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Fishing Report for Homosassa, Florida
Capt. Mike Locklear
August 26, 2005
Homosassa - Saltwater Fishing Report
This weekend all eyes are on Hurricane Katrina as she is now in the gulf building up to go who knows where. It is sure that wherever she goes, she will surely make someone’s life miserable. No fishing today due to the storm and the high northeast winds.
There was plenty of red fish action last week as three out of four of my clients were repeat customers. It is always good in this business to have both new and regular clients.
On August 16 the weather was hot and the winds were calm. It is this time of year an open water guide must keep hydrated. Phil and Abby Naff of Orlando joined me for another Homosassa experience. We left the dock according to what tides I now favor, that being a start on the bottom low through to the turn and half of the incoming.
With my Hells Bay we entered an area that is most inaccessible to the regular crowd of anglers. With waters only a foot deep they began making cast at v-shaped wakes along with a few mullet jumping in the same area. Mullet like to feed on the algae on top of the rocks and that is also where the redfish are finding the little crabs. Sheepsheads are in the mix looking for the same crabs.
The light spinning tackle and 8 pound test line enabled the Naffs’ to make long cast without spooking the fish. The first redfish was brought in by Phil and it was a keeper, about 19 inches. We threw it into the live well with the shrimp. The fishing went on and we had very little breeze to cool us off. We ended up with our keepers and several throwbacks along with a couple of sheepsheads. I threw in the towel at 2:00.
The second day, action picked up some and so did the size of the fish. Still cobs were all we could put into the cooler; we did see quite a few lone redfish in the 10 pound range. They would have taken our offerings except it was so calm and we were fishing the bottom of the tide and it was too challenging to keep from spooking them.
The next day Roy and Beth Ems of Gainesville fished with me as new clients. Our quarry again was redfishing and free-lining live shrimp. The tides were more favorable and we went into the back country on the beginning of incoming and it was a strong tide.
Our 10 o’clock departure gave us the sun to our advantage as I poled them along the shore line. Beth got right into the action as Sam-I mean Roy was bringing one in. I messed up by calling Roy, Sam and he don't want me to live that down, so I will tell you myself before he does. Both Beth and Sam did well catching about a dozen redfish and kept only one medium sized one for the grill.
But the best trip of last week was with regular client Steve Vaughn and family. Steve and his wife Marylyn and daughter Lori were onboard the Hells Bay 18. They had a ball; everyone caught redfish and lots of them. We already had our limit by noon and stopped to try a spot on the outside islands and got into them.
The redfish were running a respectable size to have fun with between 20-23 inches. Perhaps two dozen were landed and several double hook-ups were encountered. An afternoon storm brewed inshore and we decided to call it a day by 3:00 P.M.
This past week, I fished only one day, on Monday. At 0630 at MacRae’s I met James and Jimmy Goff along with Mike, a step-son at MacRae’s. The Dad called me on short notice and after some waiting around for the bait shop to open at 7am we got a load of live shrimp.
We went out to the keys and the tide was already falling. We managed to get to a spot that only my flats boat would reach. In a foot of water, they began to catch redfish after another to 24 inches. We moved to the next spot and with the tide even lower, the reds were resting on a white sand flat about 15 inches deep.
Both James and Jimmy had one on at the same time. These were the bigger reds and all over 24 inches. However, they left the area after all the commotion that 4 people can make on a flats boat, me included.
So since the weather was not a scorcher we decided to try our hand at trout fishing. We stuck with the shrimp and heck they had fun—we caught plenty of trout all short except two.
Mike got into two Spanish mackerel one was about 5 pounds. The catfish, both types—hardheads and sails invaded us. We ran out of bait and went in. The reason we did not artificial fish was because we were pretty tightly bunched to cast.
Now I will leave you with my Chevy Florida Fishing Report for the northwest section of Florida this week. It airs on Sun Sports Network on local cable channel 31. Only 5 more weeks left and these reports will cease. So if you have not seen the show and are out of state you can find us on Dish TV Channel 632 at 7:00 P.M. every Thursday for a live report of 90 minutes with 10 of the best fishermen willing to share their know-how.
If you really want furious action; try summer shark fishing. A few extra items to bring is wire for leader and bring some wire cutters, a long pair of needle nose pliers and some gloves.
You can buy frozen LY’s for bait or jig fish up a bluefish or a ladyfish or even better yet a bloody jack-crevalle and cut him into. Use the head half for bait. Chum with tail sections. You will need at least #7 wire; about a 4-5 foot span and a strong circle hook 6/0 to 8/0.
Areas to fish are between Turkey Point and Alligator Point along the beach to one mile out. Also, West Pass and Indian Pass is loaded with sharks. You can catch them all day long there. Look for muddy boils and look for signs of feeding birds. The sharks will actually jump entirely out of the water after the LY's or will make a big splash on the surface. Cast net you some LY’s from the same area and use them for bait as well.
The sharks can be a lot of fun if handled correctly. That means to not handle anything over three feet. Don’t get bit while cutting the wire and videotape the action for future popcorn shows around the living room.
I have one report of grouper action. Last week in Homosassa Gator MacRae and friends ventured out to the Florida Middle Grounds and found limits of red grouper, gag grouper, red snapper and a 28 pound wahoo. What little bottom fishing if any for grouper and snappers will be done on the bottom using live pinfish or sardines weather permitting. As my neighbor to the west says, stay home and watch fishing on Sun Sports.
In Steinhatchee, Capt. Tommy Thompson had a great top water bite for nice trout in the 3 to 4 pound range near the creek mouths at dawn and for a few hours after. He used the smaller Rapala Skitterwalks in mullet and shad versions and boated 100+ trout on 3 morning trips. Also 20+ redfish. That’s great fishing.
Capt Pat McGriff of Keaton Beach reported landing 84 keeper trout with assorted clients over last week; they were casting bass assassin spring lock jigs with candy corn eels in 5-6 feet of water. Later McGriff found the birds feeding on glass minnows and caught some nice mackerel, bluefish, jack crevalle and sharks in the mix. He always catches fish of some kind.
Redfishing is still hot all along the Nature Coast and the Big Bend, folks using small live pinfish have been limiting out near the oyster bars around Spring Creek, Shell Point, and St.. Marks The further south you go; the clearer the water from Blind Creek to the Anclote River. Spoon fish along the shore lines, creek mouths and points for some nice redfish up to 12 pounds. Johnson Spoons and Berkley Gulp Shrimp are what is happening on artificials. Go on incoming tides only.
Reports of snook in the Crystal River are biting Yozuri crank baits and in Homosassa on Berkley Gulp Shrimp according to Capt. Jim Long who caught and released two in the upper 20’s range. While snook are not considered to be a fishery in Citrus County, more and more reports are coming in. Try fishing the points and oyster bars or near rocky shores where deeper holes are adjacent.
The further south you go the better the snook fishing; check the jetties at Hernando Beach channel early in the mornings and areas near Gulf Harbors near Hudson on outgoing tides.
A live greenback or jumbo shrimp will get you results.
Get ready because the season opens on September 1. Make sure you have your snook stamp and fishing license validated.
It looks like a good weekend for Bass Pro Shops!!!
Capt. Mike
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