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Fishing Report for Homosassa, Florida
Capt. Mike Locklear
October 14, 2003
Homosassa - Saltwater Fishing Report
Homosassa Redfishing Holding Strong in October
Jud Drewry is one of my older clients both in age and in years fished with me. When he called me a few months ago to book this trip I was surprised to hear from him. It had been several years since we fished together. It was a good reunion to see him again.
We started out the day with introductions at MacRae’s Bait House. His son and grand son, Larry and Brad joined us aboard the 22-foot custom flats boat for a fun day on the Homosassa flats. A shore dinner box is prepared by me for the fresh catch of the day always if Jud is fishing with me.
We began the day trout fishing using red Cotee jigs in 1/8 ounce with pearl white twin tail shrimp while drifting shallow water flats. Jud brought along his Daiwa Baitcaster which was more than 20 years old. I ask him how long he was going to use that old outfit and he answered until “I get a big back lash.” You see I just bought some new Stradic FH2500 Shimano reels spooled with 2lb/10lb Power Pro and knew we would have the distance edge on his baitcaster. It did not matter to Jud about casting far.
The first spotted sea trout that was brought to the boat Jud caught and the second one, too. I guess it is all in the wrist. Soon after I caught a couple and Larry landed one. They were all really nice trout in the 16-18 inch range. Brad finally landed one and that made all of us feel great.
A few catfish, lizardfish and jack crevalles rounded out the morning. Slick conditions on the bay slowed the bite to a screeching halt. We chose to head on into Suarez Island and cook our shore dinner. Some fresh fish, Cole slaw, beans and hushpuppies made a great meal you should try with me some day.
We then headed out towards a spot near the mangrove islands for redfish and the tide was coming in pretty good. I stopped and picked up about 3 dozen pigfish from my holding pins on the way out.
As I poled the 22-foot beast from my high top poling platform, I saw several silverside long flashes at the first and last stop of the afternoon. Jud said my eyes got as big as saucers. I eased the anchor over and Jud was waiting patiently for a shot with his Procaster as I readied Brad with live bait. He tossed it out and quickly it got eaten and his bait fish was mangled.
Larry cast out and was the first to hook up and he took about 8 minutes to land a 29 inch redfish which we quickly released after a quick photograph. These fish really pull hard.
Next cast Brad hooked one and while he was reeling his in another redfish was following it in. A quick toss with the gold spoon and Judson was hooked up.
The rest of the afternoon the trio reeled in about 20 big redfish. Two times they had three on at a time. It was an awesome time for everyone. We kept 3 of the 25-inch redfish. We left the fish biting. We were all hot and sweaty and enjoying every minute of it.
The next day we repeated the action except we had to wait on the bad weather to break with a noon departure. They ate their shore lunch first and then we headed out for another 20 redfish afternoon. This time we released all but one redfish in the 25-inch size. The no seeums about ate us alive, but we endured and had enjoyed another great day.
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