[dropcap]A[/dropcap]s I reflect back on 2013s fishing year, I remember many great days enjoying the waters of the beautiful Nature Coast. I think about the many clients that have become great friends. I remember some amazing catches and I remember some tougher days. I also remember that on those tougher days, with persistence and hard work, at the end of the day, everyone was smiling. I think back to Mike and Carlos from Florida Sport fishing TV coming up and filming a show on black drum. I will never forget having the privilege of fishing the CCBA Tournament with my wife; we took 1st place for the inshore slam. The Mel Tillis Tournament with the Buttermore family, winning 2nd place in red fish, 1st in the inshore slam, and 1st in the junior division with Randell Buttermore. Overall, 2013 has been a great year, and I look for 2014 to be even better.
So far, the temperatures have been pretty warm, but the news says the cold is coming. e advantage of living and fishing in the Crystal River area is that our local rivers are spring fed. is equals 72 degree water temps year around. All kinds of fish will move up to the head of the river towards the springs. Anything from tarpon, red fish, trout, snook and mangrove snapper will be available for the taking. e hardest part of catching one or more of these prized fish is getting your bait through the thousands of lady fish that come in for the warm waters. I personally don’t do much bass fishing, if any at all, but a lot of people do. I have talked to anglers that I see on the water in the winter months, it is their favorite time to large mouth fish. Some of them have claimed to have caught over 100 bass in a day with most of them being between 1 to 2 pounds with the occasional 3 to 5 pounder. They also tell me that they are catching some of the fish that I am targeting.
I meet people from all over the Country. They all ask me the same thing, are you catching anything this time of the year? My answer is usually the same, there is always something to catch in the waters of the Nature Coast. It may not be the main fish that you want, but there is something to stretch your line. Take time in the New Year to enjoy the outdoors and spend some time on the water.