Check Out Citrus County Fishing…

Submitted by mdcosmo on Sun, 09/17/2006 - 9:20pm.

Everyone I’ve been fishing with seems to be saying the same thing…

I’m not going to try a new place that we have no fishing information about.

Things like…

fishing rules,

what kind of fish,

where is the best spot to fish,

do I need a license,

can I take my kid,

and is it fresh or salt water action.

These are the most common that most of us hear.

Soooooo… Why don’t I just tell start by telling you that Inverness in Citrus County, Florida is a great place to fish and then give you the fishing facts about fishing and staying.

Oh yeah… It has both fresh and salt water fishing.

Fact 1 – Citrus County has a wide variety of fish and places to fish.

Check the map (entry 1)

a) Check out the “Tsala Apopka” Lake chain all around Inverness,

Hernando & Floral City (all part of Citrus County).

b) See the river (Withlacoochee) that goes around the East and North sides of the County.

c) See the Gulf of Mexico along the Western side.

Fact 2 – Do I need a License?

a) Licensing requirements follow the species of fish you are fishing

for, regardless of where you are fishing. For example, anglers

fishing for and possessing Largemouth Bass in brackish water

need a freshwater license; anglers fishing for saltwater species

in fresh water (e.g., Spotted Sea-trout, Red Drum, Snook, or

American Shad) need a saltwater license to possess these species

b) Resident: For the purpose of fishing in Florida, a person is a

resident if he or she has lived in Florida for six continuous

months prior to applying for licenses and claims Florida as his or

her primary residence. Active military personnel stationed in

Florida, including their spouses and dependent children residing

in the household, are considered residents when purchasing

fishing licenses.

c) Licenses may be purchased from county tax collectors or their

subagents, who are generally located at tackle shops, fish camps

and sporting goods stores.

LIFETIME LICENSES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AND MAKE GREAT GIFTS

Note: See the… http:/// website for more information and a chance to purchase a license.

Fact 3 – Where to fish.

a) Fresh Water –

1) Withlacoochee River – Citrus areas

è WITHLACOOCHEE RIVER (Citrus, Marion, Sumter, Levy, and Hernando counties): This 157-mile stream originates in Green Swamp in Hernando County and flows north to the Gulf at Yankeetown. The stream has many lime rock areas and associated swamps. Water color is dark during the rainy season and clear during low water. Public ramp is located at C.R. 39 north of SR 200 in Citrus County, U.S. Highway 41 at Dunnellon and SR 40 at Yankeetown.

Bass

Catfish

Bluegill (and other members of the bream family)

2) Lake Rousseau –

è LAKE ROUSSEAU (Citrus, Marion and Levy counties): An impoundment of the Withlacoochee River, as part of the original Cross Florida Barge Canal project, this large lake is full of cypress trees, hyacinth and pennywort islands and sometimes hydrilla. Abundant cover and structure grow plenty of bluegill, redear sunfish, catfish, black crappie and largemouth bass. The deeper river channel is always good to locate and fish underwater bends. The rest of the lake is referred to as the "flats" or the backwaters.

Bass

Catfish

Bluegill (and other members of the bream family)

3) Tsala Apopka Lake chain –

è TSALA APOPKA CHAIN (Citrus County): Lake Tsala Apopka is 19,111 acres of shallow, heavily vegetated marshes intermingled with open water pools. Water control structures separate the lake into three main pools named after nearby towns: Inverness, Floral City and Hernando. Public boat ramps are available 1/4 mile east of the intersection of U.S. Highway 41 and S.R. 200 (Hernando Pool); ¼ mile east of City of Inverness on S.R. 470 (Inverness Pool); and on Duval Island Road off C.R. 48, one mile east of U.S. Highway 41 (Floral City Pool).

Bass

Catfish

Bluegill (and other members of the bream family)

Note: Many other freshwater lakes, ponds, streams and such are all around

the Inverness and Citrus County section of Florida. Just visit us and enjoy finding many days of pleasure.

Fact 3 – Where to fish (continued).

b) Salt Water – The so-called Nature Coast of Citrus, Hernando and Pasco Counties on the West side of Florida have a very wide range of fish and fishing locations to enjoy on a fishing vacation. The northernmost Citrus County alone holds four of Florida’s designated Outstanding Waters – Rivers…

Withlacoochee, Homosassa, Crystal and Chassahowitzka.

They all empty into Gulf of Mexico bay waters which are fashioned with sawgrass fields and mangrove islands. Each year, October through March, the warm waters of spring-fed Crystal and Homosassa rivers host the largest herd of manatees in the United States.

1) Homosassa River – This River starts at the main spring and runs eight miles to the Gulf of Mexico. Mason Creek Boat Ramp 2297 E. Riverside Drive 6891 S. Mason Creek Road Homosassa, Fl. 34446. Access to Homosassa River and the Gulf of Mexico.

Redfish

Trout

Mullet

2) Chassowitzka River – The Chassowitzka River is an unspoiled estuarine habitat along

Florida's west coast that serves as important breeding and feeding ground for marine life. Nine miles long from the head of the springs to the Gulf of Mexico the shallow bays support an abundant growth of muskgrass which provides food for various birds and the endangered manatee.

Chassahowitzka River Campground & Boat Ramp 8600 W. Maggie Dr,

Homosassa, Fl. 34448

Redfish

Trout

Mullet

3) Crystal River – Six hundred million gallons of fresh water flow daily from more than

thirty natural springs. The temperature of the water flowing from the springs remains a

constant 72 degrees.

Pete’s Pier Boat Ramp SW 1st Place, Crystal River, Fl.

Redfish

Trout

Sheepshead