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Fishing Report for Homosassa, Florida
Capt. Mike Locklear
August 23, 2000
Homosassa - Saltwater Fishing Report
Redfish Love Pinfish in Homosassa
The report below is current. Look for Recapping Homosassa Tarpon Action Part 3 in a future report.
Aunt Curly Locklear Holgate and husband Ed of Atlanta/Homosassa stopped by the
house to visit last Sunday without announcement. I noticed a pile of rods and reels in
their Ford Excursion. Before we parted company, I asked them if they wanted to catch a
redfish? My Aunt said, “Sure, what time?”
We met at MacRae’s dock at daybreak and got some live shrimp and ice. The morning
air was cool and high tide was suppose to be around 8:00 o’clock. The wind was out of
the northeast and that was a strike against us I thought.
The first three spots we tried, nothing. All we got was an empty hook from where the
pinfish were stealing the bait. Curly and I began fishing for the pinfish with smaller
hooks and within minutes had enough to bait three rods.
By this time, the tide was running out and this was the second strike against us. Plenty of
thoughts were running through my mind in the form of excuses, which I verbally uttered.
However, Curly saved the day when she swung the bat the third time, I mean, cast out
and caught a 18 inch redfish, which I placed into the live well. Soon after, Ed hooked
and landed a 24 inch redfish. Minutes later, Curly caught another feisty 24 inch redfish.
About 30 minutes went by without catching another red. We were losing them. About 7
either pulled off the hook or broke the leader. I muttered to Aunt Curly, “That is why
they call it fishing and not catching.” Aunt Curly quickly baited up another pinfish and
whipped it out to the hungry redfish. I was hungry too and was attempting to make some
sandwiches while all the action was happening.
This is when Curly caught the biggest redfish of her life. A 30 inch 10 pound trophy.
We had a Kodak moment and quickly released the large redfish. We also released the 18
inch redfish and replaced it with a 24 incher, giving us three nice reds before 11:00
o’clock. The moral of the story is to use pinfish for bait when shrimp will not work.
Just hold onto your rod because you will catch the big ones this way!
There is a limit of one redfish per person which must measure between 18-27 inches in
total length. That means from the tip top of the tail to the nose tip. The fish should be
measured in a relaxed position using a ruler such as Florida Sportmans Law Stick.
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