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Fishing Report for Homosassa, Florida
Capt. Mike Locklear
February 24, 2003
Homosassa - Saltwater Fishing Report
Light spinning tackle on the Homosassa flats has finally improved after a long cold winter. The fish were tearing it up for my clients this past Friday.
We caught everything under the sun that day.
My guests were the Terrells’ from upstate New York.
These folks were so cool that Brandon later told me as we wet our first line that he chose me from the Internet as his number one web site choice for Homosassa. That was good enough for me and made my day!
Brandon is maybe 12-13 years old at the most. He has been fishing since he was 3. I assured him that this would be a day that he would remember. This was his first fishing trip to Florida.
Since I had not been out fishing in a coon’s age, I was as excited as the Terrells’. Upon arriving at MacRae’s dock a few minutes after 11:00 o’clock for a half-day charter, they greeted me and we introduced ourselves to each other with a handshake.
First thing Carol said to me was, are we going to catch some fish? I quickly answered with a smile, if you know how to hook them, you will. I quickly grabbed a hundred shrimp and couple bags of ice as they brought on board a chalked full cooler of silver bullets and the greatest sandwiches in the southeast from Publix Deli.
On the way down the river, I began explaining it was 12:00 somewhere in the world and I was going to eat my Cuban sandwich. Mike said ole well then I better get me a bullet. I handed him an insulated coozie can holder.
Many keeper size fish were caught. Spotted sea trout, (all released) 4 redfish up to 24 inches, several gag grouper, sea bass, flounder, porgies (white bass) and sheepshead.
Also many first time catches were recorded in Brandon's mind. He bought Vic Dunaway's book, "Sport Fish of Florida” Of the 231 species Dunaway list, the Terrells' recorded those above mentioned and one more species that included spot-tail pinfish.
Mike Terrell's sheepshead weighed about 5 pounds and Carol's biggest fish was a 23-inch redfish. Brandon hooked and caught the first redfish of the day and landed another one as well. Carol's sheepshead did not measure up to Mike's.
The seas were glassy calm at the beginning of the day and the breeze felt warm on our faces until we got well out into the gulf where we needed light jackets. By the time we decided to try for redfish, the seas had built to 2 to 3 feet.
I could not take the Terrell's back to the dock until they sampled some red fishing. The excitement on that boy's face was well worth the extra time and effort put forth on what became a very windy end to our trip. Fish always bite better when you have some wind and when it is from the southwest; it can't be beat.
It sure was pleasure to fish with folks who love fishing as much as I do and appreciate the great outdoors. I did not want to come in. We almost stayed long enough to watch the sunset, however, time constraints destined us to return to the uncivilized world of hussle-busssle.
Folks you might want to mark your calendar for the Frank Sargeant Outdoors Exposition on February 28, March 1 & 2. It is the best outdoors fishing and hunting show in the south. It is a selling show. Located at the Florida Fairgrounds in Tampa.
Hours open are: Friday 1-9 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. ADMISSION Friday - Free, courtesy of Ford Saturday and Sunday - $6 ages 13 and up $3 ages 3-12.
I plan on being there on Sunday at the Homosassa Guides Association booth. Stop by and say hi.
If you are looking for a motor with low hours, my 2003 90 H.P. Mercury is for sale. $3,999 will make it yours.
Fishing should get real good through the next front as Spring is fastly approaching and the days are warming up fast now. Each front now should have a lees effect unless we get another storm of century like we did 10 years ago. The no-name storm of March 13, 1993 was a terrible flood here and many lives were impacted.
Hopefully we will have warmer weather with less cold fronts from here on out, however, Easter is very late this year, so the cold fronts could drag on through May. Let's hope not. We have tarpon season to think about. I just was checking out my fly equipment. It is a ggod time to get everything in great working order.
Well, that's about it; I am heading out this morning looking for some 'muds'. I will let you know what I find. If it was anything like this past Friday, the fish will be in a feeding frenzy!
Have a nice week.
Capt. Mike
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