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Fishing Report for Homosassa, Florida
Capt. Mike Locklear
April 16, 2003
Homosassa - Saltwater Fishing Report
Wind Has Bearing on Catching
Some days are really good to fish and others are best described as better than working in the office. The last two weeks two cold fronts moved through and set back the water temperature and stunned the fish. Days right after the front are slower in production. Hopefully, the cold fronts will cease due to Easter being near.
The only time I really don’t notice the wind is when we are catching fish. Otherwise, the wind has everything to do with catching fish. Mostly I am concerned with the direction in which the wind is coming from. For instance, I really like a south or southwest wind. Hence when the wind is out of the south the bait will land in the fish's mouth.
It can blow between 15-20 MPH from that direction and not bother me because I know that I will catch fish. The reason is that wind will blow in large amounts of warmer gulf waters over our shallow water flats and give me a flood tide.
The incoming tide will also bring in baitfish close to our mangrove islands thus nice reds
and trout will follow. Since our mangroves are growing larger by the day, the trees make
a good wind break and an easy place to fish from.
A west wind is a test wind and not always the best because it is either getting ready to change to
northwest or is being controlled by a high pressure system in which more times than not
the fish are not as hungry, particularly for artificial. Hence, switch to natural baits.
The old saying is when the wind is out of the north say in port means that artic air is upon us and the barometer is high which is not good for catching fish. These are days when a guide would like to stay home and clean his tackle.
I have been fishing in quite a few of these northers the past few weeks and fish will slowly bite, though sometimes it requires using live baits to get an eater.
On the west coast of Florida, when the wind is from the east the fishing is the least, I must agree. This is when we get lowest tides, particularly from the northeast. During these times it is when we learn where all the rock and oyster bars are. Try to remember where these spots are for later reference to prevent ripping your lower unit a new one and to fish these bars when the water returns to normal.
It might take several days for the wind to change from the northeast to the south particualry during the colder months. These are good days to visit your local marine mechanic for service.
During the course of a northeaster, the fish will have small windows of time when they will feed. This is where the solar tables come in. You want to be in your best spot when the major feed times are predicted. The tables are published in popular web sites, newspapers and magazines.
It is a good rule of thumb to know when these major and minor feeding periods are occurring.
Besides wind being a factor in the success of catching fish, the water temperature plays a key role. The gulf water temperature is just above the 70 degree mark MOL and will continue to climb as the days get longer and less fronts come through. The warmer it gets the more bait fish that move inshore and the game fish follow them.
Get ready for a feeding frenzy this week. Tarpon should be rolling in real soon.
Remember if you are too busy to go fishing, well you are just too busy!
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