Chassahowitzka Weather & Tide Times

Reading the Tides Here

The Nature Coast is shallow. Oyster bars, rock piles and grass flats that are easy to cross at high tide can be inches deep at low tide, so the tide decides which spots can be fished and how a boat gets there. Moving water, either side of a high or low, usually fishes better than slack water.

Each river has its own timing. Tides at the upper Chassahowitzka, in town on the Homosassa and in Kings Bay run later and smaller than at the river mouths and out on the flats, which is why some rivers above offer a second station to compare.

Wind matters too. After a winter cold front, strong north and northeast winds can push water off the coast and make low tides lower than predicted, while a steady southwest wind can do the opposite. Captain Al keeps an eye on all of it and will call or text you if the weather changes your plans.

Tide stations used on this page

• Chassahowitzka River: Chassahowitzka, Chassahowitzka River (8727246) (opens in a new tab), Johns Island, Chassahowitzka Bay (8727235) (opens in a new tab)
• Homosassa River: Mason Creek, Homosassa Bay (8727274) (opens in a new tab), Halls River bridge, Homosassa River (8727293) (opens in a new tab)
• Crystal River: Kings Bay (8727343) (opens in a new tab), Twin Rivers Marina (8727348) (opens in a new tab)
• Ozello & St. Martins River: Ozello, St. Martins River (8727306) (opens in a new tab)

Tide times are NOAA predictions, not live water levels, and are not for navigation. Heights are in feet above mean lower low water (MLLW). Weather and marine forecasts are from the National Weather Service, Tampa Bay office.