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Fishing Report for Homosassa, Florida
Capt. Mike Locklear
July 21, 2003
Homosassa - Saltwater Fishing Report
Poon Fishing Down
July 15- After July 4, this Homosassa fishing guide went north literally. Most of the coastal tarpon migrated north to the Big Bend area of Florida. Each year for the last six, I traditionally travel the 200 miles by road towing my boat.
This year I rented a nice house right on the coast and the ramp was a mere 150 yards away. This area is so secluded I have to keep it a secret to keep it that way.
The house is big enough for my family, my clients and me. That is the way it turned out the first weekend. I stopped by and picked up some shrimp, crab meat and oysters for us to eat. I prepared a meal for all and it was very good.
On July 14, Dr. Hines prepared us a gourmet breakfast. We are having a great time gaining weight. Finally, the boat gets loaded and launched. We left by the crack of nine.
The sea was glassy calm and the surface was alive with strikes from all sorts of fish. Offshore from a barrier island along the St. George Sound we found thousands of migratory fish striking at little glass minnows.
Roger and Robert caught a dozen or two ladyfish with an 8 weight fly rod I brought. At least one of the fish looked like a world record. Some bluefish were also caught and all the fish were released.
Our main quarry was tarpon and we saw a few fish surfacing but the water clarity was a problem and so was the weather.
The calm before the storm so to speak. Tropical Storm Bill had dumped millions of gallons of rain water which flowed out into the gulf in the form of tannin stained tea color. For sight fishing this makes conditions horrible.
That evening we went to a famous seafood restaurant and got the stern boat table that is used for big parties. The table is actually a stern from a boat. The seafood was good but a little overcooked according to my client gourmet cook.
The next day we fished in overcast conditions and little visibility into the shallow water flat. By noon, a rain storm runs us in and we waited until the storm passed and went back out again. Seeing the bottom was nearly impossible.
The skies thickened with gray clouds and more rain was coming toward us from Claudette, a storm with hurricane force winds that hit Texas hard.
The next day, we looked around at the sky and more thunderheads were upon us. Roger and Robert were ready and willing to go; however, I called it off and rescheduled the remaining two days to a future time due to bad weather and dirty water.
My rainy days I spend time towards reading a good book. Randy Wayne White's "Everglades" will take you through old and new Florida from your favorite armchair. His newest and 10th book of a series is superb. I admit I am hooked; read them all; and await the 11th book.
Also, Florida State Parks are a past time I enjoy. On a hot summer day, dipping into 72 degree spring water is refreshing and makes one feel young again for a short time. Wakulla Springs and Fanning Springs are two parks that come to mind in route to and from St. George Sound's fabulous tarpon fishery.
I am sure the clean and clear gulf water will replace the tannin water soon. More reports later on the Big Bend.
Capt. Mike
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