How to Catch Redfish, Snook, and Trout in Crystal River, Ozello, Homosassa 

Thank you, I might head back to yankeetown next trip

Yes.

All the spoils islands from the barge to the intake have redfish all over them this time of year. It was just too busy this weekend to want to deal with them for me lol

@@capt.justinwhaley-jwfishin6896 idk if the full moon had them messed up or if I just wasn't in the right spot. We got one decent red and one fat trout that's it. Tried live shrimp, mud minnows, mullet chunks and fresh lady fish chunks.... nothing touched my lady fish chunks it was a weird day.

@@coolkid6364 it’s been slow mid day for me it’s all about timing and and tides this time of year. The heat makes it a challenge in shallow water. And if another boat just blew through your spot doesn’t help

Best to launch at John brown and take st Martin channel out. I wouldn’t do it without fmt tho. I launch my 26’ skiff with no issues

John brown ramp about halfway down the ozello road, and thank you!

@@capt.justinwhaley-jwfishin6896 Thanks for the info! I run my Gheenoe in Ozello. I like the lower unit on my bay boat right where it is, lol. I’ll definitely have to try this launch.

@@livin2fishfishin2live29 it’s a safer run from John b than the end ramp

Leader length for me if usually just as long as the rod will allow you to cast comfortably without the knot restriction in the guides. Without cork leader you want to be as long as the fish usually. So 35” leader you’re good in most cases. And cork just 6” shorter than the depth is a good rule. Bigger fish and shorter cast scenarios I’ll run a 6ft leader so you can have more stretch and lose a lot less big fish. Hope that helps

@capt.justinwhaley-jwfishin6896 thanks for replying. So if I understand you correctly, the cork leader (the one from the cork to the lure) should be about 6" fron the bottom?

@@timothyjordan5942 yes 6” above the bottom is usually best or above the grass for trout I used a jighead and white Berkeley gulp shrimp under a cork. For reds and snook I do live shrimp on a jighead or a mudminnow on a circle hook. And usually always make leader longer with no weight to let bait bounce around, jighead I make it 6” shorter so it’s not dragging grass

Pretty much the only person there on a week day lol

@@capt.justinwhaley-jwfishin6896 how bout the weekends ? How much for a charter with you ?

$400 for 7 hrs 730-230pm. I can do a weekend if you message me on Facebook or text 352-497-7040

@@capt.justinwhaley-jwfishin6896 Im gonna see when the wife can get off work during the week and get with you. And found your website. Thank you sir !

Also i do photography if your needing any sick shots of the catches and or you speeding past in the boat for advertisement

It’s not worth it to me to tow the boat over there fuel up and get bait for under $400 so that’s my starting point for 1 guy. But I’ll let you bring a friend to split the cost

Channels are well marked leaving the river make wide turn after end marker avoiding the foul rock area and you’re good to go to the outer islands. Make sure you wait 1-2 hrs of incoming tide before you go exploring. In summer it’s best to fish sunrise till 11am. But if you don’t have a early high tide redfishing is difficult unless you fish the spoil banks

Book a trip here jwfishingcharters.com

Pricing and availability is on my website. I start at $400 but solo guy I give discount to $350

Download fish rules app on your phone

$400

Yes

This was a kenner skiff that I’m Selling I use a bigger Carolina skiff now

Usually 5-8ft in warmer months

@@capt.justinwhaley-jwfishin6896 Thanks for the reply. So just run out the channel until I find some depths like that and start searching?

@@jjcc2192yes just drift 5-7ft where you see some cleaner water and grass and catch as far as you can with a Cajun thunder and white gulp shrimp and you’ll find trout