Save $10.00
Port guide / Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida / Florida
Yankeetown fishing guide
Yankeetown sits at the mouth of the Withlacoochee River with its sister town Inglis, and nearly every trip starts with a run down the river channel to the Gulf. Inshore guides work a big, lightly pressured spread of grass flats, rock piles, oyster bars and islands for redfish, trout, snook, black drum and flounder, tarpon roll past in summer, and the Crystal River scallop grounds are a short ride south. Compared with St. Petersburg, the nearest guide on this site, this is river-mouth fishing with no bay bridges or city piers, tides that the local chamber says can swing as much as six feet, and Big Bend Region rules for seatrout, redfish and snook instead of Tampa Bay Region rules.
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 Yankeetown. Updates through the day.
- Loading the 7 day forecast.
NOAA tides, Port Inglis, Withlacoochee River entrance, 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 Yankeetown. 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 Cedar Key region reports (Yankeetown guide) (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 Yankeetown. This month is marked.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redfish | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Slow |
| Speckled trout | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow |
| Snook | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow |
| Flounder | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow |
| Black drum | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Slow |
| Sheepshead | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Peak | Good | Slow |
| Tarpon | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Slow |
| Cobia | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow |
| Mangrove snapper | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good |
Redfish
Peak: May, June, July, August
Local guides find reds on the flats, oyster bars and islands off the river, and live shrimp has been the steady producer for keepers.
Speckled trout
Peak: April, May, June, August, September, October
Trout from about 17 to 22 inches come off the grass on the incoming tide, on live pinfish, mud minnows or shrimp under a cork.
Snook
Peak: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Local guides land snook into the low 30 inch range on Yankeetown trips; harvest is closed May through August and December through February.
Flounder
Peak: April, May, June, September, October
Picked up while bouncing flats, rock piles and bars; harvest closes Oct. 15 through Nov. 30.
Black drum
Peak: October, November
A regular by-catch on redfish trips that peaks in October and November.
Sheepshead
Peak: April, May, June, July, October
Found on the rocky outcrops and bars off the river, best in spring and October.
Tarpon
Peak: May, June, July, August, September
The chamber lists tarpon in and around the mouth of the river, and guides see big fish cruising the flats in summer.
Cobia
Peak: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
A spring through fall fish on the flats and around the river mouth.
Mangrove snapper
Peak: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Comes up around the rock piles on inshore trips and makes the fish box most of the year.
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.
Spotted seatrout, Big Bend Region (includes all Levy County waters and the Withlacoochee River)
Open year-round.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Redfish, Big Bend Region
Open year-round.
FWC, current Official page (opens in a new tab)
Snook, Big Bend Region (includes the Withlacoochee River)
Harvest closed Dec. 1 through the end of February and May 1 through Aug. 31; a snook permit is required to keep one.
FWC, current Official page (opens in a new tab)
Bay scallops, Levy, Citrus and Hernando counties zone (includes Yankeetown and Crystal River)
Open July 1 through Sept. 24.
FWC, 2026 season as listed by FWC Official page (opens in a new tab)
Flounder, state and federal waters off Florida
Closed every year Oct. 15 through Nov. 30.
FWC, annual, applies to 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper, private recreational, Gulf state and federal waters
Summer season May 22 to July 31 daily. Fall season Sept. 1 to Oct. 4 daily, Oct. 9 to 22 daily, 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. Also applies to charter boats without a federal permit fishing Florida Gulf state waters.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper, federal for-hire (charter boats with a federal reef fish permit)
Opened 12:01 a.m. June 1, 2026 and closed 12:01 a.m. Oct. 26, 2026.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gag grouper, Gulf state and federal waters
Open Sept. 1 to 30, 2026; harvest closed Oct. 1 for the rest of the year.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red, black and scamp grouper, Gulf
Open year-round in state waters; in federal waters closed Feb. 1 to March 31 seaward of 20 fathoms.
FWC, current Official page (opens in a new tab)
Greater amberjack, Gulf state waters
Open Sept. 1 through Oct. 13 and closed 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.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
40 ft, where to fish
Where to fish
- Channel
Withlacoochee River channel and mouth
The channel out of town runs to the Gulf, and the chamber lists tarpon, redfish, trout, cobia, mackerel and sharks in and around the mouth of the river.
- Flats
Flats, rock piles, oyster bars and islands off Yankeetown
Local guides bounce between grass flats, rock piles, oyster bars and islands for reds, trout, flounder, snook and gag grouper.
- Flats
Crystal River scallop grounds via the barge canal
From Withlacoochee channel marker 18A, the chamber's route runs south past the power plant barge canal to the Crystal River scallop beds in 4 to 8 feet of water.
