Homosassa Backcountry Is the Spot
Capt. Mike Locklear
March 28, 2018
Homosassa - Saltwater Fishing Report
I am fishing with Capt Matt Locklear of Homosassa Backcountry Fishing Charters today. The plan is to sight fish redfish, trout and snook on the flats. We will be using spoons and mirrolures in 3-4 ft depths of gin clear waters. Matt's 24' skiff has a tower on it and we can see fish from a long way out. Big Advantage. I am so excited! Below is a report from last Wednesday with Matt.
Chad Matchett's 30" tarpon.
Three Generations of Matchetts' have fished the Homosassa River with me and this past Wednesday, two 3rd generation high schoolers for the first time. It was blowing 20 gusting to 40, but no choice in the matter. When you fly in from the Hoosier State, you gotta go. So I told them before they got on the plane it was not going to be shorts and t-shirts weather. And then the night before while eating delicious fried shrimp to stop by Wal-Mart and buy both rain pants and jackets.
It was a slow day but we ended up with a good catch of fish. We tried the gulf/bay for an hour and Capt. Matt Locklear put us on a dozen trout before it got nasty. We went to the river and got behind the trees. There the teens caught a couple dozen hand sized snapper, black drum and sheepshead. The Dad, Chad caught a tarpon, about 30", using a live shrimp.
Matt and I like the same baits since we fish together as much as we can. Of course I've been a MirrOlure fan for 40 years but these dines are sorta new to me. But all the top guides like them. I love jigging and the MirrOlure Lil' Johns are 4" jig tails. They don't look like much, but they really catch the fish. I'm partial to a 1/16 - ⅛ oz. jig head either red, white or blue. no I meant Chartreuse. lol
The Old Man and the Sea is the late Tim Matchett. We chartered together out of MacRae's back in the mid-80's. He bought a new 31' Hatteras - not really - but the name was the MY HAT because he always wanted a Hatteras but could not afford one. We caught the heck out of red and black grouper. Broomsticks in 30-60 ft. deep. It was fun.
My introduction with Tim are on my blogs with outdoor adventures. captmikelocklear.blogspot.com/2017/02/fishing-with-tim-matchett-florida.html
Upon arriving back at the dock with wind burned faces, Jon thanked me for suggesting windbreakers. I My Carhart was a little too warm, better to be prepared. Hey, it was sunny day, cool, but not freezing and fishable.
I'll be plugging my cousin. He's a great guy to be with and just started guiding last year full time. He caught thousands of fish and shrimp early in his life. He fed many people and got paid to do it. As a result, he has a passion for being out on the water with a fishing rod in hand and ultimately become a top guide. He is quickly learning the knowledge I am passing onto him.
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