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Fishing Report for Homosassa, Florida
Capt. Mike Locklear
March 31, 2003
Homosassa - Saltwater Fishing Report
The Last Hour is Magic
The last couple of weeks preceding the cold front were very good fishing on Florida’s west coast off the village of Homosassa.
Two weeks ago, southwest winds pushed in the gulf waters around the mangrove islands. This action brought in bait fish and the redfish were closely behind.
Many reds were released this past week. Johnson Gold or Silver Minnow spoons in the ¼- to ½-ounce sizes accounted for most of the action. Live shrimp and pinfish also work well to catch the one per person redfish bag limit. A slot of 18 to 27 inches helps keep the stocks abundant.
The last day I wet a line was Friday, March 28 with my daughter Courtney who in two consecutive cast caught two redfish, both about five pounds. We were on a fun-time sort of meat mission for Betty Jo Arnold of the Homosassa Fishing Club.
I was guiding the Sun Trust Bank’s number one executive and his associates earlier in the day. Fishing was a little slow due to an east wind and calm conditions. Phil Humann was the first who reeled in 2 nice keeper trout of 17 inches each and then Tommy also reeled in one of about 16 inches. Frank Craft took honors with a 22 inch 3 pound trout. All the fish ate top water Top Dog Mirrolure. The last hour was the magic one producing four trout in 15 minutes fishing. The foursome had golf on their minds and proceeded to World Woods.
As I write this, the Spring has turned into Winter. Temperature got down to 38 degrees here this morning.
It is suppose to get colder tonight. It has been very windy the last 2 days. No fishing for me the last 2 days.
Tomorrow is going to be windy as well and the cursed northeast wind will be blowing all the good high water away from the flats. It will be dry as the crackers say. By Wednesday, the fish and high tides should return and the fish should start to feed again.
The week of March 10, Bill and Marcie Buck brought along 2 guests and everyone got their limit of redfish in the 24 inch range. This was not a feeding frenzy; however, catching 5 keeper reds in a span of about an hour was what made the trip special. Truth is the last hour of the incoming tide has always been the best for me when the fish are scattered about. Not bad for a half day outing.
For the last 10 years, Frank Ansell flies in from Canada and the last couple of times he has brought along his son, James, age 14, who is becoming quite the angler. Also Lee Herbert of double a m-c-o Transmissions in Tampa is a regular client who has caught hundreds of redfish with me over the years. The trio caught their limit of trout up to 20 inches and several nice redfish.
William O’Kelly of Atlanta brought his family down and got into some nice redfish, trout and Spanish mackerel. Capt. Mark Zorn and Capt. Charlie Harris were in on the fun with members of the O’Kelly party of the Atlanta Fishing Club. Multiple catches of redfish, trout and mackerel were taken. Jay Patton and his two sons, Spencer and Brandon, ages 8 and 5, had a ball catching several species of fish including sea bass, grouper, grunts, porgies and mackerel. On the second day, Harris guided the Pattons’ to their limit of 2- to 3-pound trout. The last day of the two day charter found us keeping our limit of reds to 4 pounds.
Sam Shine and friends reeled in 14 redfish up to 28 inches in 4 hours fishing on March 19. Sam has been fishing steady with me for about 6 years and always tries to target redfish. He prefers to use the smallest diameter Fireline and has excellent success in ease of long distance casting. The 2-pound diameter; 10-pound test line has been a big hit with Sam and his constant use proves that the line is durable.
8 associates of the Vulcan Materials group from South Carolina headed up by Bill Lundy was a success this past March 20-21. With the great help from Homosassa Guides Association members, the Vulcan group plans on returning again next year. There were a good amount of redfish and trout caught. The reds were abundant and some measured to 26 inches. Many limits of trout were kept. Enough fish were kept so each angler had plenty to take home for several fried fish dinners.
Capt. Charlie Harris, Capt. Jim Long and I guided the Jack Glass party of 3 couples to numerous trout to 20 inches. A shore lunch was enjoyed by all. The first day, Mrs. Honeycutt landed three nice trout. Larry had two great days fishing with Charlie and Jim.
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