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Port guide / Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida / Florida
Homosassa fishing guide
Homosassa is an old fishing village on the spring-fed Homosassa River, with the Halls River joining in town and the Chassahowitzka River just to the south, all draining onto the shallow grass, rock and oyster flats of St. Martins Marsh and the Big Bend seagrasses. Guides here, some from families that go back to the Homosassa Guides Association, chase redfish and trout most of the year, tarpon on fly in spring, and scallops in summer. Compared with St. Petersburg, the nearest existing guide, there are no passes, bridges or big bay, the fishing is mostly shallow rivers, marsh and flats, and snook, redfish and trout fall under FWC's Big Bend rules rather than Tampa Bay's.
10 ft, conditions now
Conditions now
Live from NOAA and the National Weather Service. Times show in your own time zone.
Today’s bite
A forecast built from live data and the calendar below. Not a catch report.
Working out today from the tides, water and calendar.
Tides
- Loading the next highs and lows from NOAA.
On the water now
- Water
- Checking
- Wind
- Checking
Marine forecast
Loading the National Weather Service forecast.
7 day forecast
National Weather Service, for Homosassa. Updates through the day.
- Loading the 7 day forecast.
NOAA tides, Halls River Bridge, Halls River, FL (opens in a new tab) NOAA station Cedar Key, FL (opens in a new tab) NWS 7 day forecast (opens in a new tab) NWS marine forecast, Coastal waters from Tarpon Springs to Suwannee River FL out 20 NM (opens in a new tab)
12 ft, the chart
Chart and depths
The official NOAA chart, centered on Homosassa. Depths, channels, reefs and markers, live from NOAA.
The NOAA chart loads when you scroll here.
15 ft, fishing reports
Fishing reports
What people are catching, on what, and where. Every report links to whoever wrote it. We do not write these ourselves.
Latest reports
From local captains, shops and outdoor writers. Newest first, last 14 days.
- We have not found a report source that posts online for this water yet.
Report sources: Captain Experiences Crystal River fishing reports (opens in a new tab)
Straight from the dock
Reports sent to us by shops and captains on this guide. We check each one before it posts.
Checking for reports.
20 ft, what is biting
What is biting, month by month
When each fish is at its best around Homosassa. This month is marked.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redfish | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good |
| Spotted seatrout | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good |
| Tarpon | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Slow |
| Black drum | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good |
| Sheepshead | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good |
| Mangrove snapper | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good |
| Spanish mackerel | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good |
| Jack crevalle | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good |
| Bay scallops | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Peak | Peak | Peak | Slow | Slow | Slow |
Redfish
Peak: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
Sight fish the flats and oyster bars with live shrimp, then follow them up the rivers and creeks into deeper holes when cold fronts come through.
Spotted seatrout
Peak: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
A popping cork with a jighead and shrimp on 2 to 4 foot grass is the local standard, and slower jigs in deeper water once it cools.
Tarpon
Peak: April, May
Homosassa's spring tarpon run, which the county tourism board puts in April and May, is a famous fly fishing target.
Black drum
Peak: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October
In winter they pile into the deeper river and creek holes with reds and trout, where shrimp on a jighead does the work.
Sheepshead
Peak: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Local guides say they start to show once the first cold fronts cool the water, around rocks, docks and pilings.
Mangrove snapper
Peak: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
Local charter calendars rate them best from March through November, and they are a regular part of the inshore catch around the rivers.
Spanish mackerel
Peak: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
They turn up along the mangrove shorelines from spring through fall, so keep a spoon or small jig rigged.
Jack crevalle
Peak: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Local charter calendars rate them best from March through October, a hard-pulling bonus fish while you look for reds.
Bay scallops
Peak: July, August, September
Harvest by hand or dip net on the grass flats during the July 1 to Sept. 24 season, and do not dump shells in the Homosassa River.
30 ft, seasons and rules
Seasons and rules
Open and close dates we could confirm from official sources, plus where to check limits before you keep a fish.
Snook, Big Bend region
Harvest is closed Dec. 1 through the end of February and May 1 through Aug. 31, so it is open March, April and Sept. 1 to Nov. 30. Keeping one requires a snook permit on top of a saltwater license.
FWC, 2026 (standing rule) Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red drum, Big Bend region
Open year-round. Slot, bag and vessel limits are on the FWC red drum page.
FWC, current Official page (opens in a new tab)
Spotted seatrout, Big Bend region
Open year-round with no closed season under the new 2026 regional rules. Bag and slot are on the FWC page.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Bay scallops, Levy, Citrus and Hernando zone
Season ran July 1 through Sept. 24. Harvest only by hand or with a landing or dip net, and do not dump shells in the Homosassa River or Crystal River.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper, Gulf state and federal waters (private recreational), fall
Open Sept. 23 to Oct. 4 and every day Oct. 9 to 22, then Oct. 23 to 25, Oct. 30 to Nov. 1, Nov. 7 to 8, 14 to 15 and 21 to 22, Nov. 26 to 29, Dec. 5 to 6, 12 to 13 and 19 to 20, Dec. 25 to 27, and Jan. 1 to 4, 2027.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gag grouper, Gulf state waters
Recreational season was open Sept. 1 through Sept. 30 and closed at 12:01 a.m. Oct. 1, matching adjacent federal waters.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Greater amberjack, Gulf state waters
Recreational season open Sept. 1 through Oct. 13, closing at 12:01 a.m. Oct. 14, matching adjacent federal waters.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gray triggerfish, Gulf state and federal waters
Open March 1 to May 31 and Aug. 1 to Dec. 31. Closed June 1 to July 31.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
40 ft, where to fish
Where to fish
- Channel
Homosassa River
Spring-fed river running from town out to the Gulf, with the marinas, ramps and guides all lined up along it.
