Nature Coast Charters

(19 reviews)

Snorkeling with Manatees! William L Schams and I had a fun encounter with many manatees at Crystal…read moreRiver, Florida. Salty Siren Tours and Charters was our tour guide. Our guide, Tyler, was so fun and made sure all of us had the best spot to have clear water and positive encounters with the Manatees. He also made sure we were safe, had pictures and videos. A really nice and thoughtful person. Our captain was Captain Randy. He was very knowledgeable, kind and fun. He made sure we had hot beverages after we got out of the water! He was a very experienced captain. William was loved by the baby Manatee so much. It constantly sought him. It was adorable. Our guide, Tyler, had a really close encounter with the Manatee nibbling his facial hair! Lol. The whole experience, we maintained our instructions to not touch the Manatees. They could touch us, but was had to stay still and be respectful. The Crystal River Community is doing everything they can to protect the Manatees and educate us humans how to respect them. What a beautiful place.

Just an absolute first class experience. From the time we stepped into the shop until the time we…read moreleft the shop after a great tour we just felt like friends and had a wonderful time. The effort of Captain Ed, and our guide Tyler was unmatched. Using the drone to find manatees as well as take really amazing photos and videos of our experience is unmatched. There's nothing I could say bad in anyway and I would recommend this company to anyone, especially given the smaller size of the tours

High Octane Fishing Charters

(12 reviews)

Excellent experience with Captain Nick. Probably not a better person to take you out and show you a…read moregreat time fishing. Mild manor, extremely professional person to deal with experienced or novice fishermen. My cousin has used Nick several times and highly recommends him. He baits the hook, he prepares everything and for those that don't wish to cast he'll do that as well. He's safe and by the book for measuring the fish caught. He cleans and filets everything. Seriously great experience

I tried to set up some fishing for my son's birthday. I had the reservation but when it got closer…read moreto the date, it was clear that it was going to be very windy and rainy. Captain Nick called and we decided to cancel. He was very honest and flexible. It was a very good experience even though we didn't catch anything. Thanks

Ozello Boats

4.7

(38 reviews)

We tried air boat first time for my mother in law's BD. We saw turtles and many dolphins very…read moreclose! Billy was very nice and friendly. It was beautiful and best experience ever. It's really worth it.

Captain Gary at Ozello Boats is great. Very knowledgeable of reef, coral and the wildlife. Is tour…read moreof the waterways islands and surrounding area is definitely a high point of our vacation. I highly recommend Ozello boat tours and Marina

MacRae's of Homosassa

3.8

(34 reviews)

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Had a drink at The Shed and watching boaters come in to shuck their scallops. The music was a bit…read moreloud so we sat on the tables a bit further ways from the band. Quick service but not alot of seating.

A pleasant place to watch the sun going down, to watch the locals having fun and the wildlife. We…read moreenjoyed our time there.

Ms Fin's Oarhouse

We had a great dinner with local red fish tasty hush puppies everything was great eat right on the…read morewater

Today Captains Stephanie and Chris and dog Chevy gave our group a wonderful tour of the waters of…read moreOzello, the surrounding keys, Homosassa River and into the Gulf of Mexico. The showed us many creatures including pods of dolphins, sea turtles, Manta ray, schools of fish, some type of shark and sponge, eagle, trout, osprey and other birds. These gals are extremely knowledgeable and are happy to share their knowledge and love of the area. Do not hesitate to book a trip with them. We were booked at 10 am on the pontoon boat tour and it was informative and relaxing.

Marina Rose Cruises

From the minute you step onboard until the minute you leave, the staff is super attentive..we had…read moreour meals from Carrabba's and they were served promptly along with beverages . A nice ride through the waters of Hernando Beach. They get you ready for the sunset and take pictures of your group as well . You can go on back of boat for pictures arls well...Bartender/server was a lot of fun too and made our trip ...this is my 4th trip on here and it was a great time...highly recommend the Sunset Cruise, I have also sailed during the day as well and it was very nice,.

The crew are amazing always a great time to see dolphins and beautiful sunsets. If you have a…read morespecial date you are celebrating or just a great date night this is a great way to celebrate. Great food and very comfortable cruise.

