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Fishing Report for Homosassa, Florida
Capt. Mike Locklear
February 28, 2002
Homosassa - Saltwater Fishing Report
Yesterday was picture perfect on the Homosassa, Florida flat. The air was cool and a jacket was required. But sunny blue skies and calm seas put us in a serene mood. We were in pursuit of a meal fish, something we could throw in the fry pan. Since trout season was closed were had to use our imagination.
I told my client that sheepshead are a good eating fish and would be our target fish. I brought along a cooler full of brown shrimp. His guest was a female whom never salt water fished. I thought this to be remarkable since she was 78. Her host was the same age and the two were old high school buddies.
My love birds for the day were looking forward to spending a fun day out on the water. He said he wanted to try one of my famous shore dinners. I got up about 5 am and mixed up a batch of my not-so-secret family recipe hushpuppies. Add some bacon, guava jelly, beans, and Cole slaw and you have a great meal.
But first we have to catch some fish to make it official. Our first stop produce 15 porgies. Yeah, I know, no one eats those-- but, we are today. I iced those little fish. A couple of hours went by and we boxed 3 nice sheepshead up to 4 pounds.
It was time to head in and get the shore dinner thing done, so we could get back out and catch the high tide for some redfish. Yeah, we lost about 3 hours fishing time going back to the island and cooking up those fresh fish.
They loved the shore dinner and the hushpuppies they really bragged on to me about how light and fluffy they were. You know with a little piece of crispy deep fried bacon and a hushpuppy topped off with a dab of guava jelly is delicious. The porgies were great!
About 2:00 o’clock were headed back out to the gin clear Homosassa flats where the tide was high enough to get into the keys. The first spot we tried, our lady angler landed 2 bonnet head sharks of 36 and 38 inches. Those fish really whizzed the drag several times. We decided not to eat these rascals.
Our male romancing angler got into the redfish at our last spot and caught a nice 25 inch one. The coupled caught and released a dozen more in the 17 inch size. Finally, a 5 pound trout was also caught and released. 4:00 o’clock rolled around and it was time to head back to MacRae’s on the Homosassa River. We passed many white pelicans, porpoises and saw a couple of manatees on the way in. The well-to-do couple will carry on their romances to Panama and then Biloxi.
It was great fun-filled day and if you think you would like this type of trip, contact me at my home by calling 352-628-4207 during the evening or e-mail me at [email protected]. My web site address is www.homosassafishing.com
If you don't go fishing this weekend, it would be a fantastic time to head on over to the Frank Sargeant Outdoors Exposition in Tampa on March 1-3. The show is going to be very educational for the outdoorsy person. Seminars about hunting and fishing and merchandise to buy galore.
I plan on being there on Sunday, March 3 to learn from my peers and see old friends. Stop by and see me at the e-Angler booth on Sunday between 11:00-12:00.
The event will be held at the Tampa Fairgrounds on US 301. Hours for the Outdoors Expo are Friday, 1-9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.- 8 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, tickets are $6 for ages 13 and up, $3 for ages 5-12 and free for ages 4 and younger.
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