Recent inshore fishing reports from the Big Bend region.
Variety Slam
Florida Sportsman member: Gator4Life
We pulled into an almost empty CK parking lot. That's when you know your dedicated, dumb or both. Winds were blowing 15mph at times, but we made the most of it with four Reds, a Flounder and about ten Trout.
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Fishing The Chazz
Florida Sportsman member: Ruff One
Duane was fishing with his super secret redfish lure and his rod bends over. After a fight that has the red circling the gheenoe about 10 times, he finally boats a nice 30in fish!
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Homosassa Reds and Trout
Florida Sportsman member: SassaWhaler
Made several drifts catching trout on each pass. Stopped counting at 25 trout with 11 keepers in the box. Got 2 more keeper reds in the box with one being my friends son's first redfish.
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Yankeetown Redfish
Florida Sportsman member: gators7233
After a slow start while trolling some new spots in Yankeetown, forum member gators7233 stumbled upon a couple of big Reds. Nice catch!
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Waccasassa Bay Redfish
Florida Sportsman member: Redbonz
Even though weather hasn't been ideal, forum member Redbonz made the most out of his day off in the Waccasassa Bay and snagged 13 beautiful redfish, the largest of which was 30″. Nice!
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Fishing with Dad
Florida Sportsman member: ghostrider8
I see Jay putting on a paddle tail and I STRONGLY suggest that he use live bait as we had a bait well full of shrimp, pinfish and mud minnows and I figured it would increase his chances. But no, he stubbornly insists on using it and then promptly pulls this 29-inch snook out from under the mangroves on his first cast.
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Crystal River Redfish Action
Florida Sportsman member: anglerbros 7286
We had a hard time catching a lot at first, being on the opposite side of the bar from the school, so we got snagged a lot. There was so many that we still managed catching several on top of the rocks though.
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Waccasassa Redfish
Florida Sportsman member: Redbonz
You gotta love this time of year. The Reds start coming alive, cooler weather is on the way and the fishing should just explode.
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Crystal River Snookin'
Florida Sportsman member: HammerheadTed
Today I went out early with Robbie, but we started at slack high tide and didn't catch anything until the water was flowing out hard. Been catching smaller snook and this 35 inch snook is the first big one I've gotten in a month or so and a real treat.
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Hot Redfishing
Florida Sportsman member: Billy
It was a little slow at first but then as we warmed up so did the fish. I started off with three keeper reds and a trout before we decided to move. Duane, not to be out done, adds three more keeper reds in the boat.
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Early Morning Reds
Florida Sportsman member: Billy
So off we go to Billy's Creek. It was full of reds with some with their backs out of the water. The problem was they wouldn't bite anything we threw at them. After a frustrating period of time, and for once wishing (sort of), that we should have had bait Duane says let's move.
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Big Bend Reds
Florida Sportsman member: Billy
Fished a bit for a few trout, caught maybe three or four, to wait for water. That didn't last long, just needed one for the box anyway, and Duane says let's go for the reds. They were around, even saw one with it's fins out of the water, but they were reluctant to feed. We kept trying and eventually put eight keepers in the boat all around the 22 inch size.
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Getting Revenge
Florida Sportsman member: HammerheadTed
It made a loooong run of probably 100 yards and we ran it down. When it came to the net, it was a “slob”, very similar to mine from the other day, in fact we measured it at 39″, same as mine, but a different place.
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Incoming Bite
Florida Sportsman member: permit_me
As I was re-rigging a spare rod, I put my rod in the holder and slam, Jack grabbed the rod was on with a 26 inch red. A couple minutes later we resume, I am just finishing my knot from earlier and slam, Jack takes my rod and lands another upper slot slob.
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Fishing with Grampa
Florida Sportsman member: anglerbros 7286
My grandpa was able to catch a couple which was cool because they are pretty much his favorite fish to catch, and this was his last trip he had before heading back to New York.
