Crystal River Weather Forecast

Fishing reports straight from our guides in Crystal River

Jason Lowe
Jason L.
Citra, Florida
Reported 3 years ago
October has been a great month to fish. It truly has been ‘red October’. The redfish bite has been on fire.
November will bring some cold front patterns but the bite should stay strong. Just be patient. After a big cold front, the fish may be more lethargic than usual so you may have to fish artificial bait a little slower than you like.
Live shrimp and cut mullet will still be good for redfish as well.
You may have to start looking to the creek mouths for fish as the water gets colder. A popping cork rig will help...
Jason Lowe
Jason L. Citra, Florida Reported 3 years ago
October has been a great month to fish. It truly has been ‘red October’. The redfish bite has been on fire.
November will bring some cold front patterns but the bite should stay strong. Just be patient. After a big cold front, the fish may be more lethargic than usual so you may have to fish artificial bait a little slower than you like.
Live shrimp and cut mullet will still be good for redfish as well.
You may have to start looking to the creek mouths for fish as the water gets colder. A popping cork rig will help
keep you off the oyster bars.
Thankfully, our cold fronts don’t last too long and it can be back in the 80s pretty quick this time of year.
I know I keep saying this but just in case.....keep in mind that the redfish laws changed as of September 1st. Go to the myfwc website to get the latest info depending on the region you fish.
The trout bite is starting to pick up. The water in Cedar Key is still a bit dirty but the trout are getting on the flats. Just keep working spots until you find them.
Stay safe and be blessed!
Redfish Fishing in Cedar Key, Florida
Redfish Fishing in Cedar Key, Florida
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Brian Harris
Brian H.
Hudson, Florida
Reported 3 years ago
Fishing has been great! All species have been biting good with cooling water temps. Snook, trout and reddish, as well as plenty of nice Cobia around.
Brian Harris
Brian H. Hudson, Florida Reported 3 years ago
Fishing has been great! All species have been biting good with cooling water temps. Snook, trout and reddish, as well as plenty of nice Cobia around.
Speckled Trout / Spotted Seatrout Fishing in Hudson, Florida
Speckled Trout / Spotted Seatrout Fishing in Hudson, Florida
Speckled Trout / Spotted Seatrout Fishing in Hudson, Florida
Speckled Trout / Spotted Seatrout Fishing in Hudson, Florida
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Scott W.
Cedar Key, Florida
Reported 4 years ago
This couple limited today.
Scott Wurtzel
Scott W. Cedar Key, Florida Reported 4 years ago
This couple limited today.
Redfish fishing in Cedar Key, Florida
Redfish fishing in Cedar Key, Florida
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Jason Lowe
Jason L.
Citra, Florida
Reported 4 years ago
Fall is so close you can almost taste it...well you can feel it in the air a little. I love this time of year-pumpkin spice lattes, fall decorations...nope! I love this time of year because the temps get more bearable, and the fishing gets great. September and October are probably my favorite months to fish.
The redfish bite in Cedar Key is getting right. They school up this time of year and if you find one then there are probably more. Give them some time to eat. Shrimp, mullet and artificial lures are the way to go.
Keep in mind...
Jason Lowe
Jason L. Citra, Florida Reported 4 years ago
Fall is so close you can almost taste it...well you can feel it in the air a little. I love this time of year-pumpkin spice lattes, fall decorations...nope! I love this time of year because the temps get more bearable, and the fishing gets great. September and October are probably my favorite months to fish.
The redfish bite in Cedar Key is getting right. They school up this time of year and if you find one then there are probably more. Give them some time to eat. Shrimp, mullet and artificial lures are the way to go.
Keep in mind
that the redfish laws changed as of September 1st. Go to the myfwc website to get the latest info depending on the region you fish.
I like to look for moving water. Anything where water is getting pushed or funneled through is a good place to start. If water is getting funneled through a tight spot, then bait is getting funneled through that same spot and bigger fish know that.
I also like to look for bait getting hit. If I see a lot of bait getting pushed around a natural funnel spot, then it can be a like a gold mine..or a redfish mine.
The trout bite has picked up some. The normal popping cork rig will work. Just keep searching the flats and you should pick them up. They should get better as the water temps cool down some. I still run with the Bass Assassin Sea Shad in a Green Moon color or a Stinky Pink color.
Enjoy some football and some fishing over the next few months. In an effort to multi task, you can always listen to the game on the radio while you are fishing!!
Redfish fishing in Cedar Key, Florida
Redfish fishing in Cedar Key, Florida
Redfish fishing in Cedar Key, Florida
Redfish fishing in Cedar Key, Florida
Redfish fishing in Cedar Key, Florida
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Mark Reeves
Mark R.
Crystal River, Florida
Reported 4 years ago
Water has cooled off a bit and the bite has fired up. A lot of slot and over-slot Redfish up to 40". Trout bite is also getting into full swing. Grouper bite has been good for the last week. Limit of quality fish hitting the deck.
Mark Reeves
Mark R. Crystal River, Florida Reported 4 years ago
Water has cooled off a bit and the bite has fired up. A lot of slot and over-slot Redfish up to 40". Trout bite is also getting into full swing. Grouper bite has been good for the last week. Limit of quality fish hitting the deck.
Redfish fishing in Crystal River, Florida
Redfish fishing in Crystal River, Florida
Redfish fishing in Crystal River, Florida
Redfish fishing in Crystal River, Florida
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Rich Doherty
Rich D.
Hudson, Florida
Reported 4 years ago
Shark week!
Rich Doherty
Rich D. Hudson, Florida Reported 4 years ago
Shark week!
Fishing in Hudson, Florida
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Leon Hampton
Leon H.
Hernando, Florida
Reported 4 years ago
The redfish bite is on fire in the morning using live mud minnows, live pinfish and cut bait around the mangrove islands on the incoming tide.
The trout bite is still in 9ft to 10ft of water on spotty bottom. Use shrimp on a Jighead and soft plastics on quarter ounce Jigheads.
We have been getting our limit of redfish and trout before noon this week get out early and bet the heat.
Leon Hampton
Leon H. Hernando, Florida Reported 4 years ago
The redfish bite is on fire in the morning using live mud minnows, live pinfish and cut bait around the mangrove islands on the incoming tide.
The trout bite is still in 9ft to 10ft of water on spotty bottom. Use shrimp on a Jighead and soft plastics on quarter ounce Jigheads.
We have been getting our limit of redfish and trout before noon this week get out early and bet the heat.
Speckled Trout / Spotted Seatrout fishing in Crystal River, Florida
Speckled Trout / Spotted Seatrout fishing in Crystal River, Florida
Speckled Trout / Spotted Seatrout fishing in Crystal River, Florida
Speckled Trout / Spotted Seatrout fishing in Crystal River, Florida
Speckled Trout / Spotted Seatrout fishing in Crystal River, Florida
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Kevin Trahan
Kevin T.
Inverness, Florida
Reported 4 years ago
Welcome to July!
It has been hot here in the Nature Coast. Thank goodness scallop season is here. If tides permit, you may be able to pry a redfish or two off the mangrove shorelines before the water warms up. Snook are around as well and a well placed free-lined pin fish under the mangroves can entice them to play. Offshore, there are still cobia on the deeper rocks and wrecks. There has been some " gumbo" that has been on the 20-25 foot range that has slowed the grouper / snapper bite down. Add a full moon and it...
Kevin Trahan
Kevin T. Inverness, Florida Reported 4 years ago
Welcome to July!
It has been hot here in the Nature Coast. Thank goodness scallop season is here. If tides permit, you may be able to pry a redfish or two off the mangrove shorelines before the water warms up. Snook are around as well and a well placed free-lined pin fish under the mangroves can entice them to play. Offshore, there are still cobia on the deeper rocks and wrecks. There has been some " gumbo" that has been on the 20-25 foot range that has slowed the grouper / snapper bite down. Add a full moon and it
has been tough to put together a good cooler lately. Scallops have been good, bad and sometimes non-existent. We have been getting them in 4-5 feet of water on the incoming tide. They are smaller but that should improve as the season progresses. The high tide is is in the morning this week so that will help those trying to get a few reds before cooling off in the gulf.
Fishing in Crystal River, Florida
Fishing in Crystal River, Florida
Fishing in Crystal River, Florida
Fishing in Crystal River, Florida
Fishing in Crystal River, Florida
Fishing in Crystal River, Florida
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Target Species

