Crystal River Fishing Report – Mid-September Action
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Starting Out
The day kicked off at Twin Rivers Marina, where we picked up a few dozen live shrimp before making the shallow, sketchy ride through Salt River. With an outgoing tide and recent rainfall, the water was murkier than usual — but that didn’t stop us from heading straight to the mangroves in Ozello.
Early Morning Redfish Bite
We cycled through a mix of baits and lures — including a CapOut Fishing 3/0 circle hook paired with live shrimp and a popping cork, a Strike King Redfish Magic, and a crankbait. The morning heat turned into hot fishing when a 24” redfish crushed the crankbait. Not long after, a 23” redfish followed up on the Redfish Magic. The mangroves cooled off after that quick bite, so we decided to push offshore.
Rock Piles and Trout Action
A few miles out, we started bouncing around rock piles. The live shrimp on CapOut Fishing circle hooks paid off with multiple keeper speckled trout. With the tide moving, we switched over to crankbaits, hunting for shallow-water gag grouper.
We managed to hook into a big gag off a rock pile, but unfortunately lost it right at the boat. Later, another grouper came over the side, but at 18” it was just shy of keeper size and had to go back.
Wrapping It Up at Gomez Rocks
To finish out the day, we swung over to Gomez Rocks. The spot delivered steady action — small grunts, undersized trout, and plenty of bites to keep things lively. The CapOut Fishing circle hooks and live shrimp setup continued to shine, proving reliable in both inshore and offshore scenarios.
Final Thoughts
Crystal River never fails to offer a mix of challenges and rewards. From shallow mangrove redfish to offshore rock-pile trout and grouper, the area shows why it’s one of Florida’s premier fishing destinations. If you’re making the trip, don’t overlook live bait on a solid circle hook — it was the common thread that kept rods bent all day.
Until next time, keep your lines tight and your tackle box stocked with CapOut Fishing gear.