Hernando Beach flats on fire!

Capt. Keith Tomlinson
April 30, 2009
Hernando Beach - Saltwater Fishing Report

This past week the fishing off of Hernando Beach has been fantastic. The winds have calmed a bit giving us anglers a chance to spend some quality time on the water. The weather has been on a somewhat regular pattern which makes it easier to predict where the fish will be. For the past few weeks the weather would briefly lay down and the bite would improve until another front would blow through making it difficult to find fish at times.
In the back country the red fish bite is still good. Small schools of 3 - 8 reds can be found moving throughout the area from Aripeka to North of Pine Island still. These fish are moving in the shallows and actively feeding. We are also seeing single fish set up around structure like oyster bars and mangrove points. Working and area with your favorite redfish artificial will produce fish this time of year. I like to throw the old faithful Johnson gold spoon or when I am in the mood for some top water action a bone colored Heddon Zara Spook will do the trick. Setting up on a location with structure and a good moving tide with cut mullet or lady fish on a 3/0 circle hook is also very effective. I am getting reports of the occasional snook getting landed but the best bite still seems to be at night.
The flats is where the bite has been the best. We are getting a wide variety of fish to bite from 6 - 12 feet of water. Jacks,lady fish, cobia, trout, mackerel, sea bass, small grouper, and nice size sharks are all putting a bend in our rods. I like to drift with a chum block over good grass flats with occasional rocks and white sand. Throwing silver spoons has bagged a lot of quality trout and mackerel. Free lined select shrimp on a long shank #2/0 hook has produced very well also. When drifting I take one of my bigger spinner combos lined with 40 LB power-pro and a 2 - 3 foot steel leader. Place a nice piece of cut lady fish or other cut bait on a 5/0 circle hook under a balloon or cork and a shark or cobia will soon have that reel singing soprano. We even had a few king fish hit this rig last week. The sharks are all over the entire area and are a great fish to catch. The smaller black tip (2 - 3 footers) are pretty good table fare. Soaked in milk 2 hours before cooking and then fried are my favorite. The daily bag limit for sharks is 1 per harvester or 2 per vessel per day, whichever is less. Use extreme caution when dealing with these creatures. Tarpon season should be here but the fish are just not here yet. I scouted them a few days ago and they are not in their usual hang outs. The late front this year have delayed their arrival. They will be here soon in the next few weeks.
Offshore the grouper bite has been fantastic. the best bite has been in 18 - 25 feet of water. The key to fishing for these guys is to locate structure with your bottom finder. Go slow and pay attention to the bottom while heading out. This not only lowers fuel cost but you might find rocks you have been running over for years that will produce fish. Live pinfish or frozen sardines on a knocker rig with a 5/0 circle hook have both produced a consistent bite. Down size the tackle and put on a piece of cut squid for non stop grunt action. The most consistent king fish bite has been a little deeper in 30 - 40 feet of water.

Good luck and tight lines!

Capt. Keith Tomlinson
Bulldog Fishin Charters
www.bulldogfishin.com
(352)238-3581

Hernando Beach Fishing Forecast:

Tarpon will be here soon.

Target Species:

trout,redfish,snook,cobia,shark,mackerel and more!!

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