The central west part of Florida is home to some amazing vacation destinations. The Tampa Bay area is home to some beautiful beaches, some excellent inshore fishing, lots of lodging options, restaurants, attractions and more. Head further north and you’ll find some incredible springs in the Homosassa and Crystal River areas. Cedar Key is a great destination for getting away from the crowds and it is home to an incredible inshore fishery.
Take a look below to learn more about the featured fishing destinations in this area.
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| Cedar Key, FL | Sarasota, FL |
| Crystal River, FL | Tampa Bay, FL Area |
| Homosassa, FL | |
Cedar Key, FL
Cedar Key is located on Way Key, which is the largest island in the Cedar Keys. This area has over 100 islands which make up the Cedar Keys. Cedar Key is a great place to get away from your busy work schedules. This small town island community is all about relaxing and enjoying the outdoors.
If you like inshore fishing, Cedar Key is an excellent destination for you. There are so many inshore areas to fish with all of the islands. The offshore fishing is also very good for a variety of fish and anglers can fish from the fishing pier as well.
Crystal River, FL
The town of Crystal River, Florida features an actual river called Crystal River as well. This river is six miles long and it connects Kings Bay with the Gulf of Mexico. The river is also fed by some 30 springs. The bay and river provide a variety of recreational water sports such as fishing, boating, swimming, diving and more.
This area has an enormous amount of inshore fishing opportunities to go along with some very good offshore fishing as well. Anglers target many different fish such as redfish, sea trout, mackerel, bluefish, jack crevalle, flounder, sharks, cobia, grouper, snapper and flounder.
Homosassa, FL
Homosassa and Homosassa Springs make up a unique vacation destination in Florida. Homosassa Springs is a developed village off of highway 19 that offers a variety of goods and services to permanent residents as well as drivers passing by. Homosassa is a village that is situated along the banks of the Homosassa River. You will find plenty of places to stay, dining and guide services in this area. The Homosassa River and the Homosassa Springs State Park are the major attractions here.
Anglers can catch a variety of freshwater and saltwater fish here. Some of the popular fish that anglers target in this area are redfish, sea trout, snook, tarpon, grouper, flounder, mangrove snapper, pompano, sharks, jack crevalle, ladyfish, red snapper, kingfish, cobia, Spanish mackerel and many others.
Sarasota, FL
Sarasota is considered the cultural capital of Florida. Many wealthy families make Sarasota their winter vacation destination. The nearby keys have white sand beaches and plenty of recreational opportunities. Siesta Key is famous for Siesta Beach, which is located in Sarasota. It’s a great beach for families.
Fishing is very popular here with excellent inshore and offshore fishing available. There are plenty of charters that will take you out for a species-specific trip or for whatever is in season.
Tampa Bay, FL Area
The Tampa Bay area and its beaches provides tourists with a nice variety of entertainment and recreation. The mild winter temperatures, tropical summers, beautiful beaches and stunning sunsets keep people coming back.
The fishing can be excellent with many inshore and offshore opportunities. Anglers can catch a variety of different fish such as redfish, sea trout, tarpon, grouper, snapper, sheepshead, sharks and more. If you can’t get on a boat, there is still some excellent surf and pier fishing available throughout this area.