This week has been a big push in red fish and expect the same through out the month of August. The full moon tides helped bring the red fish together to start the fall schooling that begins they’re spawning cycle.

The Citrus county coast line has many points, bays, creeks and keys that can be very productive. Here are some of the most productive fisheries. The spoil islands north of Crystal River, Ozello Keys near the open Gulf, and around Chassahowizka Point keys eastward.

Incoming tide is the best but a high outgoing can also be very good. For search baits, a 1/4 oz. Eppinger Rex gold spoon with the red feather will cast far enough to cover water that is beyond sight casting distance and if an angler doe’s hook up with a fish, anchor down to possibly be in the most red fish you will see all  year.

I recommend to catch a few fish or keep your limit (one per licensed person), then move on to find more fish. If you choose to work them over, try using something new to you like a top water plug, fly rod or best thing not to sore mouth too many of them so fellow anglers can catch a few too.

The nearshore rocks are the best bet to catch a limit of mangrove snapper while free lining live shrimp. If the current will not let a free lined shrimp drop below three feet, then switch to a 1/8 oz. chartreuse jig head to get the bait to the right part of the water column, which is about 4 feet.

Incoming high tide will be very early morning this weekend or late evening.

P.S. As I wrote this report the redfish bite was fantastic, but Tuesday I had a tough time finding the fish. This brings me back to some of my mentors, like Captain Mike Locklear, who always told me that the day ahead and day after a full moon can be a tough bite but it will resume as we get away from the full moon.