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Fishing Report for Homosassa, Florida
Capt. Mike Locklear
January 30, 2006
Homosassa - Saltwater Fishing Report
Snapper, Sheepies, Snook and Trout Report
Snapper fishing the Homosassa Springs were happening for me and my clients a couple of weeks ago. Picking up where we left off from the last report on January 20. Tony Romantz and his wife of Michigan flew out of the snow to experience winter fishing in the Homosassa River. Fishing the river is quite the experience and unique in its own way.
We began the trip with breakfast at Kim’s Café. We departed MacRae’s of Homosassa in my Hells Bay Marquesas. Just minutes after idling up the river past Monkey Island, Tony got into some ladyfish action right off the bat. Although these fish often get a bad rap, they are great action on light tackle.
We moved up the river where the snappers and manatees roam and found a school of perhaps 500 fish. I broke out the ultra-light closed faced zebcos in 4-pound and they both had a ball reeling in fish after fish. The key is to use pieces of shrimp with a long shank hook with no weight or leader. Snapper are shy somewhat and the less terminal tackle the better. There were better than 100 manatees lying about and a few came by to look us over.
Some of my buddies don’t understand why I fish for these easy targets. Well, they are fun and I cut my baby teeth while fish for these scrappy little devils. All you have to do is ride around until you see them and then lay your anchor out.
The next morning, John Kelly of Ocala and son Trevor (age 8) met me at Kim’s Café for breakfast. At the table I was into my first cup of coffee when I innocently took a swig of Trevor’s sweet iced tea. Those big brown eyes were curious as to why I swiped his tea. We all got a big laugh out of it and this broke the ice for a great day of fishing. Of course I bought him a new glass of iced tea.
We began our trip with a fast falling tide and found some reds. Trevor landed his first redfish and a hand shake was exchanged between father and son. Later John got into one and we had to release both. The tide was against us, so we decided to move inshore for more snapper action.
Trevor had a ball reeling in dozens of snappers with his ultra-light Zebco. John joined in and later the cormorants arrived for their daily lunch. A cormorant can run down a snapper after it has been released.
We ended January with a bang, shooting our limits of wood ducks and redheads. Next weekend is a special youth hunt and then the season is over.
Sheepshead has been the choice inshore species to pursue. Both captains, John Bazo and William Toney have been averaging 20 or more, some in the 5-pound range. A quarter ounce slip sinker and a plain shank offset 1/0 hook will suffice to land the toothy critters.
Bits of shrimp used for chum and pieces onto the hook will entice the scrappy salt water breams of the gulf.
With trout going out for the month of February and snook coming in, the challenge will be to land the first snook of the ’06 season. Snook have made their presence here worth pursuing and some lunker landsiders have been released during the closed times by various anglers both on the Homosassa and the Crystal Rivers.
Some guides like my good friend Capt. Charlie Harris, will trailer their boats south to Pinellas County where spotted sea trout is open season. Harris has done well along the ICW and says he loves it there. Limits of 4 trout are allowed (instead of our 5) with the same slots of 15-20 inches with one over 20 inches.
Bass Assassins Sea Shads, Catch 2000 Mirrolures, Skitterwalks and Cotee jigs under Cajun Thunder 3-inch red cigar corks fills my tackle box when pursuing the yellow mouthed trout.
Tight Lines and Screaming Drags,
Capt. Mike
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