Happy fish today folks..... Joe was my solo guest today and he had a day. Leaving from Pete's Pier Marina, we made our initial run offshore and got on the sheepshead. I knew there was a cold front on its way and our time would be limited to stay on the out side. We hit a couple rocks and caught a few keepers, before the line of rain came through. With the rain approaching, I made it safe to the Salt River bridge and we waited out the rain. The skies cleared after an hour and we were back fishing and catching some really nice trout. DOA glow jerk baits, MirrOlure MirrOdines and Unfair Lures plugs were all working very well. Joe and I finished off a limit of trout and released few over the slot, to end the day. I thank you bud for fun time and look forward to next time... Capt. Dan
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It was the last day of my wife's Christmas vacation and we spent the day together sight fishing some red fish. I did have a charter yesterday, but there wasn't much to report with the cold temperatures and low water. We scrapped out some lady fish and small trout in the river and called it a day. Today however, was a different day with warm temperatures and plenty of sun shine; the conditions were prefect for taking the Silver King back in Sams Bayou. We poled the creeks on the low tide and with golden bream MirrOlure provoker jerk baits, we caught some beautiful red fish. You had to be there to see this, but on one cast. Becky hooks a decent sized black drum and while fighting it, the hook pulls and lands a couple feet away from the boat. We both notice a red fish in between us and on the same cast, she works it perfectly and "talks" that red fish in to eating (a 29" beauty too).... It was quite a show and two different fish on the same cast, it was definitely something to remember. A fun day in the back country, but we have a major cold front coming through the next couple of days. Hopefully later in the week, I'll be able to get my scheduled charters in and keep you all posted on the latest action.... Capt. Dan
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A big change in the weather from yesterdays trip, but we gave it a try and did well. I had the pleasure of having the Davies family on board and they did great. NE wind, on and off showers and low water - the conditions were tough, but it was Brian's birthday present and I was determined to find some fish. We tucked back in the salt river, worked some holes with kelp grass and found some trout. Not big numbers, but a couple keepers and a few under slot red fish in the river. Live shrimp was the bait of choice and I thank you all for great morning. Here's Brian with the big trout of the day and happy birthday... Capt. Dan
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Saturday, Dec 21 2013

Pretty Day Offshore....

We're so blessed to have this great weather in December and the fishing is fantastic. Lee and Clell were my guests today and we continued with the winter pattern and tackled the sheepshead. The sheepshead bite was good, but the grunts were beating the sheepshead to the shrimp the majority of the time. Eventually, the grunts calmed down and more and more sheepshead came aboard. The bonito were around as well and we had some give our drags a work out again. With box full of fish, we ran inshore stopped on a rocky point, and finished the day with several red fish. Most of the reds were shorts, but one made its way home for a fresh red fish dinner. I thank you both for a great day and I look forward to our next charter. Here's Clell with a big catch, a 9lb sheepshead... Capt. Dan
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What a beautiful day and very comfortable conditions for today's team out of Crystal River. Bill and Karen were my guests for the day and they had a blast. The wind swapped out of the NE for us and allowed for much more favorable conditions for going offshore. Today, we agreed to leave the trout alone and target what ever else we could find. Red fish were our first order of business and from free lining shrimp around the oyster bars, to sight fishing them in the creeks, we caught quite a few. Two of them were mid slot fish, while the others were the typical winter "rat" reds. Next, we were offshore bound to anchor down on some sheepshead. Well... we eventually got in to them after about thirty grouper break offs. The gags were beating the sheepshead to the shrimp. (Yes, there's still no shortage of keeper gags inshore). The sheep's started coming over the gunnel and a fine catch of them ended our day. I thank you both for the fun time and look forward as always to our next trip... Capt. Dan
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A steady SW wind kept me and my crew from heading offshore today, but we definitely kept the rods bent inshore. I had Tony, Roy and Chris on board and double digit red fish began our trip. Red fish after red fish were on the line and all were running in the 16" range, but fun none the same. Next up, schools of jack crevelles were coming through like packs of wolves and we had them on three at a time. With sore arms and for a change in species, we ended the trip with a nice catch of trout. DOA deadly combos and MirrOlure Lil' Johns helped the team put the trout on board and we called it a day. Thanks guys as always for the fun time and look forward to our next Crystal River Charter... Capt. Dan
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Friday, Dec 06 2013

Crystal River Mixed Bag...

What a treat to have a great father and son team on board today. Sam and Sam Sr. were my guests and at 93 yrs old, Sam Sr. was catching them up. I wanted to check a couple areas to see if the big black sea bass have showed up, and they're there. The guys had them coming in one after the other and a couple nice grunts were mixed in with them. With a box full of sea bass, we ran back inshore and caught a handful of real nice trout. Not big numbers in the trout, but all upper to over slot fish. To end the day, I pulled up on one of my favorite oyster bars, and the team caught six red fish with two of them making it home to dinner. I thank you both for the great day and I look forward to seeing you guys again... Capt. Dan
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Saturday, Nov 30 2013

Break in the Weather...

Finally, a decent weather day to get a day of work in. I've cancelled almost a week of charters due to the conditions, but today we were able to get a good one in. I had the pleasure of having the Worthington family on board and the guys did great on the trout. We were loaded with glow DOA cal shad tail jigs and bourbon colored MirrOlure Lil' Johns and the trout were on. The team put 18 keepers on ice and we also caught and released over 20 red fish. All the reds were small, but fun none the same. A keeper grouper made it's way in to the box for the ride home and we called it a day. Thank you all for the great day and congratulations on a fine catch... Capt. Dan
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Hey Folks, we hit another one out of the park today and it was definitely quite the day. Pete, Chris and Ed were my guests and these guys were a blast. Today's Crystal River Charter began trolling up a fine catch of quality gag grouper. We trolled a couple ledges and it was on. Bunker and Hot Head Rapala's and Green Mackerel MirrOlures were "the" plugs. I hated to leave the grouper action, but I don't catch and release grouper, so we ran back inshore and tackled some trout. The trout bite was fantastic on MirrOlure Lil' Johns and the guys had a mixed bag of trout, pompano, red fish and Spanish mackerel. The day was beautiful on the outside, but back inshore; we got poured on. This was another one to remember and I can't thank you all enough for such a great day... Capt. Dan
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Wednesday, Nov 06 2013

Another Crystal River Slam....

Well.... Unfortunately, I had to cancel another grouper trip due to the recent windy conditions, but I was to save the day with my good friend Capt. Randy Hodges. Randy is a life long friend of mine, excellent fisherman and knows some of the deep Ozello back country like no one else. We shared some trade secrets and had a blast. He and I took turns poling the Silver King around and we found some nice trout and red fish. The wind made it a bit tough to sight fish, but one particular red fish was tailing so perfect, I wish we could have got it on video. The day ended with a pair of river snook and I'm hoping tomorrows conditions are favorable for trolling up some gags. Here's Randy with a fine Crystal River snook... Capt. Dan
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