Ice Fishing in Homosassa

Ice Fishing in Homosassa

This area of Florida’s Nature Coast has not experienced a cold weather spell in January and February like we’ve had this year in over 20 years. The good news is the first day of Spring will be here before we know it, on March 20th! Though the entire state of Florida suffered through a major fish kill due to the cold water temperatures, it’s a great time of the year to gain knowledge that can be used throughout the rest of the year. The winter low tides expose oyster bars and rock piles that can be fished when the warm weather and water return. The shallow flats and backwater creeks continue to hold good numbers of Redfish, Sheepshead, Black Drum and Trout. Remember, Trout season is closed until March 1, so its Catch & Release only. The Sheepshead will be schooled up on near-shore rock piles and the bail of choice is live shrimp. The rock piles and structures radiate heat into the water allowing water temperatures to be as much as two or three degrees warmer than surrounding waters. That difference can be enough to trigger active feeding. As dates are booking up fast in March, April and May, please visit our website at www.HomosassaRedfish.com, to reserve your adventure on the pristine waters of Old Homosassa!!! Just yesterday, we booked our first Scallop charter in July!

Fishing out of Haulover Inlet, N. Miami Beach, with Rudy Gomez aboard his boat, www.CyberAngler.com, I accomplished another fishing first for me, catching a Sailfish and Tarpon on the same day! We left the docks around 3:30 in the afternoon planning on running out to 200 feet of water, kite fishing for Sailfish or Kingfish and then coming back in to the beach at sunset searching for Tarpon. It didn’t take long after we had the three baits splashing in the water off the kite and the two flat lines behind the boat, that we hit Rudy’s sweet spot in 110 feet of water that the flat line went off and I hooked, landed and released a 40 pound Sailfish! After a couple of more drifts and watching the sun set and the moon rise we decided to move closer to shore hoping to find some Tarpon cruising the beach. We drifted three shrimp behind the boat and it didn’t take long after Rudy marked some fish, that our first Tarpon almost jerked the rod out of my hand. It was a good fight as he jumped about 8 times in the moon lit night, came to the boat for a few quick pictures and was released to fight another day! Again shortly after Rudy marked some more fish, we caught and released another Tarpon. So in about three hour’s time we caught one Sailfish and two Tarpon and were back on land for a pre-Super Bowl weekend in South Beach.

For all of our friends in or near the Suffern, New York area, please visit with us at The 33rd Annual World Fishing & Outdoor Exposition Show, www.sportshows.com, to be held at the Field House, Rockland Community College, Thursday, 3/4/10, through Sunday, 3/7/10. Stop by and say hello, Booth # 406, (the “REDETTES” will be in attendance), and register for your chance to win a FREE charter. Unlike previous trade shows, where we’ve done a drawing and given away one FREE charter at the conclusion of the show, this show we will do a drawing at the end of each day and give away four FREE charters!

Special thanks to Gail Oakes of the Homosassa Riverside Resort, www.RiversideResorts.com, for her continued support and donations to the Florida Coastal Conservation Association (CCA), www.ccaflorida.org. Gail has agreed to donate two nights at the resort which will be packaged with two full days of fishing with Captain “Red ED”, that will be part of the live auctions at both the Tampa, 4/22/10, and Hernando County, 4/29/10, CCA Banquets.

Upcoming Events

Feb. 28 – Full Moon

March 1 – Trout Season Opens, NE & NW Regions

March 1 – Snook Season Opens, Gulf Coast & Monroe County

March 4-7 – The 33rd Annual World Fishing & Outdoor Exposition Show, www.sportshows.com, to be held at the Field House, Rockland Community College, Suffern, New York. Stop by and say hello, Booth # 406, (the “REDETTES” will be in attendance), and register for your chance to win a FREE charter.

March 5 – 7 – The Tampa Tribune Outdoors Expo & Boat Show hosted by Frank Sargeant

March 11 – Coastal Conservation Association (CCA), www.ccaflorida.org, Citrus County Banquet

March 14 – Daylight Savings Time Begins

March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day!!!

March 30 – Full Moon

April 17 & 18 – Citrus County Builders Association, www.citrusbuilders.com, Tournament

April 22 – Coastal Conservation Association (CCA), Tampa Banquet

April 29 – Coastal Conservation Association (CCA), Hernando County Banquet