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A Trip to Crystal River
Florida Sportsman member: badonskybuccaneers
As the day progressed, the wind seemed to die down some, so we hunted some crab pot floats for tripletail on the way out but didn't find anything legal. We tried working another bar along the spoils further out and picked up a couple more trout, some jacks, a redfish, and I finished my inshore slam with a decent snook.
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Steinhatchee Trip
Florida Sportsman member: Cole321
We went out the next afternoon into the Gulf and fished on the grass banks north of Steinhatchee. Found spots where there was thin grass and adjacent oyster bars/rock piles. The first spot we could see reds and drum tailing all over the place, the reds were also rubbing in the grass.
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Crystal River Slam
Florida Sportsman member:Blkmnstr
Finally had a nice enough day to head out to long point. We got a later start than what we wanted too but were still at the ramp in time to get to the banks before the tide changed. I hooked up with the first trout then my girlfriend landed the next three back to back.
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Short Trip, Hot Bite Florida Sportsman member: Jim311 
The first stop was a creek that had produced well for me on Thursday, but it generally holds smaller fish. It was about two hours from the bottom of the low tide but we made the call to get skinny and risk getting stuck in the creek in hopes of finding a good bite and it paid off. Click here to read the full forum report
Fun on the Chaz Florida Sportsman member: Ruff One 
Duane uses that Chaz finesse and this snook is caught! But, he swallowed the lure completely and there was no way this one would go back. The damage was to great. At 28 1/2 inches he was legal and will give up some delicious fillets. Click here to read the full forum report
Fishing Both Sides Florida Sportsman member: Scott Crown 
From Yankeetown to Cedar Key to Horseshoe and both Palm Coast and Matanzas on the east coast. The east coast has had vary clear water for sight fishing and we have been getting 10 or so a trip. The west side, well let's just say it's been catching, not fishing. Click here to read the full forum report
Crystal River Trout and Sheepshead Florida Sportsman member: anglerbros 7286 
After reading Super D's post about catching trout in the days inn canal figured we'd start there since we launch there on every trip and was surprised to catch a 17 inch trout on my first cast with a gold lil john. Caught a few more on every other cast then got one more in the mullet hole before heading to the creeks. Click here to read the full forum report
Big Bend Trip Florida Sportsman member: Flat Nuts 
I made an excuse to come back up your way with my daughter. We were sneaking up to Ocala to pick up a new pup for my wife for Valentines day under the guise of a quick father daughter fishing trip. Click here to read the full forum report
Catching in the River Florida Sportsman member: 4WARD 
We stayed in the river on Sunday and jumped around here and there. Snapper were not very active but a couple reds decided to play. We ended up with two reds (23 and 26 3/4 inches), one drum and a couple snappers. Click here to read the full forum report
Catching on the New boat Florida Sportsman member: StandOutI2 
I saw a fish tailing so I told mom where to look and she saw the fish and made the shot. Without me telling her where and boom, fish on! A solid fish at 27 inches and was her first real fish that she has sight fished. Click here to read the full forum report
Low Tide Action Florida Sportsman member: StandOutI2 
The water came in a little bit so I started working a shoreline next to a creek mouth. This turned out to be the best decision. We saw several fish, and some absolute studs, on the outside along the shoreline. Ended up picking up a couple fish this way. Click here to read the full forum report
Catching on Topwater Florida Sportsman member: Scott Crown 
I got blasted three more times by giants here but they were over hitting the plug, literally coming out of the water. My co-worker had enough and went to top water as well. Did not take long and he was crushed by a giant. Click here to read the full forum report
Catching in the Creeks Florida Sportsman member: kingkong954 
On our way out of the creek I managed to get my lure stuck in some grass. After much yanking and pulling and cursing the lure pops out into the water and wraps around my rod tip. After some cursing and untangling I find out the action had somehow attracted a redfish, who had eaten the lure while I untangled the line! Click here to read the full forum report
