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Fishing Report for Homosassa, Florida
Capt. Mike Locklear
November 12, 2006
Homosassa - Saltwater Fishing Report
A-1 Homosassa Fishing Guide Offers Equipment Use Tips
This past week trout fishing has been very good on the Homosassa Bay flats in 4 to 6 feet of water over the kelp grass beds. We have been casting soft plastics made by Bass Assassin in colors like Space Guppy, Motor Oil, or Electric Chicken. I like the 4-inch Sea Shad tails.
For my clients I provide Shimano Speros 3000 spiining reels matched to a 7'4" Shimano Teramar spinning rod. The reel is great for daily use and abuse for the cost; around $90. The rods I bought from Bass Pro Shops for about a $100 and they have guaranteed me for life if I break one they will replace it at the store.
The fishing line I really love now is Triple Fish Spinning RX. It is super strong yet soft and extremly thin and clear. I use 10-pound test and it feels like 6-pound. I rarely have a birds nest but I also make sure I don't overfill my spools.
Back to baits, also the 5-inch white jerk bait with a 4/0 Daiichi Blood Red worm hook is a winner in shallower water. You will hook more trout or reds with this set up because it is a weedless setup with no cork, however, the drawback is losing about half due to the weedless hook. With Bass Assassin 4-inch Sea Shads I use almost always a Cajun Thunder cork rig. However, Bass Assassin has come out with a newer version cork that has a titanium wire and replaceable cork. That sounds like to me an unbeatable rig that I look forward to using in the future. Look for the 3-inch Kwik cork at your local shop or order from http://www.bassassassin.com
On a Cajun Thunder or Kwik cork rig, I will tie a 24-inch section of 20 lb. Triple Fish fluorocarbon to the cork and the other end to a jig head. I like the 1/16 ounce by Bass Assassin. I like red jig heads and same goes for the cork. I think red triggers a strike. Although Kwik comes in orange you will need the Cajun Thunder if you want red.
In hard baits, the 7M-S Mirrolure in silver, a floater, triggers strikes from larger trout between 18-20 inches. This time of year on the shallow water flats this lure mimics a bait fish better than any other lure and works best when the sun is low in the sky. You can make it dance, let it float or pull it to make it go deep. You will not be able to find this lure at most bait shops, so go online at http://www.mirrolure.com to order you a half of dozen today.
My clients have been catching some nice Pompano. Just the other day we landed 4 on one trip using the same baits for trout. These fish were around the flats west of the St. Martins Keys. One we landed near the mouth of Mason Creek. My best day ever was 14 back in ’92 and these fish were in a hole in side a well-known bay among local guides.
There have been some Spanish mackerel, bluefish and an occasional flounder coming across the decks as well. The big redfish are back in the creeks now and we have had a few of those on as well when the weather and tides allow.
My new customized Harris-Built 24’ Carolina Skiff is working out great. There is so much more room for everyone and all their gear. The boat is stable and runs so shallow it is scary. From the high grouper tower, I can see so much more and further out into the water. It is amazing and awesome. It is at least two big steps up in the fishing world both literally and productively speaking.
And of course the standard is a bow mount trolling motor for days like yesterday when it was so calm and the boat was not moving at all. We were able to catch a dozen keeper trout moving along slowly at the lowest setting. I can’t wait to get my new wireless remote control trolling motor from Great White. I will then have my dream boat of the century especially when I employ a first mate to help run the deck. Heck I will just stay top side and play with my new Lowrance GPS. You know I am dreaming now.
Recently I bought and installed a new 8-foot Power Pole hydraulic anchoring system. For three years I have been researching the product and just had to buy one. I am so glad I did. We save so much more time going from spot to spot at the click of a button. No more noisy anchors clanging or back aches from pulling on a stuck anchor.
Can’t wait to head out tomorrow. This time of year is so nice with the cool weather and low humidity. Even though deer hunting season is here, fishing is still king with me this time of year through about the first week of December.
Look for the current pattern to hold with trout being plentiful and biting best just before the cold front and the day of the front are ok too. Grouper should be moving into shallow water and with my new grouper tower; I will be finding my share.
So now if you can’t get out there and go fishing you are just too busy.
Just in case you are thinking about a trip this month, I have open at this time the last week of November beginning on the 27th.
Have a Great Week.
Capt. Mike
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