- Marsh
Bennetts Creek
A tidal creek off the Withlacoochee that the chamber recommends for paddlers, and kayak anglers fish this kind of creek for trout, reds, snook and flounder.
- Marsh
Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve
A 413 acre preserve on the salt marsh in Yankeetown with a kayak launch onto the coastal creeks.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bird Creek County Park and Hwy 40 Boat Ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 8000 Hwy 40 West, Yankeetown, FL |
| Town of Yankeetown Boat Ramp (Yacht Basin) (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 5921 Riverside Drive, Yankeetown, FL |
| Allen Park Road Boat Ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 1911 SE Allen Park Road, Yankeetown, FL |
| Winding River Garden Park and Kayak Ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 5551 Riverside Drive, Yankeetown, FL |
| Waccasassa Public Boat Ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | SE County Road 326, Inglis, FL |
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 (3)
Showing all 3 shops
- Bait and tackleLive bait
Captain's Cove Outfitters
Bait: frozen bait, shrimp, pinfish, squid
39 West Highway 40, Inglis, FL 34449
Locally owned tackle shop on Highway 40 in Inglis with frozen bait year-round, seasonal live bait, terminal tackle and in-store reel spooling.
- Bait and tackle
Hook-Line & Sinker Bait and Tackle
144 Highway 40 West, Inglis, FL
Listed by the Levy County Visitors Bureau as an Inglis bait and tackle shop on Highway 40.
- Marina
Yankeetown Marina
15 Hickory Avenue, Yankeetown, FL
Marina in Yankeetown listed by the Levy County Visitors Bureau; local guides run trips out of it.
Live bait comes and goes with the weather and the season. Call before you drive.
Charters and guides
| Charter | Fishing |
|---|---|
| God's Country Fishing Company (Capt. Mike Ashley) (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Black Dog Charters (opens in a new tab) | Ask when you book |
70 ft, on the calendar
Tournaments and events
Annual events on this water. Dates move, so confirm with the organiser.
Inglis and Yankeetown Lions Club Seafood Festival and Withlacoochee Rubber Duck Race (opens in a new tab)
third Sunday of November
Cedar Key Lions Seafood Festival (opens in a new tab)
usually the third weekend of October
2025: October 18 to 19 (54th annual); 2026 dates not posted on the Chamber page
80 ft, asked and answered
Fishing Yankeetown, asked and answered
How big are the tides at Yankeetown?
The Inglis and Yankeetown chamber says tides change twice a day and can rise and fall as much as six feet, so carry a chart. NOAA's Port Inglis station at the Withlacoochee River entrance gives the predictions.
When is scallop season near Yankeetown in 2026?
FWC lists July 1 through Sept. 24 for the Levy, Citrus and Hernando counties zone, which covers Yankeetown and Crystal River. The chamber's route runs from Withlacoochee channel marker 18A south past the barge canal to the Crystal River beds.
Where can I buy live bait near Yankeetown?
Captain's Cove Outfitters on Highway 40 in Inglis carries frozen bait and seasonal live bait, and the shop names shrimp, pinfish and squid among its seasonal baits. Call first, since live bait depends on the season.
Where do I launch a boat in Yankeetown?
The county lists the Bird Creek Park and Hwy 40 ramp, the Allen Park Road ramp and the Waccasassa ramp, and the town has a ramp at the Yacht Basin on Riverside Drive. Winding River Garden Park has a kayak ramp.
Can I keep a snook out of Yankeetown in the fall?
Yes, from Sept. 1 through Nov. 30, with a snook permit. Yankeetown is in the Big Bend Region, where snook harvest is closed Dec. 1 through February and May 1 through Aug. 31.
90 ft, the kit
What we would take to Yankeetown
Sources for this guide (17), last checked 2026-10-27
- captainexperiences.com/fishing-reports/locations/regions/cedar-key (opens in a new tab)
- captainexperiences.com/locations/florida/yankeetown/seasonality (opens in a new tab)
- captainscoveoutfitters.com/inglis-tackle-shop/bait-yankeetown/ (opens in a new tab)
- inglisyankeetown.org/Trails-Boating-%20Parks.html (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/bay-scallops/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/flounder/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/groupers/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/red-drum/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/snappers/ (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/gray-triggerfish-0226/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/news/all-news/greater-amberjack-0826/ (opens in a new tab)
- cedarkey.org/events/265229 (opens in a new tab)
- fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/noaa-fisheries-announces-2026-gulf-america-red-snapper-recreat (opens in a new tab)
- visitlevy.com/boat-ramps (opens in a new tab)
- visitlevy.com/fishing (opens in a new tab)
100 ft, the seabed
Gear up for Yankeetown
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.