 |
Fishing Report for Homosassa, Florida
Capt. Mike Locklear
August 4, 2005
Homosassa - Saltwater Fishing Report
Not More Grouper Regs and More Fish Reports
Seems there is a big ruckus over how many grouper have been caught by recreational anglers last year. The NMFS has implemented the following interim rule, effective August 9, 2005, to reduce over fishing of the recreational allocation of red grouper in the Gulf of Mexico, and to minimize adverse impacts on other grouper stocks that could result from a shift in fishing effort from red grouper to other species.
The aggregate grouper bag limit will be reduced from 5 fish/person to 3 fish/person. Red grouper bag limit reduced from 2 fish/person to 1 fish/person, which counts as part of the 3-grouper aggregate limit. Closure of the recreational fishery, from November 1 through December 31, 2005, for all grouper species.
The Coastal Conservation Association is the watchdog for issues concerning rules that seem lop-sided to cut-off recreational takes without cutting off the commercial harvest. A recommendation to close the gag grouper fishery in November and December is at stake and could put hundreds of charter boats out of business.
Capt. Ky Lewis thinks that the Goliath Groupers are responsible for eating at least 7 million pounds of grouper, snapper and amberjack in the gulf in one year. Goliath Grouper have multiplied like the Florida Alligator and need some takes to relieve pressure put on the groupers and snappers.
To remand the rule concerning the closure, please write asap to your senators and try to attend the gulf council meeting in Ft. Myers on August 10. By logging onto the Coastal Conservation Association web site you will understand the issue.
Locally, the past four or five trips this week have been pretty good for redfish. Not many big ones yet; but plenty in the lower slot. The new moon of August came early this year, so it could be a week or two before the larger migratory schools show.
Rick and Cheri Hill caught 22 redfish this week, while Phillip Lane and Amber of Georgia caught about a dozen using ¼ oz. gold spoons and later collected their limits of scallops. I helped out and enjoy diving for them, too. There are still plenty of tasty morsels out there. A small shop vacuum cleaner really speeds up the cleaning process.
The weather has been hot but with no rain and little rain, the Middle Grounds are reachable even in the smallest of walk-around if you are brave. It is a good thing to buddy up with another boat before making the 100 mile trip.
Three of my good friends have won IFA redfish tournaments. This weekend I hope my turn has come to win first place. I have only placed third at best. Capt. Jim Long won the Crystal River Open while Capt. John Bazo won the Pro Tour in Titusville this year. Capt. Bruce Williams won the inaugural IFA Homosassa Open. The captains’ meeting is Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. at MacRae’s and registration begins at 4:00 p.m. near the Tiki Bar at MacRae’s of Homosassa.
I will leave you with some reports for my area in the TV show, the Chevy Florida Fishing Report. Watch live on each Thursday night beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Sun Sports for 90 minutes of salt water fishing around the entire state. Reruns are aired on Fridays at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The last airing for weekend forecasting is on Saturday at 10:30 in the morning.
CHEVY FLORIDA FISHING REPORT NORTHWEST SECTION
Huge black grouper are still hanging out in the deeper waters in the Florida Middle Grounds between 85 to 120 feet of water. Use big baits to catch big fish, a whole grunt or red porgie. Closer in, the grouper fishing off Cedar Keys has been hot. Capt. Phil Muldrow always has great luck anchoring and using sardines for limits of gags in 50 to 60 feet of water.
Spanish mackerel are here all summer and can be found in Crystal River Bay northwest of Marker 1A; about two to three miles where the bottom is up and down; an area referred to the Humps which is visible on the NOAA chart. Anchoring and chumming with bits of shrimp and a chum block which can be purchased at any bait shop. Use a 1/0 long shank hook a 3 inch Cajun Thunder Oval cork with 20 pound fluorocarbon leader about 2 feet long.
This is Capt. Mark Zorn’s favorite rig. A live shrimp will serve as the best bait; but jigs like the Bass Assassin in Electric Chicken or the Cotee live eye action jig with soft plastic grubs in gold or silver are very productive. Make sure you use a 12-18 inch wire leader. Don’t forget to tip your jig with shrimp.
Redfish are coming in around the shorelines during the high tides of the Nature Coast from Tarpon Springs to Keaton Beach. Redfish have been plentiful along the sun coast keys using live shrimp and pinfish under Cajun Thunders next to the shore lines of the mangroves. These reds have been running from 19 to 24 inches but look for the big ones to show up this weekend.
Trout are either in deeper water up to 12 feet throughout the region or near the oyster bars and cuts early in the morning or late in the evening. Try ¼ oz, Bass assassin jigs in Electric chicken tipped with small pieces of shrimp or lady fish; anything to give it some smell; working it slow, bumping it across the bottom.
Trout feed on the bottom because the water is cooler on the bottom. In the shallows She Dog Mirrolures and Chug Bugs work really well.
Try to find an area that is void of floating grass. The grass sheds this time of year and often getting inside any key will protect the inside waters from the nuisance grass. Often an incoming tide is necessary to get into the backcountry areas.
With less than a week of summer left before the kids go back to school; Take them to the scallop grounds. The scalloping is superb in about 5-6 feet of water north of Homosassa Marker 10 half way to the bird rack; look in the turtle grass in between the yellow bottom. The water is very clear.
South of Piney Point, Capt. Pat McGriff of Keaton Beach reports the water is clearing up some. Free diving using a mask and snorkel to hand pick these tasty morsels is fun for the entire family. Everyone has been saying they are getting their limits which are 2 gallons per person or ½ pint shucked. No more than 10 gallons per boat or 1 gallon shucked when more than 5 persons are onboard. The FWC biologist reported the most scallops here in Homosassa of the entire region. The sizes of the meat inside the scallop are the size of a nickel. Be sure to fly your dive flag and slow down to idle speed around these said flags.
More Fishing Reports:
|
|
|
|
