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Or call
352-489-5168
352-400-1925 cell
   
Gift Certificates
SCENERY ALONG
HOMOSASSA RIVER
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CRYSTAL RIVER
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
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
GRASSES
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
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.
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SCENERY ALONG CRYSTAL RIVER
Kings Bay
West Indian
Manatee
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