Hernando Fishing Report
Capt. Josh Fritz
May 21, 2011
Hernando Beach - Saltwater Fishing Report
Fantastic Fishing
Fishing is FANTASTIC along the Nature Coast. With calm winds and calm sea's boating is a sure pleasure. Red fish are in large schools, target mangrove's, oyster bars. Find the mullet and the reds are right behind. Live bait has produced the best catches, pin fish, and green backs on a 20 to 30 pound leader and a 3/0 circle hook is working great. Most of the reds are well over the slot with a few keepers mix in, 26-36". The best bite has been on the middle of the incoming tide.
Trout are out in 6 to 10 feet on spotty bottom. A 1/4 to 3/8oz mission fishin jig head with a white 3" gulp shrimp or a white zoom fluke. Also live pin fish on the bottom is getting some BIG trout. I like to use a split shot to get the pin fish to the bottom and slowly lift the rod as you reel back to the boat and the trout are slamming in pin fish that way. size of the trout 14 to 25".
Cobia are everywhere, on my recent charter this month we have caught from 2 to 6 cobia in one day. The way we are catching them is with a 3" gulp shrimp on a jig head the same way for trout just look for the sting rays and throw in front of the ray and the cobia will hit.
Pompano schools are now showing up on the grass flats in 6 to 8 feet of water, look around structure and bait schools. We are catching pompano on Gulp 3" white shrimp with a jig head. The pompano are staying close to the surface and turning on there sides, you cant miss them its like a mirror flashing.
Tarpon are all over the area, make sure you have a good strong rod with a lot of back bone. I use a 7 foot Star rod with a catalyst 50 with 40lb power pro line and a 60lb 6 foot leader. Bait is the best way to catch them, pin fish, green backs, crabs, and cat fish heads work very good. Lures are also great to use, Rapala skitter walks (SW11) in the mullet, trout, or white color produce some awesome topwater action. And a 10 inch with or pink jerk bait all so works great.
Stop into Precision Tackle in Spring Hill in the Well Care plaza across from the Ford dealership and see Dave he will give you great advice on this area and what the fish are biting on and where to find them.
Scallop season starts early this year June 25Th so book a trip or book a half day of fishing and half day of scalloping. Scalloping is a lot of fun for every one call for rates and lets go catch some fish and scallops.
Tight Lines
Capt. Josh Fritz
Chase N' Tails Fishing Charters
352-345-9304
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