Crystal River and Homosassa River Fishing Charters

CRYSTAL RIVER  FISHING HABITAT
The beautiful Crystal River is about six miles long.  It is spring fed from it's source in Kings Bay.  The southern branch of the river is known as Salt River.  It provides another avenue of access to the salt marsh, many islands and the gulf.  Expansive grass flats extend many miles into the gulf, and are interlaced with oyster beds.  The grass flats are home to many species of which you can expect to catch speckled trout, cobia, Spanish mackerel and many others.  Red Fish are a regular inhabitant of the oyster bars as well as pompano and other crustacean feeding species.  Crystal River is also home to the spoil banks which are unique to this area, and allow easy access to the deep water fisheries.

HOMOSASSA RIVER FISHING HABITAT
Starting at it's main spring, the Homosassa River runs approximately 8 miles to the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico.  The river is landscaped with Sable Palms and vast marsh grasses.  The Homosassa River hosts a teaming fishery of redfish and speckled trout.  And, is also home to the endangered West Indian Manatee during the cold months.  The rocky limestone bottom of the flats are the perfect habitat for the "gator" speckled trout and the giant "bull" red fish, along with many other species.  Homosassa River is also host to the beautiful St. Martin's Keys, which is home to a great  population of redfish
 
SEA GRASS FISHING HABITAT
Sea grasses are flowering underwater plants that form expansive grass beds in the shallow coastal waters of Citrus County. Sea grass beds provide nursery grounds for many commercially and recreationally important species - including fish, crabs, shrimp, and scallops who can hide among the blades and feast upon decaying leaves. Sea grasses also help stabilize the bottom and improve water quality by trapping fine sediments and particles.

HARD BOTTOM FISHING HABITAT
Distributed in patches in the near coastal waters of Citrus County; hard bottom habitats are composed of solid, exposed rock substrate or rubble. They are of low-relief and often covered with a thin layer of sediment. Hard bottom habitats support numerous species of soft corals, stony corals, sponges and other marine life. The crevices in hard bottom habitats offer necessary refuge to many juvenile organisms, fish, crabs and turtles that commonly reside and feed in hard bottom areas.

MANGROVES    
Mangroves are tropical trees that have adapted to living at the edge of the marine environment and can be found along the Citrus County coastline.  Mangrove roots anchor shorelines, and their branches serve as nesting sites for a wide variety of birds.  They provide nutrition and cover for many fish and other marine organisms.  In order to protect mangroves, state and federal regulations restrict their pruning.  Three species of mangroves are found in Citrus County.  Red mangroves, typically located closest to the water, are easily distinguished by their tangled reddish prop roots that branch out over the water.  Black Mangroves have numerous finger-like projections called pneumatophores around the base of the tree.  White mangroves often occupy the highest elevations of the three species and have no visible root system.