- Channel
Halls River
Clear tributary that joins the Homosassa in town and holds both freshwater and saltwater fish.
- Channel
Chassahowitzka River
The wild river just south of Homosassa, reached from the free county ramp at Miss Maggie Drive, with both freshwater and saltwater fish in its clear water.
- Marsh
St. Martins Marsh Aquatic Preserve
The marsh, oyster bars and grass flats between Homosassa and Crystal River that the tourism board names for trophy redfish and snook.
- Flats
Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve
Huge seagrass preserve off the Citrus coast that the tourism board names for trophy reds, trout and snook.
50 ft, launch and piers
Ramps and piers
Public launches and fishing piers. Fees and hours change, so check the link before you tow.
| Name | Type | Fee | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| MacRae's boat ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Paid | 5290 S Cherokee Way, Homosassa, FL 34448 |
| Mason Creek boat ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Free | 6891 S Mason Creek Rd, Homosassa, FL 34448 |
| Chassahowitzka boat ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Free | 8600 W Miss Maggie Dr, Homosassa, FL 34448 |
60 ft, bait, tackle and charters
Bait, tackle and charters
Where to get live and fresh bait, tackle and a guide. We are not paid to list anyone here.
Bait and tackle (4)
Showing all 4 shops
- MarinaLive bait
Ms. Fin's Oarhouse Marina and Bait Shop
Bait: live bait, frozen bait
2156 S Waterman Dr, Crystal River, FL 34429
In Ozello on the north side of St. Martins Marsh, closer to the Homosassa flats than town ramps.
- Bait and tackle
Blue Water Bait and Tackle
5500 S Suncoast Blvd, Homosassa, FL 34446
Full service bait and tackle dealer since 1987 that also does rod and reel repair and prop repair.
- Marina
MacRae's of Homosassa
5300 S Cherokee Way, Homosassa, FL 34448
Riverfront motel, fuel and pontoon rentals on the Homosassa River where you can grab bait and tackle next to the county ramp.
- Marina
Chassahowitzka River Lodge
8501 W Miss Maggie Dr, Homosassa, FL 34448
Bait and tackle shop, boat launch and kayak rentals at the head of the Chassahowitzka River.
Live bait comes and goes with the weather and the season. Call before you drive.
Charters and guides
| Charter | Fishing |
|---|---|
| Captain Rick Spratt Charter Fishing (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Homosassa Fishing Charters (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Flats Chance Charters (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Salt River Outfitters (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Red Ed's Adventures (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Buccaneers West Coast Charters (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
70 ft, on the calendar
Tournaments and events
Annual events on this water. Dates move, so confirm with the organiser.
CCBA Family Fishing Tournament (opens in a new tab)
usually late April, at MacRae's of Homosassa
2026: April 25 to 26, captain's meeting April 24 (31st annual)Plantation Redfish Classic (Crystal River) (opens in a new tab)
usually October
80 ft, asked and answered
Fishing Homosassa, asked and answered
When is the tarpon run in Homosassa?
The county tourism board puts tarpon season in April and May, and fish are around in smaller numbers from March into the fall. Tarpon are a classic fly rod target here.
Can I keep a snook in Homosassa?
Homosassa is in FWC's Big Bend snook region, where harvest is closed Dec. 1 through February and May 1 through Aug. 31. In the open months you need a saltwater license plus a snook permit, and the slot is on FWC's snook page.
When is scallop season in Homosassa?
Homosassa is in the Levy, Citrus and Hernando zone, where the 2026 season ran July 1 through Sept. 24. Collect them by hand or dip net and do not dump the shells in the Homosassa River.
Where are the public boat ramps in Homosassa?
Citrus County runs the MacRae's ramp on Cherokee Way, which charges a launch fee, and free ramps at Mason Creek and on the Chassahowitzka River at Miss Maggie Drive.
What happens to the inshore fishing when it gets cold?
Local guides say reds, trout and black drum move up into the rivers and creeks and stack in the deeper holes, and sheepshead start to show once the first fronts cool the water.
90 ft, the kit
What we would take to Homosassa
Sources for this guide (20), last checked 2026-10-27
- captainexperiences.com/fishing-reports/locations/florida/crystal-river (opens in a new tab)
- captainexperiences.com/fishing-reports/locations/florida/hudson (opens in a new tab)
- captainexperiences.com/locations/florida/homosassa/seasonality (opens in a new tab)
- ccba.wildapricot.org/comm_fishingtour (opens in a new tab)
- chazriverlodges.com/ (opens in a new tab)
- discovercrystalriverfl.com/directory/blue-water-bait-tackle (opens in a new tab)
- macraesofhomosassa.com (opens in a new tab)
- msfinsoarhouse.com/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/bay-scallops/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/red-drum/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/snook/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/spotted-seatrout/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/news/all-news/gag-grouper-0826/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/news/all-news/gray-triggerfish-0226/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/news/all-news/greater-amberjack-0826/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/news/all-news/recreational-red-snapper-0926/ (opens in a new tab)
- citruscounty.gov/departments/community_services/parks_recreation/boat_ramps_piers/index.ph (opens in a new tab)
- discovercrystalriverfl.com/blog/where-to-fish-in-crystal-river-and-homosassa-florida/ (opens in a new tab)
- discovercrystalriverfl.com/things-to-do/on-water/fishing/ (opens in a new tab)
- discovercrystalriverfl.com/things-to-do/on-water/fishing/?page=2& (opens in a new tab)
100 ft, the seabed
Gear up for Homosassa
UPF 50+ fishing shirts, hats and gloves for the Gulf Coast. Free shipping over $100. Ships from Texas, usually within 1 to 2 business days.