Crystal River Variety Florida Sportsman member: ripnlips 
Tripletail fishing has been great along the channel markers, crab trap buoys, and floating grass mats. Live shrimp under a float is a sure bet when targeting these fish. Look for them as you run from spot to spot. They hide just below the floating structure or nose up to channel markers. Click here to read the full forum report
December Big Bend Action Florida Sportsman member: Scott Crown 
We had a negative low mid morning which I like to fish up there, well it did not disappoint. The trout and reds were laid up in the pot holes just like they should be in spring weather. Caught well over 40 nice trout up to 23 inches and 20 reds up to 30 inches. Click here to read the full forum report
Topwater Action Florida Sportsman member: HammerheadTed 
I hear a big snook hit Robbie's lure with that telltale giant suction slurp they do and the battle was on. Fish was in good current and was a multiple jumper of five or six times. After a good battle the 31 inch fish came to the net. Click here to read the full forum report
Yankeetown Reds and Trout Florida Sportsman member:StandOutI2 
We ran out to a pretty low tide, so we started trout fishing. Boy were they on fire, they were eating everything, topwater, flukes, jigs, whatever we threw. Most of them being 19 to 23 inches with a few smaller ones mixed in. After about two hours of that we went to go find some reds. Click here to read the full forum report
Patience pays Florida Sportsman member:shuterkng 
Not a great day as it was starting to get late and the tide was about full. Then surprise, monster red invasion. Almost everyone got a big red as we were fighting for position on the boat, girls won. We kept four that were just under 27 inches and released a bunch more. Click here to read the full forum report
No Water No Problem Florida Sportsman member:barhopperAD 
Catching mullet paid off, first cast was a 26 inch red. Little bro was catching rat reds left and right. The water got higher and action got slower. So we moved around explored a little to find a fishy looking cove with lots of activity and that REALLY paid off. Click here to read the full forum report
Cedar Key Action Florida Sportsman member:Big Bend Brian 
We were without a bottomfinder as I just sent my Furuno in for repair so our plan was to just troll a shallow broad area of intermittent hard bottom we used to stone crab on. Stopping in 19 feet we deployed some grouper plugs despite a fair amount of grass on the surface and within 10 minutes had our first fish. Click here to read the full forum report
First Trip Success Florida Sportsman member:Gman27 
30 minutes later I found a nice creek and a few lagoons and began working the banks with a paddle tail. I could see reds pushing bait on to the banks and lots of activity. Couple casts in and landed my first cedar key redfish of 19 inches. After the activity slowed down, I moved to a new lagoon and found more activity, landed another redfish of 29 inches. Click here to read the full forum report
A Trip Down South Florida Sportsman member: Scott Crown 
Friday, we decided to trailer up to Flamingo and sight fish way back up in the glades. Made about a 25 mile run north of Flamingo to some super skinny creeks. Ended up sight fishing around 10 nice reds up to 30 inches and 4 snook up to 28 inches. All fish being caught in less than 12 inches of water. Click here to read the full forum report
Fishing with the Girls Florida Sportsman member: Redbonz 
Being the two girls have never caught redfish I thought this would be a good chance to put them on some fish. Didn't really matter most were under slot, just catching was a blast for them. Click here to read the full forum report
Catching in Cedar Key Florida Sportsman member: barhopperAD 
We started off two keeper reds back to back. My little brother then hooked into a “redfish” which was screaming drag, pulled up to boat and it was a giant trout probably 25-27 inches, but the hook pulled right there and watched him swim away. Click here to read the full forum report
Waccasassa Reds Florida Sportsman member: Redbonz 
Headed out early even though it was a pretty early low tide. Took out a buddy that has not caught a lot of reds and was hoping to get him into some quality fish. He was not disappointed as we got into them pretty good. Click here to read the full forum report
