Fireworks
Capt. Joel Gant
June 13, 2014
Hernando Beach - Saltwater Fishing Report
Fireworks in July
A lot of people will be celebrating July with fireworks, but anglers will be celebrating with the opening of Gag Grouper and Scallops season. The Gags can be caught starting July 1st to Dec 3rd. The bag limit is 2 per person per day, and they must be over 22 inches in length. This time of year they can be caught from shallow to deep water. Tactics I use on my charters are trolling or bottom dropping. For trolling, depending on water depth, I like to use Rapalas, Bombers or any plugs that get to the depths your fishing. If in deep water, you might want to use a #1 or #2 planner to get the plugs down deeper. Everyone has their favorite colors; I like the clown color, white, gold or silver.
Scallop season opens early again this year, June 28th to Sept 25th. Make sure you know the regulations: 2 gallons whole or 1 pint meat per harvester per day; no more than 10 gallons whole, or ½ gallon meat per vessel anytime. Harvest allowed only in state waters of the Gulf of Mexico from the Pasco-Hernando county line north. Also, it is the law that you have a divers down flag up at all times swimmers are in the water. Scalloping is a great time to get the family or friends on the water for a wet "Easter egg hunt". These tasty morsels can be caught in water 2 – 10 feet and if you don't have any spots, don't worry, just head anywhere between Hernando Beach and Homosassa and look for the boats grouped together, idle in slow and pick a spot. If you don't have a boat, don't worry there are plenty of guides (including myself) that can supply everything you need, including licenses, without the worries.
There are a lot of other species being caught; Tarpon are on the move from Pine Island to Chassahowitzka. Most angling being done by fly fisherman, but they can also be caught by the use of live pinfish or casting plugs on rod & reel. Cobia are being caught around any of the many rocky structures. They will eat (most of the time) anything put in front of them, like a jerk bait, live or dead bait. Always keep a stout rod ready for when a big "brown bomber" comes by. Shark seem to be all over, deploy a chum block and a rod or two with live or cut bait in the chum slick. Be ready for some long, line spooling action from these solid muscle fighters.
As always, check the regulations at www.myfwc.com before you venture out.
Get out on the water and make memories
Capt. Joel Gant is a Coast Guard licensed guide out
of Hernando Beach, fishing inshore to offshore. For
more information call (352) 279-1615 or check out
my website at www.fishdaddycharter.com
Target Species:
grouper & scallops
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