Family Adventure Charters

4.3

(62 reviews)

We had a fantastic time. What a great tour. Laura, our Captain, shared so much knowledge. She made…read morethe trip amazing. Tonya and the rest of the group were wonderful. We even scheduled another tour on Friday with them. Can't wait to go swimming with the Manatees!! Highly recommend this company.

Captain Misty and our guide Gina were so friendly and knowledgeable. We had a great time. We saw…read morea dolphin, manatees w a baby, turtles, blue crab, and fish. Everyone in my party had a great time.

Double J Adventures

(6 reviews)

This was my 25th wedding anniversary and the wife always wanted to swim with the manatees...what a…read moregreat decision to go with Double J. If you want to enjoy time with the manatees with a team that makes the trip worth it... Double J Adventures is the place. We saw numerous manatees and the captain always gauged what the customers wanted and took us to some really great spots. CPT Garret was from the area and made sure we were taken care of. The 3 sister springs was the ending spot where we relaxed in the warm water and still spotted manatees on the way back to to boat. Love this trip and will be back scallop season to book a trip with CPT Jim and his team! Thanks for the great time.

We are so glad we did a trip with Double J Adventures!…read more Have to admit that I initially planned on booking with 1 of the bigger operators, but they did not have slots at the times we wanted. So I looked for other operators on TripAdvisor, and found really good reviews for Double J. Gave a quick call to Capt. Joanne, and booked for the trip on their website. On the actual day, we got the boat to ourselves (there were 6 in our party). Capt. Jo was enlightening, and explained everything to us. We went to 2 spots where we got to swim with not less than 6 or 7 different manatees. Also got to touch and interact with them quite a bit. In the course of the break, some of us needed to use the bathroom, and Capt. Jo very kindly obliged. She also lent us her waterproof camera, and emailed links to the photos to us the following day. All in all, a very special experience, with a really professional operator! Word of advice: go for the early tours before the place gets swarmed with visitors!

Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

4.6

(245 reviews)

Even though Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is still recovering from the…read moreimpacts of Hurricane Helene, our visit was outstanding and absolutely worth the stop. The staff and volunteers clearly care deeply about the park and its mission, and their dedication really shows. While a few areas are still in the process of being repaired, the park remains beautiful and full of life. The wildlife viewing opportunities are excellent, and the park does a wonderful job showcasing Florida's native species in a natural and respectful setting. Seeing the manatees up close was a highlight, and the underwater observatory provides a truly unique perspective you won't find in many places. What impressed us most was how well the park is being maintained despite the storm damage. Paths are clean, signage is clear, and the staff members we encountered were friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to answer questions. It's obvious that a lot of hard work is going into restoring everything while still making sure visitors have a great experience. If anything, visiting during this recovery period gives you an even greater appreciation for the park and the people who take care of it. Their resilience and commitment to conservation are inspiring. If you're traveling through the Homosassa area, this park is absolutely worth your time. It's a special place that celebrates Florida's wildlife and natural beauty, and we're already looking forward to coming back once the final restoration work is complete.

Originally, we road-tripped north almost 2 hours to experience a rare opportunity to swim amongst…read moremanatees in a natural setting. When we arrived we found out that the manatees had migrated away from the springs about 2.5 weeks ago. Disappointed we drove about 6 miles south and happened upon Homosassa Springs State Park, where they have 3 resident manatees that live in the springs year round. This small state park, was devastated by the hurricane several years ago. They have photos showing how high the waters were and many buildings are still closed. We had to wait for the tram to take us across the way to the park, they also have a boat to get there in a unique way. However, the water was too low to enjoy the boat ride. The park has about 3-4 manatees during the off season and you just have to look for them as they live in a natural setting. Eventually we found them a bit down river from the springs. Once in a while you'd see their nose pop up for air. They are such beautiful creatures. There is also a small zoo with a black bear, flamingoes, a white tailed deer, reptile case, an array of birds, and a variety of wild cats. They used to have a hippo but she died about 10 months ago. Definitely worth the $13 entry fee. It's a cute and well maintained park that is about at 75% of its operating capacity due to closed buildings that have not yet been renovated following Hurricane Milton. Although, we were disappointed to miss out on a once in a lifetime experience to *actually* swim amongst manatees, being able to see them in their natural habitat was truly special.

