Mason Creek (Homosassa) Fishing

Mason Creek gives shore anglers a way into the famous Homosassa fishery without a boat: a free county ramp on a mangrove-and-marsh creek that drains into Homosassa Bay.

• Wading and bank fishing around a public boat ramp
• Trout, redfish and sheepshead most of the year; snook and snapper in summer
• Close to the town of Homosassa
• Small and informal; boaters using the ramp have priority

The Mason Creek Boat Ramp is at 6891 South Mason Creek Road in Homosassa, reached from US 19 by Yulee Drive.

• Getting there: from US 19 take Yulee Drive west, then turn onto Mason Creek Road and follow it to the ramp
• Fees: this is one of the Citrus County ramps without a launch fee
• Parking: a small lot shared with boat trailers; park so launching boats can get through
• Hours: the FWC lists the ramp as open 24 hours
• Surfaces are the ramp apron, grass and a soft, muddy creek edge

The Homosassa estuary is spring-fed and rich in fish.

• Spring (Mar-May): spotted seatrout and redfish moving up from the bay, sheepshead finishing their spawn
• Summer (Jun-Aug): snook and mangrove snapper along the creek edges, crevalle jack and ladyfish, trout at dawn
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the best redfish and trout, flounder and black drum
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum; trout and redfish move into the creeks and the spring-warmed river on cold fronts

A light spinning rod with 10-15 lb braid and a 20-25 lb fluorocarbon leader.

• Live shrimp on a 1/8 to 1/4 oz jighead worked along the creek bottom
• A popping cork with shrimp drifted along the grass edges on the moving tide
• Fiddler crabs or shrimp close to oysters and dock pilings for sheepshead
• Weedless soft plastics or a small gold spoon cast to the mangrove edges for redfish and snook
• Cut mullet on the bottom for black drum and redfish in the cooler months
• Wading boots and a small net if you walk the edges

NOAA's Mason Creek station on Homosassa Bay shows two uneven highs and lows a day, but only about 1 to 1.7 feet between them; the creek is so shallow that even that changes it a lot.

• The falling tide pulls bait out of the marsh and down the creek; it is the best time here
• The top of the rising tide floods the edges and lets redfish feed close in
• At low water the creek gets very shallow and fish drop back toward the bay
• North winds in winter make extra-low tides
• Clear, spring-fed water means low light and moving water fish best

This is a working boat ramp, so be courteous and alert.

• Stay clear of launching and retrieving boats and never cast across the ramp lanes
• Oysters cut; wear wading boots
• Shuffle your feet for stingrays and watch for soft mud
• Manatees use Homosassa waters; never cast at them
• Summer lightning builds fast; leave the water at the first thunder
• The bank is uneven; the ramp apron is the easiest place to stand for someone with limited mobility

Facilities at Mason Creek are limited to the ramp itself.

• A public boat ramp with parking, and no dock
• No restrooms, per the FWC ramp inventory; bring drinking water and plan to be self-sufficient
• Expect little shade around the ramp; bring a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water in summer
• No trash cans could be confirmed; pack out line, bait bags and fish scraps
• Homosassa has marinas, fuel and restaurants a few minutes away

• Go early and midweek, when the ramp is quiet and you have room to fish
• Watch for mullet and bait moving on the falling tide; trout and reds follow them
• Winter cold fronts push fish into the creeks and the spring-warmed Homosassa River
• The Mason Creek tide station on Homosassa Bay gives the best local tide times
• Bring live shrimp with you; none is sold at the ramp
• If you have a kayak, the creek leads out to the bay's islands and oyster bars

Mason Creek Boat Ramp is a Citrus County ramp; posted county rules apply.

• No launch fee at this ramp; keep the ramp clear for boaters
• Homosassa waters have manatee protection zones; follow posted rules
• A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt.
• Snook and redfish have their own FWC rules; check them before keeping one
• Check current FWC rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything.