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Fishing Report for Homosassa, Florida
Capt. Mike Locklear
November 13, 2004
Homosassa - Saltwater Fishing Report
Personally, the best two weeks of fishing for me has gone by and have been very memorable. I got to fish for grouper thanks to a regular client, Pat Burchard of Riverhaven Village in Homosassa and her daughter Chris who flew south to escape her husband, I mean cold weather.
While I reeled in Mr. Big, a 10 pound grouper on light tackle it was all I could do to keep it out of rocks. 3 more grouper between 6 to 8 pound keepers were kept as well. When you fish in 8 feet of water the fight is so much more challenging than compared to 30 or 40 feet depths where you are straight over the rock. The fish has the advantage, particularly if you are using live bait. They can wedge themselves into the rocks before you can say; set the hook.
Both Pat and Chris encouraged me to land Walter of “On Golden Pond” fame. Well, it happen just as Chris predicted. She said, “I want to see the boat pulled around by a huge grouper” in her distinguished Wisconsin accent. The big fish was the last and it actually broke our anchor loose but not before catching over 50 fish in variable sizes and species.
I had a happy smile on my face for a while.
The only time we had a break from the action was when we were not fishing. Everything in the gulf was biting that was possible to catch, well almost. We landed and released dozens of fish including Spanish mackerel, mangrove snapper, gag and red grouper plus one trout. It was an awesome day. The seas were absolutely calm as you can experience it.
We fished the next day and stayed inshore as both Pat and Chris got their limit of 10 trout and two redfish after some new strategy. Again the gulf was so calm, not a ripple could be found. We gave up using the fake lures and switched to free line live shrimp on circle hooks. Chris really got the knack for the soft bite the trout gave as we drifted no more than the size of a living room in 20 minutes while reeling in 7 of the 10 trout.
The next week, Sue, Pat's other daughter whom is a horse breeder and her husband John flew in from Wisconsin to fish with Pat and me. Now these folks love to fish but as Pat’s says the trip is secondary to catching the fish. “It’s so beautiful out here.” Pat has fished for over 40 years locally with various native guides including the late Nathan Strickland and friend Vance Brock.
We had a great day catching 20 of the most beautiful trout I have seen in many a day. 3 of our fish were over 20 inches and 12 of the 20 were over 18 inches. Sue landed the largest trout measuring 23 and ˝ inches. Chris was mad because Sue ask her to call her Mom, Pat who stayed on shore. John had hot beer in the garage and wanted Pat to ice it up so when we got back to dress the fish, John would have his favorite cold beer ready for consumption. During the call, Chris had the largest trout at the time with a 20 inch one. Sue beat here and the rivalry was on.
To top it off a dozen redfish landed in a half hour made for super time fun and the end to an awesome day. For a little more spice, a nice sheepshead and black drum were in the mix from the same redfish hole.
When folks like Pat, Chris, Sue and John come to fish, it is a sincere pleasure. Why? They just like being out there and enjoying the great outdoors. No pressure on me to produce. They bait their own hooks, take their own fish off. Low maintenance. Hey what can I say? You got me spoiled.
Pat said the first day, relax Mike, and I responded to her like, well if I were any more relaxed I would be asleep.
It was a nice paid vacation, thanks y’all.
Remember to get out there and go fishing because it is goooood ferrrrr yaaaaahhh!!!!!
Capt. Mike
Give All The Glory To God.
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