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Fishing Report for Homosassa, Florida
Capt. Mike Locklear
April 10, 2002
Homosassa - Saltwater Fishing Report
April 5-10, 2002
Folks, things have just too busy for me to post fish reports. I can think of plenty of excuses, but I don't want to lie about it. When you fish 6 days and rest one, there just isn't much time to feel like getting on the computer. Below is a partial recap since my last report, a month ago. I am going to try to get back on schedule and report at least once a week. Thank you for your patience.
Windy weather this past weekend made things sort of rough to fish the Nature Coast. Most offshore anglers had to pick their days to get out. However, some did well. Monday through Wednesday the wind laid down and things return to normal with calmer seas and light winds. Tonight it is sprinkling rain and I am hoping we get plenty of it, as long as it rains at night.
With the new moon phase upon us, trout and redfishing should be excellent around the shallow water flats and the mangrove islands during the afternoon hours of the incoming tides. Yesterday was most productive with Ashlyn Smith of Atlanta, age 13, caught her first trout and redfish. The biggest redfish measured 25 inches. Her Grandfather Morton, landed a nice 24 1/2 inch redfish. Her Grandmother, Marylin, landed a nice 22 inch trout. Several more trout were kept for dinner
March 31-April 3, 2002
Good sized redfish up to 31 inches were landed this past week. This past full moon provided tides high enough to allow most Nature Coast anglers access to the shallow water fishery. Creeks that meander inland from the gulf coast provide the habitat for these hard pulling fish. Top water lures, gold spoons, jigs and shrimp have been the primary attractors.
Also, trout action has been steady with more than a few measuring up to 24 inches. Most of these species have been taken on the Cajun Thunder cork rigs. A 1/8 ounce red Cotee jig with a rootbeer tail has been the favorite. The flats just outside the mouth of the river in 4-6 feet of water have been most productive.
On Tuesday the gulf water off Homosassa reached 80 degrees at the surface. This warm up caused a feeding frenzy of small sharks, catfish, ladyfish, mackerel and trout. While the sharks and catfish are not primary targets, they provide plenty of fun.
Look for some nice cobia to be out roaming the shallow flats in search of the stingray. Cobia like to follow the stingrays which use the round body as a shield to hide themselves from bait fish. The stingrays scatter the bait when roaming the bottom. Many times the cobia are seen swimming on top of the rays or even nudging the rays from a stationary position. Amber Polarized sunglasses are need to cut the sun’s glare.
The fishing action should remain excellent throughout the weekend since we are experiencing Spring time conditions. With the quarter moon tides, offshore grouper action should be excellent. King Mackerel up to 15 pounds were reported to be in 35-40 feet of water west of Hernado Beach this past week. That means the school should be offshore of Citrus County and moving through the next couple of weeks. Also, Spanish mackerel have been caught anywhere from 6 feet to 18 feet of water in the gulf.
March 19-27, 2002
With three consecutive days of southwest wind, warm water from the loop current of the Gulf Stream has brought in tons of fish onto the gulf flats of the Nature Coast. Capt. Billy Henderson told me he spotted a cobia a couple of days ago. Capt. John Bazo of Best Western Fly Shop in Crystal River said he saw two tarpon between 40 and 60 pounds while fishing for redfish in which he released two in the 29 inch range.
The gulf water temperature rose to 82 degrees on my water temperature gauge yesterday. I thought my gauge was broke until I stuck my hand in the water and felt the warmth. The water is especially warm in the afternoons with the incoming tides. Catfish, jacks, ladyfish and bonnethead sharks are also showing up in large numbers along the Nature Coast. Even a few white bait were spotted which means the game fish are coming to close to shore. This would include redfish, bluefish, mackerel, trout and grouper.
On March 19, David Hamby and friend Ralph of North Carolina experienced their first Florida flats salt water fishing and caught their limit of trout with me on Tuesday. A few of the trout measured at the 20 inch mark. Several sharks, ladyfish, catfish and a 17 inch redfish were caught and released. Most of fish preferred live shrimp or Cajun Thunder cork rigs.
On March 21, the wind was howling and Sharon and Jo Murray tried their luck with artificials and come up with one strike from what appeared to be a redfish and Jo caught a really nice 22 inch trout. I guess I felt like should not have gone out and offered to take them out another day, since they live here and we got weathered out. That don't happen very often.
On March 27-28, the guys from Vulcan came down and reeled in their limits of trout. 5 guides hosted 15 fisherman for two days. Everyone had a good time.
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