Fishing & Crabbing Pier's
Fishing, crabbing, photography, dolphin watching, gator watching (freshwater), relaxing...
Freshwater
Eden Park
614 Park Lake Terr.
Inverness, FL 34450
On Tsala Apopka Lake.
Footnote:
The Tsala Apopka chain of lakes is the largest freshwater system in Citrus county covering over 22,000 acres including 15 lakes on the Withlacoochee.
Wikipedia Facts
Features:
Barbecue Grill
Boat Ramp
Fishing Pier
Security Lighting
Parking
Picnic Tables
Small Playground
Saltwater
Fort Island Trail Park
12073 W. Fort Island Trail, Crystal River 34429
A small park area, very peaceful and well groomed.
Well kept public restrooms, a nice sized "T" pier which is great for crabbing, and the fishing is good, but with the current and tide, only bottom fishing with a sizeable weight and casting artificial lures are reccomended.
Manatee sightings aren't rare from the pier.
The water is brackish (salt/fresh mix), for the Homosassa River meets the Gulf of Mexico within sight of the pier.
The park also offers a four slip boat launch, and the launch and parking are free, and though there are quite a few slots, launch early on any given holiday or sunny weekend or you might have to park off of Ft. Island trail and walk the 1/4 to 1/2 mile back to the launch to meet your boat.
Parking is FREE for both the pier and boat launch.
This park closes at sunset, so you must have your boat returned to the launch accordingly.
Fort Island Gulf Beach
16000 W. Fort Island Trail
Crystal River, FL 34429
A small beach with soft white sand.
Unlike hotel lined beaches it is surrounded by wetlands, which play host to wild inhabitants.
A very short walk from the beach leads to a quaint but well built raised wooden walkway, which leads you through a short jungle like path, passing an outdoor covered eating area (which can be reserved for private parties) then continues to a wooden "T" framed pier.
The pier is about 15 feet above sea level on low tide, and about 8 feet above on high tide, but with a net or strong line you should have no trouble pulling up sea trout, mackerel, redfish, bonnet head shark, and other varieties of saltwater fish that make their presence known within the areas of the pier, as well as having a moderate amount of blue claw crab ready to be caught as well.
There is a boat launch a 2 minute walk from both the pier and the beach.
Parking is FREE for the beach, pier and boat launch.
Sometimes a mobile food vendor is on site, but bring food and most definitely water just in case.
There are nice up to date mens and womans bathrooms, and an outdoor shower area.
Directions:
From Citrus county get to highway #19 in Crystal River.
From whichever direction you are coming from, stay on State Highway 19 until you reach Fort Island Parkway which It's at a 3 way traffic light.
When you reach Fort Island Parkway you can only turn west, so do this, and drive for approximately 9 miles till the road ends at the beach.
Sorry, no pets allowed.
TripAdvisor reviews
Ozello Fishing Pier (AKA: John Brown dock)
S. John Brown Drive, Crystal River 34429
Know for excellent blue claw crabbing.
Fishing is average compared to other piers/docks, but when it's hot it's hot.
Kayak launch.
Free parking.
Springtime months the king mackerel bite is extremely good here.
Speckled sea trout are the most common catch.
Redfish, flounder, stingrays and other varieties are caught here as well.
Occasionally black tip sharks are caught here in summer.
High tide usually always finds the best results.
Dolphins pass and feed in the proximity, which slows down the bite till they are done.
On nice weekends it is usually crowded by 8AM.
Very small pier, 6 people is max before overcrowding begins to compromise line crossing with a strong tide.
No public restroom facilities.
Eden Park
614 Park Lake Terr.
Inverness, FL 34450
On Tsala Apopka Lake.
Footnote:
The Tsala Apopka chain of lakes is the largest freshwater system in Citrus county covering over 22,000 acres including 15 lakes on the Withlacoochee.
Wikipedia Facts
Features:
Barbecue Grill
Boat Ramp
Fishing Pier
Security Lighting
Parking
Picnic Tables
Small Playground
Saltwater
Fort Island Trail Park
12073 W. Fort Island Trail, Crystal River 34429
A small park area, very peaceful and well groomed.
Well kept public restrooms, a nice sized "T" pier which is great for crabbing, and the fishing is good, but with the current and tide, only bottom fishing with a sizeable weight and casting artificial lures are reccomended.
Manatee sightings aren't rare from the pier.
The water is brackish (salt/fresh mix), for the Homosassa River meets the Gulf of Mexico within sight of the pier.
The park also offers a four slip boat launch, and the launch and parking are free, and though there are quite a few slots, launch early on any given holiday or sunny weekend or you might have to park off of Ft. Island trail and walk the 1/4 to 1/2 mile back to the launch to meet your boat.
Parking is FREE for both the pier and boat launch.
This park closes at sunset, so you must have your boat returned to the launch accordingly.
Fort Island Gulf Beach
16000 W. Fort Island Trail
Crystal River, FL 34429
A small beach with soft white sand.
Unlike hotel lined beaches it is surrounded by wetlands, which play host to wild inhabitants.
A very short walk from the beach leads to a quaint but well built raised wooden walkway, which leads you through a short jungle like path, passing an outdoor covered eating area (which can be reserved for private parties) then continues to a wooden "T" framed pier.
The pier is about 15 feet above sea level on low tide, and about 8 feet above on high tide, but with a net or strong line you should have no trouble pulling up sea trout, mackerel, redfish, bonnet head shark, and other varieties of saltwater fish that make their presence known within the areas of the pier, as well as having a moderate amount of blue claw crab ready to be caught as well.
There is a boat launch a 2 minute walk from both the pier and the beach.
Parking is FREE for the beach, pier and boat launch.
Sometimes a mobile food vendor is on site, but bring food and most definitely water just in case.
There are nice up to date mens and womans bathrooms, and an outdoor shower area.
Directions:
From Citrus county get to highway #19 in Crystal River.
From whichever direction you are coming from, stay on State Highway 19 until you reach Fort Island Parkway which It's at a 3 way traffic light.
When you reach Fort Island Parkway you can only turn west, so do this, and drive for approximately 9 miles till the road ends at the beach.
Sorry, no pets allowed.
TripAdvisor reviews
Ozello Fishing Pier (AKA: John Brown dock)
S. John Brown Drive, Crystal River 34429
Know for excellent blue claw crabbing.
Fishing is average compared to other piers/docks, but when it's hot it's hot.
Kayak launch.
Free parking.
Springtime months the king mackerel bite is extremely good here.
Speckled sea trout are the most common catch.
Redfish, flounder, stingrays and other varieties are caught here as well.
Occasionally black tip sharks are caught here in summer.
High tide usually always finds the best results.
Dolphins pass and feed in the proximity, which slows down the bite till they are done.
On nice weekends it is usually crowded by 8AM.
Very small pier, 6 people is max before overcrowding begins to compromise line crossing with a strong tide.
No public restroom facilities.