Hunter Springs Park

3.7

(31 reviews)

LOVE THIS PARK! it offers easy drop in access for your paddlecraft and has a beachy swimming area…read moreto enjoy for when you're done. Parking is limited but there are many other places to park nearby.

Florida has some amazing parks. We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful area…read more The beach here is gorgeous and there are chance encounters with the manatee, but no touchie!

Fort Island Trail Beach

3.4

(44 reviews)

Small beach but a nice place to take a dip! Very pretty area - birding area galore! Worth the trip…read more Again not a big beach but good enough!

Took multi generation family "to the beach" during a visit to Florida in April. Fort Island Trail…read moreBeach seemed like a good start for us and we enjoyed our visit. Arrived around 11 on a weekday and had a choice of parking spaces. Beach was recently smoothed, keeping in mind the area had suffered during a hurricane 6 months earlier, we found facilities were adequate. Row of porta-potties were available. Boat launch and fishing piers were still closed but we wanted beach that day. There are two rock breakwaters at the far edges of beach and several people were climbing and exploring while tide was out. Rocks were covered towards high tide. Line of markers indicated outer edge of swim area. No lifeguards (we knew that in advance) Plenty of room to set up towels, chairs and toys and room to next group. Kids were originally disappointed no crashing waves (they're use to Atlantic Ocean) but quickly decided the Gulf was better as they weren't getting knocked over. We brought our lunch: be aware, lots of birds trying (and some succeeding) to steal food.

Florida Elks Youth Camp

4.9

(9 reviews)

This place is absolutely unbelievable! I was there for the American Heritage girls conference,…read morewhich by the way is fantastic organization. This is a place that had I been a kid and known about this place, I would've been here every chance I had. The accommodations were unbelievable! All the activities like the climbing wall, and the ropes were super cool. The girls got to do kayaking and archery, and even learned how to change a tire. This is the most beautiful land I've seen in a long time! Highly recommend you have any event here!

Great camp for kids aged 7 to 13! The best part is that any child can attend regardless of their…read moreparents financial situation! All they have to do is apply! After visiting the camp myself I can't wait to send my youngest this year. All Instructors are background checked and have training to inspire young adults. Only the best! They have beautiful up to date pools. The gym is state-of-the-art! And the rolling hill of acres is picturesque! There are so many things to do and see, like archery! I'm ecstatic for my baby to attend because everyone is super friendly and all - children, parents and Elk's are treated with the utmost respect and care! If you're looking for a great place to offer your child the best head start, this is the place for you.

Suncoast Stables and Riding Academy

4.5

(10 reviews)

Clean-ish environment, well-trained horses, however the staff was mildly rude and unwelcoming.read more

My daughter attended a horse riding camp this summer at Suncoast Stables and had an incredible…read moretime. What did we love about it? -The themes. Each camp had a different theme and kids could sign up for the one they liked. -Covered riding area. Rain or shine, the kids could ride. -Kona Ice day. The truck came out and the kids could purchase a treat halfway thru the week. -End of the week presentation. Parents were invited to a Friday performance that showed off what their kids had learned. So why not five stars? Mainly because of the lack of communication. Leading up to the start of camp, the only information we had was from the sheet we filled out months before to reserve our spot. An introductory email would be incredible. Also, the paper handed out to parents about the presentation had the wrong time on. I was only able to confirm the actual time because we attended with a good friend who had the owner's phone number. Tightening up the communication would take Suncoast's Summer Camps from being amazing to perfect!

Nature Coast Charters - fishing - Updated July 2026

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Lucas Outdoors

Lucas Outdoors is where you want to shop for a kayak if you want above and beyond excellent…read morecustomer service as well as great products! My husband and I have been wanting to get a Hammerhead kayak and got in touch with Mr. Burns at Lucas Outdoors. Even though his company is on the western side of Florida and we live on the eastern side of Florida, he met us half way to help us save shipping. THE BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE!!! Mr. Burns was the most helpful, courteous, person I have met. He helped get our kayaks completely set up and ready to go as well as made sure we had them secured before heading home. I plan to buy from Lucas Outdoors in the future and highly recommend his business for all your kayak needs.