Slot Slam Florida Sportsman member: anglerbros 7286 
Bob stuck to topwater like I'm sure Ted does because they want that one fish, which I understand but I wanted to catch my share of reds and wanted to see if it worked for him before doing so. All my redfish didn't change his mind then he landed a top of the slot redfish that inhaled his plug! I stuck with the spoon then hooked the first snook! Click here to read the full forum report
From Tripletail to Tarpon Florida Sportsman member: Scott Crown 
We head to where the third and final trap is, hopefully and sure enough it's still there. We did not see any fish on it but made casts at it any way. My second cast and the cork goes under and drag starts screaming, another 10 pounder jumps. We get him netted and in the box. My kids both agreed that I needed to put my rod down. Click here to read the full forum report
Father and Son Fishing Florida Sportsman member: huntentails 
With the youngest son off of work and a favorable tide we settled on yesterday morning and it wasn't a disappointment. We fished out of Crystal River and were on fish all morning with a strong outgoing tide. Robbie caught his best snook to date at 39 & 1/4 inches and I caught a 30 incher. Click here to read the full forum report
New Spot Producing Florida Sportsman member: Billy 
We went to an area that I've never been before, Duane hadn't been in years, and we spent most of the trip fishing the same area. We put twelve keeper reds in the boat and Duane managed a snook after another one got off earlier. Click here to read the full forum report
Cedar Key Reds Florida Sportsman member: Redbonz 
Mid-morning the tide was moving pretty good so we hit up into some creeks and found what we were looking for. We got 14 reds on rattletraps, spoons and jerk baits. A couple of oversize, a few under, with the majority in the slot. Click here to read the full forum report
Muddy Water, Big Drum Florida Sportsman member: Scott Crown 
I told myself that when I hit this one bar, if there is a drum on it, I was going to get him. It was protected from the wind and would allow me to make a perfect cast. Sure enough, I round the corner and the tail was a waving. Click here to read the full forum report
Backwater Snook and Reds Florida Sportsman member: Ruff One 
With the tide getting lower every second, Duane say “Lets hit some redfish spots closer to home base”. Off we go on another wild ride and before you know it we are sitting on some rocks with redfish swirls looking us in the face. Pitch a spoon and a nice redfish is going home for dinner. Click here to read the full forum report
Yankeetown Drummin' Florida Sportsman member: anglerbros 7286 
The fishing really picked up with the incoming tide, as we released a few slot reds and one over slot. We also caught three black drum, all were great fights in the kayak. All fish were caught less than a mile from the ramp and on live shrimp. Click here to read the full forum report
Grinding it Out Florida Sportsman member: HammerheadTed 
Robbie went out with me for some topwater casting practice. Low outgoing to start and the incoming the rest of the morning. Robbie must of practiced ahead, because he hit a nice 36 inch snook at the first stop. Click here to read the full forum report
Cedar Key Florida Sportsman member: Scott Crown 
Well with in three casts with the skitter walk, I get smashed and a school stands the water up. Josh throws in and we are doubled up. Mine came in at 29 inches and his was 26 1/2, that set the tone for the day. We hit five or six spots and every spot had a school on it. Click here to read the full forum report
Snook and Scallops Florida Sportsman member: HammerheadTed 
We went to Sandy Hook yesterday so we decided to go Scalloping again on this beautiful day. After a late start, we motored out to the boat pack and found all the scallops I care to clean in a reasonable time. There are still plenty out there and they were big! Click here to read the full forum report
Crystal River Mixed Bag Florida Sportsman member: huntentails 
We started with an outgoing tide and a slight east wind. First cast was a great snook, but was lost before it was boated for a photo session. We had to make a move a few hundred yards to get away from the bluefish as they were just tearing up anything we threw. Click here to read the full forum report
Cedar Key Reds and Trout Florida Sportsman member: me3260 
Live shrimp and cut ladyfish were the bait of the day. We caught a few on Gold Spoons, but the water is so dark, the only hits we got on spoons were throwing over a white sand bar, and reeling back across. Click here to read the full forum report
