Crystal River Archaeological State Park Fishing Reports (July 2026)
What's biting right now in Crystal River Archaeological State Park? Check out the latest Crystal River Archaeological State Park fishing reports below.
Crystal River Archaeological State Park Weather Forecast
Fishing reports straight from our guides in Crystal River Archaeological State Park
The scallops are in Crystal River and Homosassa thick this year. We are scalloping in 2ft to 5ft of water all you need to do this is your bath suite, towels and mask and snorkel you will just swim around the beautiful grass flats that we have and can see scallops, stone crabs, spider crabs, and a lot of different smaller fish and starfish. If you don't have a mask and snorkel don't worry we have plenty for you to enjoy your day on the water.
The scallops are in Crystal River and Homosassa thick this year. We are scalloping in 2ft to 5ft of water all you need to do this is your bath suite, towels and mask and snorkel you will just swim around the beautiful grass flats that we have and can see scallops, stone crabs, spider crabs, and a lot of different smaller fish and starfish. If you don't have a mask and snorkel don't worry we have plenty for you to enjoy your day on the water.
Snook season is about to end at the end of April and right now is the best time to get on some nice snook. We are using live bait on a 4/0 circle hooks free line around the mangrove islands sight fishing most of the fish we have been catching. The redfish is the same using live bait on a 4/0 circle hooks free line under the trees on the mangrove islands in really shallow water. There are some big schools of snook and redfish on the outside islands.
Snook season is about to end at the end of April and right now is the best time to get on some nice snook. We are using live bait on a 4/0 circle hooks free line around the mangrove islands sight fishing most of the fish we have been catching. The redfish is the same using live bait on a 4/0 circle hooks free line under the trees on the mangrove islands in really shallow water. There are some big schools of snook and redfish on the outside islands.
The redfish and snook bite is going strong right now on the mangrove islands. We are fishing the points with moving water using artificial lures and live bait. When we are using live bait it has been mud minnows and pinfish and the artificial lures has been z-Man prawn stars that is a shrimp style bait it has been working the best this time of the year.
Trout has been in the shallow flats with the mullet schools and on the hard bottom in under 2ft of water we have been using all...
The redfish and snook bite is going strong right now on the mangrove islands. We are fishing the points with moving water using artificial lures and live bait. When we are using live bait it has been mud minnows and pinfish and the artificial lures has been z-Man prawn stars that is a shrimp style bait it has been working the best this time of the year.
Trout has been in the shallow flats with the mullet schools and on the hard bottom in under 2ft of water we have been using all artificial lures from top water plug to Z-man plastic jerk shadz in all colors rig on weedless hooks.
We have been targeting redfish and trout at the creek mouths and inside the creeks our trout has been in the deeper holes and the redfish are mixed in with them to there are a lot of our redfish on the edge of the oyster bars and rocks on the side of the creek banks. We have been sight casting our redfish on the side of the banks using Zman prawn star in the 3.5 inch per rig 3/16oz. The trout has been biting the same bait you do need to let it sink a little more do to it...
We have been targeting redfish and trout at the creek mouths and inside the creeks our trout has been in the deeper holes and the redfish are mixed in with them to there are a lot of our redfish on the edge of the oyster bars and rocks on the side of the creek banks. We have been sight casting our redfish on the side of the banks using Zman prawn star in the 3.5 inch per rig 3/16oz. The trout has been biting the same bait you do need to let it sink a little more do to it being a little bit lighter then we have been working it slow on the bottom with the cooler air temperature.
Sheepshead fishing has been picking up on the nearshore rocks. Live shrimp and fiddler crabs will get them to eat. Black bass, grunts and Spanish mackerel are also on the rocks. Inshore, the water has cooled and the reds and trout are moving to the creeks and rivers. Some black drum and mangrove snapper are in the deeper holes of the creeks. There has been very little water due to extreme low tides and a persistent east wind, thus most of the fishing is in the main river and nearshore rocks recently.
Sheepshead fishing has been picking up on the nearshore rocks. Live shrimp and fiddler crabs will get them to eat. Black bass, grunts and Spanish mackerel are also on the rocks. Inshore, the water has cooled and the reds and trout are moving to the creeks and rivers. Some black drum and mangrove snapper are in the deeper holes of the creeks. There has been very little water due to extreme low tides and a persistent east wind, thus most of the fishing is in the main river and nearshore rocks recently.
Recent Crystal River Archaeological State Park Reviews
★★★★★
Captain Leon was great. Not only was he extremely patient with our group, but he put us on some great spots. He also taught my two sons a ton. We will be using him again for future trips.
Sign up to win $500 towards ANY trip. Winners drawn monthly.
Welcome to the Crew!
If you're lucky enough to win $500 we'll email you by the end of the month. If not there's good news: we still have thousands of Damn Good Guides who would love to take you out!