Fish Hunter Tours

My husband and I on a whim decided to book a fishing trip while down visiting family. We had a…read moreblast! We didn't have to worry about anything. Bryan was very personable and he supplied everything we needed to catch our fish. If you're looking for a good time fishing while in Crystal River give him a call.

Cast N Reel Fishing Charters Of Crystal River

My wife and I had a great afternoon with Captain Mark catching several speckled trout and searching…read morefor red fish. Mark was a great guy who was very accommodating and extremely knowledgeable about the area. His boat was in excellent condition and ran great. His tackle was nicely organized and clean, and worked flawlessly all afternoon. He has a great setup at his dock to clean, wash, and bag the fish we caught. Charter with Mark and you won't be disappointed! I highly recommend Cast N Reel Fishing Charters!

We had a great afternoon trip with Capt. Mark, who was very accommodating and made the trip an…read moreenjoyable success. The boat was very well organized, and clean. An amazing day fishing with the family. I highly recommend Cast N Reel Fishing Charters.

Gulf Coast River Charters

Captain Jaime was excellent! Couldn't have been more pleased with our family's first ever fishing…read morecharter. Looking forward to more trips in the future.

Renegade Sport Fishing

Had a great time with Capt Sean Bradish. Beautiful day on the water. Awesome experience!read more

Scallop Adventure

took the family on a florida vaction last year the kids had such a great time scalloping with…read morecaptain al they begged to go back this year . we just booked our charter for this summer . captain al is great with the kids stayed in the water with them the entire time . while me and the wife relaxed on deck drinking mimosa's served by the mate.

Finntastick Charters

I go on charters whenever I go on vacation with my son and finntastick is by far the best charter…read moreI've ever been apart of. Limited out on 2 fish species. Capt. Dave knew what he was doing! Will be fishing with him next time im in the area.

Our three generation family fishing trip with Capt Dave Maki of Finntastick Charters was a big hit!…read moreWe fished for 2 days and caught 11 different species each day. Our freezer is now full of "keepers". Capt Dave was outstanding with the children, ages 6 and 12. The 12 y/o was already an experienced fisherman so Capt Dave taught him to bait a hook with live shrimp and to take fish off the hook. The 6 y/o improved her reeling skills and learned to pick up live shrimp. The adults had a great time too! We look forward to fishing with Capt Dave again.

Hunter Springs Kayaks on Halls River

We had a great time out on the river! The staff here are super friendly and accommodating. They…read moreare knowledgeable about the manatees, and only a block away from hunters springs; I highly recommend them!!

Aquamarina Twin Rivers

3.0

I will start by saying that I did read the negative reviews and had a mini panic attack because I…read morehad already rented the boat at that point. Glad I read them after the fact because I definitely wouldn't have rented based on the reviews. We met the two women at the front office and they were kind, helpful and knowledgeable. I suspect some of the reviews are from men who , let's be honest, more than likely hit on them or were just jerks. I don't know these girls but I have a feeling they don't put up with bs, as they shouldn't. Our boat was perfect , the stairs worked , was clean but full of bitting ants. The young guy who went over the checklist was also kind but seemed unInterested in going over the boat with us. We had to ask basic questions. Feeling he just wasn't familiar with the boat made us a bit nervous but somehow we figured it out and enjoyed our day. Literally kind of went over the boat half assed and then just told us to take down top as we are approaching the bridge and when we asked him how to do that he didn't know how and we had to push him to go ask for help. Good thing we did that because that particular boats top didn't even go down... imagine us heading towards the bridge , first time boats expecting the top to go down .. like he told us. And not being able to get it down and possibly having an accident because of that. It's not like you can just stop a boat like a car. So better communication and a better explanation of the map because we got so lost would be great! We definitely recommend this place ...just keep in mind you need to make sure that you ask the right questions. Know if your top goes down and have them show you how to put it down and if they don't know how go find someone that does.

Spot On Charters