Florida guys

spareparts

spareparts

God
Planning a Christmas vacation to the Crystal River area.Its going to be my family and one other, four adults and four kids from 12-17. Would like some imput on a house to rent, preferably on the water and some recomendations of activities. What kind of weather should we be expecting? Which boat should I bring? The V? Sea ray? or Mckee? Fishing or just riding around?
 
For the most part, that is SHALLOW ROCKY boating up that way. Theres channels that run out, but get outside the channel, and it's ROCK CITY! Theres a reason most of us who boat the nature coast run aluminum props, aluminum props are cheaper to replace than prop shafts. Theres some deeper water in the rivers as well, but most of the boating along the coast is shallow draft. Also out in this area, it is roughly 1 mile per foot meaning for every mile you go out, you gain 1 foot of depth(it's not exactly this way, but pretty close for a good portion of it. I would stick to a shallow draft boat, and one you won't cry to much about if you hit a rock pile or oyster bar. It's about an hour and a half north of me. I'm not of much help on where to stay other than to look at craigslist, and book early as that is teh busy time of year down here when all the houses are rented out.
 
Spare, I have never been boating farther east than st marks. Ferm is right stays shallow for quite a ways out. From what I've read , they have a pretty good grouper fishery over there that time of year. Trolling with mann's stretch lures is pretty productive.

Sorry I can't add more.
 
NMFS always seems to make sure and have the season closed when the fishing is good. The other catch is to get to offshore fishing grounds, it's about a 20+ mile run. I know it's not until about 15-18 miles out that you hit the drop point where you start to get much depth. Where I go out of Bayport, you can be 8-9 miles out, and find spots where you can get out and stand up.
 
Reds and trout inshore in a small boat is all that is needed IMPO.

The water is clear as gin, most of the time, the bottom is black as my ex-girlfriends heart. Rocky don't fully do it justice. So unless someone had very recently scratched the algae off that piece of limestone your about to hit you won't see it coming.

Rodney MacRae, sort of a legend in the Homasassa area. (Just south of where your going) Took my bosses Shipoke out of "MacRae's Marina". Rodney insisted on driving as "he knew the river like the back of his hand." 20 minutes out he knocked the lower unit off the new 140 looper. The slow tow of shame back to your marina after just thrashing the lower on your friends boat must have been quite a lot to bear.
I fish that area that time of year. I prefer sneaking up on fish in a couple feet of water and drifting across the flats. Plan still works when the wind is up. If I go with my friend that lives there we always take his jonboat with four larger vessels at our disposal. There is a tool for every job.
Offshore is an option, get a guide if you go there are rocks and ledges but few and far between. If you aren't running to a specific number your wasting your time. Grouper are inshore that time of year but out of season. Combine that with winter tides which run low for that week..
The McKee you got rid of would have been perfect.
You can use my V for free after a $2000 deposit on the lower unit. LOL!
Can you feel the love? V
 
Ridge, they extended the grouper season until the end of December in state waters. Have to be careful which county your in, but citrus county is fishable. Taylor & Jefferson are closed.

Least that's the way I read it
 
Thanks for that update Phat. I gave up a while back when they cloased the winter season when the grouper come in close enough for me to reach them easily in my boat....

Spare-- Have I got a deal for you- You have NV at your disposal. I'll have it fueled up and waiting at the dock for you. It has been pre scratched, and will carry four or five people, fishes three easily..
Bimini in case it rains, smell of fish in the livewell. Neither the boat nor me are wanted in that area, so you'd be safe...
 
Good video Phat, its funny the first few minutes they could have been reading from this thread.

I'd be eating nothing but grouper sandwiches my entire life if we could get them like that here.
 
We have. Grouper bite similar to that for 2-4 weeks in late sept to October. It's pretty exciting. After watching that, I was thinking of meeting up with spare and get ridge to guide us.
 
phatdaddy said:
We have. Grouper bite similar to that for 2-4 weeks in late sept to October. It's pretty exciting. After watching that, I was thinking of meeting up with spare and get ridge to guide us.
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That would be awesome, are you sure all three of you are allowed in the same county at the same time though?
 
bradford said:
That would be awesome, are you sure all three of you are allowed in the same county at the same time though?
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sounds like a heck of an idea, my cousin will be coming with us. Hes a SCDNR investigvations officer, so he can be the DD


BTW, still having trouble finding a place, two familys put us at 8 people, would really prefer water front. If anyone know sof anythign let us know
 
spareparts said:
I may have to take you up on that, you sure youre not wanted in that part of town?
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NV-Just got back from running her. 26 hours on the meter. Running great. Rated for 5 people it is a great sight seeing vessel for them parts..
Offer stands indefinitely....GPS will keep you informed of where the channels are, the abrupt stop informs you when you have failed to do so correctly. :fam:
 
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