Duke Energy Mariculture Center - Private Tour and Fishing

Have you ever wondered where all the redfish for STAR and CCA Florida's restocking efforts come from? Our good friends at the Mariculture Center make it all happen in beautiful Crystal River. Over the past 29 years, Eric Latimer and his team has been responsible for releasing over 4.2 million finfish and crustaceans into the gulf waters. They also grow different grasses for both fresh and saltwater habitats. The facility is truly amazing and features indoor photothermally controlled spawning rooms, outdoor quarantine/holding tanks as well as eight (1) acre grow out ponds. It's definitely a sight to see and should be on everyone's bucket list to visit.

The Mariculture Center is NOT open to the public but we have the golden ticket! If you win it, you and a friend will get a full tour and behind the scenes look at the longest tenured hatchery in the state of Florida. Eric can answer any question you may have regarding raising fish and grasses at the hatchery. You'll get to see the trout and redfish brood stock (parents), juveniles, monster pinfish and so much more. The trout and redfish brood stock are amazing to see in person. You'll get to participate in the feeding of the brood stock and the fish in the ponds. Bring a change of clothes as you may get wet. You haven't seen a feeding frenzy like this before!! We'll top the tour off by giving you and your guest the opportunity to fish the grow out ponds for some BIG and HUNGRY redfish and trout.

We keep saying this but you definitely don't want to miss out on this exclusive opportunity!! Tour must be booked on mutually agreeable dates and taken within one year of purchase. Excludes holidays and holiday weekends. All visitors must wear closed toed shoes and long pants. Tour dates are subject to potential COVID-19 restrictions.

Donated by the Duke Energy Mariculture Center.