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Hernando Beach to Chassahowitzka
Capt. Larry Roderick
July 10, 2007
Hernando Beach - Saltwater Fishing Report
Thrills of Sight Fishing The Nature Coast
I absolutely love to sight fish. It is the most challenging and gratifying type of fishing on the flats and inshore. Blind casts were fun for me years ago, but sight casting gives me more of a rush of excitement. I love to share my expertise in sight fishing and get my clients excited about it as well. As the term sight fishing implies- a cast is not made until a fish or a school of fish are seen.
As your captain, I will be up on the poling platform, using a twenty foot push pole to quietly move the boat to where the fish are cruising, schooling or feeding. I am looking for “nervous” water- movement from baitfish dimpling the top of the water or the wake of a fish. I am looking for baitfish jumping out of the water- a sure sign that the fish are feeding at that spot. Or, if I see tails poking out of the shallows, I know a redfish is feeding on a crustacean.
When I spot the fish, I will be directing where you cast. With a perfect cast in front of the fish you will have the excitement of seeing the fish take the bait. Your heart will be racing as you have a visual of the fish swimming up and chopping on the hook. As you set the hook and begin the process of bringing the fish to the boat, you too will be hooked on sight fishing, like me.
If you are an early riser and like to sight cast to redfish and snook or want to learn how, this time of year is fantastic. Nothing compares to the serenity of fishing backwater bays and creeks. Seeing redfish tails waving in the air or that snook blasting mullet at the shoreline makes memories that are long lasting. This is the scenario that has been playing over and over in the crystal clear water Bayport area this summer.
I look for snook in areas of good tidal flow and for reds in the area of slower moving water. The trout have been in 8-10 feet of spotted bottom -that is grassy patches mixed with sandy patches. For snook and reds Castaic Jerky J and chug bugs have been getting the most strikes. Trout have been eating Berkley Gulp 3 “ white doing best. A few of the larger trout in the morning have been hitting tap water plugs such as chug bugs silver with black back and skitterwalks in redfish pattern. I prefer light spinning tackle with braided line 10 pound test Power Pro with a leader that is 20 pound test fluorocarbon.
All on board should be wearing polarized sunglasses to cut the glare and see under water clearly. And most importantly, the fisherman need to be quiet. Shifting around and loud voices are noises that travel far across the water and will spook the fish.
See ya’ in the morning on the flats-
Captain Larry Roderick
7/9/2007
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