Homosassa, Florida is a small fishing community in Citrus County. The population was 2,578 in the 2010 census. Old Homosassa is the historic area of Homosassa on both sides of the Homosassa River. There are several resorts, waterfront restaurants, fishing charters, scalloping charters, and two State Parks: the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park and the Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins in Old Homosassa. There is a boat ramp to access Homosassa River at the end of West Yulee Drive, a boat parking area, and a Veterans Memorial in the Old Homosassa area. Florida Senator David W. Yulee lived in Homosassa until the Civil War.
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Florida Cracker Resort: a Great Place to Monkey Around
On a quiet corner of the Homosassa River two local families have banded together celebrating “Old Florida” with a goal of preserving the tradition of Southern gentility, a culture of kindness and grace that has been disappearing all too quickly in America. Just a few miles west of U.S. 19… Read More
The True Story of Monkey Island
Originally published in 2010. Feature image by Robin Draper. Monkey Island is one of the most unique sights along Florida’s Nature Coast. A small island in the Homosassa River, easily seen from the Homosassa Riverside Resort, Monkey Island began as a solution to a sticky problem in neighboring Weeki Wachee,… Read More
Dive into a Delicious Adventure Scalloping in Citrus County
Folks who love snatching up live, fresh bay scallops from the Nature Coast’s abundant waters are making reservations for the 2021 bay scallop season. Slated July 1 through Sept. 24, Citrus County’s bay scallop harvesting season brings in waves of snorkelers from all over, searching for the tasty treat that… Read More
Nature Coast Dog Parks bring Joy
Is your Rottweiler rambunctious? Is your poodle depressed? Perhaps they just need to “paws” and reflect. Dogs put on a happy face for their owners, but experts say they are actually more vulnerable to mental or emotional stress than humans, triggering any number of physiological ailments. One method of… Read More
Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report with Captain Toney
After a great long weekend of hunting with my family on the Big Bend, we got a nice buck and missed a few. I have to be honest – I missed a nice one that was running full speed but decided to sling some lead and take a chance. Hunting public… Read More
Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report with Captain Toney
Cooling waters will put anglers closer to the mouth of rivers, creeks, and warm water areas. Warm waters can be natural like spring-fed rivers, tree-lined banks that block wind and reflect sunlight, or man-made like power plants or sea walls. Live bait is the key to the action and the… Read More
Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report with Captain Toney
We seem to have fallen into a once-a-week cold front pattern. You can bet the day after the front will be poor fishing. Bluebird skies, northeast wind, and high pressure is the culprit. As the winds subside and the week begins to warm, the fishing will get better, and usually, the… Read More
Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report with Captain Toney
With a significant cool down this past week, look for warm water fish to start their way into the rivers. Snook are usually the first ones, along with snapper and black drum. This is the last month to keep a legal snook but expect most of them to fall short of… Read More
Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report with Captain Toney
Looking to catch some trout? Try fishing small patches of rock grass. Over the years I’ve called it kelp but technically it is a form of sargassum that grows on the hard bottom that is made of limestone. Trout use this grass to hide in to ambush bait. Set up a drift… Read More
Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report with Captain Toney
One overlooked fish on the Big Bend is the black drum. Black drum can be as large as a garbage can but the better size for the table is the smaller ones between 14 and 24 inches. The slot size is the same and only one fish over the 24″ size… Read More
Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report with Captain Toney
With the first cold front of the year dropping the humidity, it will also start dropping the water temperatures. This will help push more trout to our inshore waters and creek mouths. The rock grass is all in place for the trout to flock to because it provides habitat for baitfish,… Read More
Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report with Captain Toney
One thing that makes a good fishery is clean water and seagrass. On the Big Bend, we have both and a good fishery. In June of last year, the State created the Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve that encompasses 700 square miles along Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco counties. Protecting our seagrass will… Read More
Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report with Captain Toney
The inshore bite for gag grouper has been about as good as it can get on the Big Bend. I believe the limits set by the FWC are starting to pay off. The 24″ minimum size was hard to swallow at first but after a few years, there seems to… Read More
Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report with Captain Toney
Looking forward to the month of October on the Big Bend. The water temperatures are prime for almost every inshore and offshore fish that swims in the Gulf. By the end of the month, we’ll be eating stone crabs that we catch ourselves or buying them at a local fish… Read More
Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report with Captain Toney
Some of the best mangrove snapper fishing that I can remember is happening on our nearshore rocks. Live shrimp on a 1/8th oz. jighead is the best bait. I always tell my anglers to let the bait fall naturally. If you don’t and it’s suspended then the snapper will not bite… Read More
Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report with Captain Toney
Darkened waters have made some tough conditions for late season scalloping. There is a band of semi clean water that is just west of the Bird Rack and runs south to the Chassahowitzka Tripod that is holding some big scallops for those looking for one of the last trips of… Read More
Nestled in heavy forest between US 19 and the Gulf of Mexico is a magical area of Citrus County: Old Homosassa.
Watered by several spring fed rivers, Citrus County residents enjoy the area’s great natural beauty, small town charm and myriad of outdoor activities.
Homosassa is the home of the Yulee Sugar Mill State Park, Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park, Monkey Island, and Old Homosassa. A delightful fishing village, Homosassa has been considered a sports lover’s paradise since the early 1900s.
It was a destination for wealthy and prominent Americans such as Grover Cleveland, Thomas Edison, John Jacob Astor and Winslow Homer.
General resorts, B & Bs and RV parks make Old Homosassa a fun and easy weekend getaway for NatureCoasters™.
Not only are the land and sea beautiful and bountiful, but the people are also friendly and accomodating. There is great food, from pressed Cubans to fresh locally caught seafood, all-you-can-eat crab and Cajun delights at reasonable prices.
Several talented artists reside here, creating and selling their wares in quaint “cracker” homes converted to gift shops, studios and resort lobbies.
Potters, glass artists, copper sculptors, painters, and carvers seem to be drawn to this natural area with its abundance of native flora and fauna.
From the last part of June to the last partof September each year, you can go “scalloping” with a charter and hunt for these tasty morsels with a snorkel mask and a bag for your bounty.
The healthy seagrass beds of this area provide a home to Bay Scallops, a simple, delectable, aquatic bivalve. (See our feature article on Scalloping here!)
Fishing is plentiful on the Homosassa River, as are manatee sightings, kayaks, pontoons, and airboat rides.
Several big fishing tournaments are held in Homosassa throughout the year!
There is often live music on the weekends at several Old Homsassa locations, including MacRae’s Shed, the Florida Cracker Monkey Bar, and Crump’s Landing.
Oh, and did I forget to mention the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park?
For a small admission ($13) you will be treated to a boat ride down the river (canceled during COVID-19 precautions – check with the Park for current information), see manatees and a vortex of thousands of native Florida fish, bobcats, panthers, alligators, snakes, river otters and birds, birds, birds – including American Bald Eagles.
The whole community seems to volunteer at the Wildlfie Park, which adds to the warm feeling I get every time I visit. You will too.
Homosassa’s community is a joy to visit, so plan to take a little trip off the beaten path of US 19 and enjoy this thriving enclave today.
