Things to do
Fishing the flats and the Gulf
Crystal River sits on some of the best inshore fishing on Florida's Nature Coast. Redfish and snook on the flats, sea trout in the grass, tarpon in summer, and grouper offshore. Launch from your own dock or hire a guide who already knows the tides.
Host tip · Hire a flats guide out of Crystal River or Homosassa for a half-day (roughly $450 to $600, gear and bait included) and you'll be on fish without guessing. Prefer to go on your own? Bring a boat 27 ft and smaller to the dock, launch on a rising tide, and work the grass edges around Kings Bay and the river mouth. Check the tide chart first; the canal gets shallow at low water.
Season
Year-round
Distance
Flats minutes from the dock
Crystal River sits on some of the best inshore fishing on Florida's Nature Coast. Redfish and snook on the flats, sea trout in the grass, tarpon in summer, and grouper offshore. Launch from your own dock or hire a guide who already knows the tides.
Related
More things to do in Crystal River
Swim with manatees at Three Sisters Springs
Crystal River is the only place in the U.S. where you can legally swim with West Indian manatees. November through March, hundreds gather in the 72° springs at the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, five minutes from the house.
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Kayak or paddleboard the springs
We do not keep kayaks at the house and we do not recommend launching from our dock — the canal is rocky and oyster-edged. Better plan: rent from a real launch point a few minutes away.
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Rent a boat for the day
Bring your own 27 ft-and-smaller boat and dock at the private floating dock, or rent one for the day. Crystal River has flats, channels, and the open Gulf within thirty minutes. Excellent for fishing, scalloping, sandbar days, and sunset cruises.
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Manatee season in Crystal River
Crystal River is the only place in the U.S. you can legally swim with wild manatees. Season runs mid-November through March. Here's how to plan it.
Read →Three Sisters Springs — what to know before you go
Three Sisters Springs is the centerpiece of the Crystal River manatee refuge. Here's how to access it, when to go, and what to bring.
Read →Ready to plan the trip?
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