October Crystal River Fishing Report {%image_id=70468%} October is here, with cooler weather and a hot bite both inshore and off. Fish are on the move both to find warmer near shore waters and in some cases to begin their spawning season. While Hurricane Ian, which made landfall at the end of September, devastated the communities of southwest Florida. We in the Nature Coast were relatively unaffected by the storm. Our thoughts and prayers continue to go to our neighbors who are rebuilding during these challenging times. Inshore Bite {%image_id=70474%}{%image_id=70471%}{%image_id=70470%} We still have great redfishing lately, as our schools of breeders are around before they push offshore to spawn in the next few weeks. Reds will become less aggressive as the weather continues to cool and pass on many of the summer's hottest baits, like pinfish and paddle tails. Live shrimp on a jig head will continue to be the top choice for anglers targeting fish around the outer mangrove islands and rocky points. Speckled trout, Black drum, flounder, and even snook are still active as they begin to transition from the flats to the river, backwater tributaries and holes for colder weather. Targeting these inshore game species with live shrimp is the go-to method. Offshore {%image_id=70472%}{%image_id=70473%} For those who haven't fished the Crystal river area before, the unique topography of the seabed makes the area a world-class spot for grouper. The coastal shallows extend farther offshore than many other areas in the state. Paired with the rocky bottom structure, anglers can target grouper in comparatively shallow water while "offshore." Anglers looking to catch some of the best-tasting fish can locate Gag Grouper in less than 40 feet of water. The Gag bite has begun in Crystal River. The bite for keeper size Gags has been best in waters between 25 and 40 feet. Smaller fish are being caught in good numbers in shallower waters of 10-20 feet. Trolling is always a popular method of take for Gag Grouper. However, the amount of blown-in seagrass has made trolling in many areas difficult. Anglers dropping live pinfish onto the structure have been rewarded with a mixed bag of fish after a hearty fight.