Hey everyone, Captain Tanner here. September’s rolled in, and the Crystal River’s showing some excellent signs. The cooler nights are starting to roll off into the mornings, water conditions are shifting a bit, and the fish are reacting. Here’s what I've been seeing and what I expect heading into the rest of fall.
Conditions & Trends
- Water Temperature: Daytime surface temps are in the mid-80s°F (≈83-88°F), cooling slightly overnight. Some deeper channels are a few degrees cooler.
- Water Clarity & Tide: Clarity is good in many spots—especially near mangrove shorelines and back creeks. Incoming tides (last half of the incoming) seem to be triggering more action.
- Weather: Humid mornings, afternoon showers or thunderstorms are still common. Best fishing tends to be early morning or just before sunset. Overcast skies help, especially when the sun is lower in the sky.
What’s Biting
- Redfish: Still strong. Especially around oyster bars, mangrove edges, and spoil banks. With slightly cooler water in the shade and under docks, reds are more predictable this time of day. Live shrimp or mullet strips along structure are working best.
- Speckled Trout: They’re starting to push inshore from deeper flats. The grass flats along the river mouths are heating up. Soft plastics and small jigs with light leaders are doing well, particularly in 2-4 feet of water during moving tides.
- Snook: Season opens September 1st, which always brings more snook activity. I’m seeing them around bridge pilings, mangrove roots, and drop-offs. Be gentle with presentations; they’re spooky with boats nearby.
- Spanish Mackerel / Jack Crevalle / Bonito: Schools are starting to show up more often mid-day when there’s bait moving. Fast action. Cast spoons and small flying-fish imitators work well. Great fun when you get into a feeding frenzy.
- Scallops: If you’re into scalloping, spots in shallower flats (3-7 ft) still have good presence. Best conditions are during calm water and low turbidity.
Tips & Tactics
- Timing: Early morning or late afternoon is your golden window. Avoid the afternoon sun when visibility drops off and fish get more finicky.
- Bait & Lures:
- Live shrimp, mullet, or pinfish for reds and snook.
- Soft jerkbaits or paddle-tails for trout.
- Spoons or fast topwater lures for mackerel & bonito.
- Gear: Light to medium tackle with good drag. For macks and faster pelagic stuff, don’t skimp on line strength. For inshore flats and reds, lighter line (20-30 lb) helps with stealth.
- Spot Picking: Look for structure—mangroves, oyster bars, bridge pilings. Also, drop-offs into deeper channels are a good bet, especially for trout and snook.