught quite a few of them, but our early push of fish seems to be on the smaller size; with the number of smaller fish being released this year, we can hope they return next year as bigger fish. The go-to method for April cobia fishing we freelining live pinfish over large chunks of structure. The fish didn't seem to care if the structure was manmade or artificial, which allowed us to fish in a larger area while looking for them. Another successful technique for targeting cobia is “running & gunning" looking for them on the surface. Pitching jigs and live baits directly to cruising fish is an exciting way to target big cobia; just make sure to bring a good pair of polarized glasses so you can see the fish with better clarity.

Mangrove Snapper- These guys have moved out into deeper water. The fish were staying cool in rock piles and structure in 35 feet and further. These fish have become leader-shy, so very light leaders are the default. We rig our jigs heads on 8-10’ of 15# fluorocarbon. Our tipped jigs are usually 1/8th oz or 1/16th oz, depending on the current. Mangroves like to hold the above structure rather than inside it, so staying mobile and using your electronics to spot these fish is key.

Gag Grouper have been a reliable offshore catch in April. The “catch” is we can't harvest them again until September. That doesn’t stop these fish from getting hooked. They have been fired up and always a blast to battle. We have been catching a number of these big predators while freelining live pinfish over rocks/ledges in 15’ of water and beyond. With the density of Gags in the area, an angler can spend a day landing some monsters with a better workout than any gym. If you are interested in a catch-and-release grouper trip, give us a call, and we can put you on some fish, consider it preseason training. Doing $200 off off catch & release grouper trips until the season opens. Use code: “letthemgo” when booking online to receive the discount.

Anyone who has fished in Florida knows "The Tax Man." In Crystal River we have Goliath Groupers and sharks that take their fair share of catches. Goliath Grouper & Sharks have been thick both near shore and offshore this season. While both these fish are disliked for wreaking havoc on our catches, they offer one heck of a fight. It may not be everyone's desire to square off against a 200-plus pound grouper or a big shark, but for those who do want to engage in some "monster hunting," this is a great time of year to do it. 

Looking Ahead

While we love living in the moment, we have many things to look forward to this season.

Red Snapper Season starts in June!

One of the most sought-after fish for table fare is open in less than a month. On top of the excitement around these tasty bottom fish, we are celebrating one of the longest seasons on record. Starting June 1st, we will have plenty of opportunities to run dedicated snapper trips. 

Scallop Season

From July 1st to September 24th, we will be running Crystal River Scalloping charters. Guests can snorkel for fresh scallops in the shallow waters of Crystal River. For those who have larger parties, don't hesitate to inquire; we have other captains who are happy to work with us to get a flotilla of scallopers to the grounds.