Big Bend Snook Florida Sportsman member: HammerheadTed 
By now I am fishing spots where I've never fished before. Paid off with this massive 39 inch snook that was the toughest I've ever caught. 3 jumps and 3 long runs and somehow she didn't wrap herself up in the sargasm. Missed another big one a few casts later and left early with the grandkids visiting at home. Click here to read the full forum report
Big Bend Giant Florida Sportsman member: Biggary16 
I called Pete (Snookspanker) to try for some snooks with the morning high tide. He liked the tide today too so we went out for a quick trip. He stuck a giant one within the 1st half hour. The shoulders and the girth of this 40 plus incher was unreal. Click here to read the full forum report
First Snook Florida Sportsman member: Lake13 
We both were looking for our first snook and just pounded till we both got one. 14 hours of fishing for one fish apiece. Couldn't be happier though. What a beautiful area and we will both be back. Click here to read the full forum report
Jumbo Drum Florida Sportsman member: Biggary16 
We had some gulps so we messed around with some big drum pulling us around for a while. The last one that I caught was a behemoth and that was enough for me. We got out of there before the storm and made it home still dry. Click here to read the full forum report
Crystal River Reds and Scallops Florida Sportsman member: T-Bonefc 
After 15-20 minutes we shot further south and joined a small community between the C.R. crowd and Homosassa . The scallops were much better here in numbers. Still small for the most part but it is what it is in the beginning of the season. Click here to read the full forum report
Poling to the Reds Florida Sportsman member: Dveres95 
We started the day out in Mason Creek and worked south toward Chassahowitzka, with a high morning tide we got deep into the back country to a flat that is very active and holds big redfish. Click here to read the full forum report
Catching in the Creeks Florida Sportsman member: Billy 
We managed a few reds and maybe a half dozen snook that actually made it to the boat. We kept hooking up the snook but a bunch simply either cut us off or came unbuttoned before we could get them to the boat. Click here to read the full forum report
Yankeetown Variety Florida Sportsman member: Biggary16 
My brother was in town so we hit Yankeetown early. Got a nice snook on topwater that started the day out great. Had a couple other snook blow ups. Then went looking for reds. Click here to read the full forum report
Early Morning Snookin' Florida Sportsman member: HammerheadTed 
Robbie had the big fish of the day on first and after a good battle, it gill plated the line, but we saw enough to know it was a big one. Then I got a fat 32 inch fish, which was a welcome relief. Click here to read the full forum report
Low Water, Big Snook Florida Sportsman member: StandOutI2 
I heard drag screaming and saw a wake that looked like a torpedo going through the water. Had to pull the powerpole up and chase it for a little bit then finally it stopped making the long run and came close enough for me to realize it wasn't the big red I thought it was. Click here to read the full forum report
On the Reds Florida Sportsman member: bigkahuna 
Forum member bigkahuna and wife got into the redfish in the big bend region, as well as a few bonus snook. Nice! Click here to read the full forum report
Yankeetown Redfish Bite Florida Sportsman member: StandOutI2 
My step dad picked up a couple more shorts. Well, the school died down and we started working to another area. My mom was real quiet in the back of the boat and said she sees something. So she throws to it and sure enough, it's a nice 27″ red! Her biggest to date. Click here to read the full forum report
Calling in “Sick” Florida Sportsman member: hausw 
Not more than 5 minutes later I hooked into a much larger one and battled him for almost an hour. Hoisted him in the boat for a few pics and released him. After that I was exhausted and called it a day. Click here to read the full forum report
Mason Creek Reds Florida Sportsman member: Dveres95 
We caught all our Reds on gold spoons, the fish were concentrated in the deeper mud troughs between the islands, which still held 2 to 3 feet on the dead low. It has been a great past month in the creek and it's only looking better. Click here to read the full forum report
Yankeetown Redfish Florida Sportsman member: StandOutI2 