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Recent Crystal River Reviews

  • ★★★★★
    We had such a great experience with Captain Jacob! He was friendly, knowledgeable, patient, and made the whole trip fun for everyone. He knew where to take us, and we had a great time fishing and being out on the water. He was especially great with the kids and made sure everyone felt comfortable and involved. We really enjoyed our charter and would definitely recommend Captain Jacob to anyone looking for a fun fishing experience in Crystal River. We’ll definitely book with him again!

    Sharina T. | September 7, 2026

    Trip: Inshore Fishing Charter

  • ★★★★★
    Fantastic guide. Very friendly. Highly recommend. Will be back for another trip.

    Patrick P. | September 6, 2026

    Trip: Scalloping Trip

  • ★★★★★
    What a great time with Capt. Gavin and Liz. They got us on the scallops right away and we made a day of it. From the moment we walked in he made us feel at ease. Funny knowledgeable and patient. This is a must do next season.

    Tim K. | August 29, 2026

    Trip: Scalloping Trips

  • ★★★★★
    Jarrod was an amazing guide and very accommodating. went scalloping and he got in the water with us to show us around. also very social and had a great time on the boat with music and having fun. Definitely would recommend and book again

    Dylan P. | August 24, 2026

    Trip: Scalloping Hunts Homosassa

  • ★★★★★
    Had a great afternoon with Justin. Thrifty minutes in we ran into bad weather with wind, lightning and rain. He drove out of it looking for other options and we came back to original area and had a great last 1.5 hours of scalloping with success. We did not limit out, but that was due to weather. Really fun time with first time scallopers.

    Brian S. | August 23, 2026

    Trip: Scalloping Trip

  • ★★★★★
    Capt Kevin was a great guide for our first scalloping trip. Highly recommended!

    Shawn P. | August 10, 2026

    Trip: Crystal River Near And Inshore

  • ★★★★★
    Great trip

    Angela P. | August 9, 2026

    Trip: Crystal River Scalloping

  • ★★★★★
    Great! The captain and guide were knowledgeable and very helpful throughout the entire experience.

    Dax G. | July 30, 2026

    Trip: Scalloping Trips

  • ★★★★★
    Had a great time with Capt. Jayson. Would use him again!

    Kyle B. | July 28, 2026

    Trip: Scalloping Trip

  • ★★★★★
    Had the most incredible time with Captain Don Heard! We found many scallops and he was a pleasure to have guide us. We brought our pup too-who also had a great time!

    Maddie S. | July 26, 2026

    Trip: Crystal Coast Scalloping

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