Well, got back to our normal spots on the incoming and noticed there wasn't a whole lot of water moving. Turned around and went back out the way we came still on the incoming and boom, started seeing reds everywhere. Click here to read the full forum report
Big Bend Inshore Bite Florida Sportsman member: ripnlips 
Forum member and the Big Bend's weekend 4caster ripnlips has been on the fish. Catching snook, trout, redfish and more. Click here to read the full forum report
Windy Day Success Florida Sportsman member: Billy 
It was windy. Even in the creeks it was a chore to have any kind of boat control but we stuck it out for a few hours. Tide was rushing in heavy and flooded a bunch of areas we usually fish. We had to change up a bit but it all worked out. Click here to read the full forum report
Working the Docks Florida Sportsman member: Bassin Assassin 
Switched to the smoke/gold halo color and was slowly swimming my lure near the bottom in the front of a dock, it got blasted. Set the hook on a solid fish. Got it away from the dock. After a nice aerial display and some good runs, Pat got her in the net. She measured 28 inches. Click here to read the full forum report
Crystal River Snook Bite Florida Sportsman member: Biggary16 
Hammerhead Ted and I got out there early to catch the outgoing tide. Ted is the king of topwater snookin and he hooked a giant one on his 3rd or 4th cast. He fought it for a long time but it scraped his 40 pound leader up and broke off. Click here to read the full forum report
Fun with Friends Florida Sportsman member: Billy 
A great day on the water with a couple excellent fisherman and lots of laughs. Almost all fish came on top water and a Redfish Magic type lure. We'll definitely do this again. Click here to read the full forum report
Big Bend Mixed Bag Florida Sportsman member: ripnlips 
Forum members ripnlips and Swampthing07 got into a nice mixed bag of fish from triple tail to black drum. Swampthing07 wife Kayla got in on the action too. Click here to read the full forum report
Successful Scouting Florida Sportsman member: CarneLoco 
We saw some big tails pop up in about 3 foot of water. Have heard of big black drum in these areas, but had no live crabs. Could have swore a few were reds mixed in. After many very good casts from both of us, Libby had a monster on. 15 minutes and a few laps around the bout she had her first black drum landed. Click here to read the full forum report
Big Bend, Big Reds Florida Sportsman member: Jim311 
I pushed in further into the creek. I spooked one nice red which I didn't even see until he'd spooked. Then I hooked up again, and again it was another super hard fight. This fish was bigger though, over 32 inches. It had a head on it the size of a football, a real stud fish. Click here to read the full forum report
Crystal River Snookin' Florida Sportsman member: HammerheadTed 
We caught fish everywhere we went including some places that haven't produced the last couple years. Robbie got 4 lower slot and under slot reds and several jacks. I missed a big snook early, but disappointment didn't last too long when i got a 31 inch snook at the next place. Click here to read the full forum report
Sheepshead, Snook and Snapper Florida Sportsman member: ripnlips 
Sheepshead Snapper and Snook have been the targeted species lately. Seems like the sheeps are finally spawning out on the rocks reefs and ledges just offshore. They are willing to bite if you get good enough weather to get out there. When the weather gets bad we have been getting snapper and snook in the river. Live shrimp has been the bait of choice. Click here to read the full forum report
Big Bend Bruisers Florida Sportsman member: Scott Crown 
We hit the first spot, the water was clear and they were schooled up. Watched a school of over slots swim down the bank. Then got to watch the whole school fight over my fluke, simply awesome to watch. Click here to read the full forum report
Homosassa Redfish Florida Sportsman member: floridafan 
Pulled in about 60 mostly undersized reds but managed 4 keepers between 20 to 24 inches. We each had a run 10 fish in 10 casts for me and 11 fish in 11 casts for my son, both at the same time! 21 fish in less than 10 minutes! Click here to read the full forum report
Crystal River Inshore Florida Sportsman member: ripnlips 
Sheepshead are starting to show up in their normal wintertime spots. We're still getting a by-catch of gag grouper too. All on 8 pound braid and live shrimp. Click here to read the full forum report
Afternoon Redfish Bite Florida Sportsman member: Scott Crown 
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