Trick or Trout!!
Happy Halloween to all you goblins out there! Not only is the weather beautiful this time of year here on Florida’s Nature Coast, the fishing is outstanding! It’s almost hard not to catch fish if you’re spending any time on the pristine waters of the Gulf. The water temperature has dropped into the 70’s and the fish are moving and feeding aggressively. The bait fish are everywhere and the predators are close behind.
We’ve experienced many days where we’ve caught anywhere from 7 to 12 different species including Redfish, Trout, Spanish Mackerel, Flounder, Gag Grouper, Pompano, Bluefish, Sea Bass, and Sharks. The Speckled Sea Trout bite has been excellent from the Bird Rack, North of the Homosassa River to the Trout Bar, south of Chassahowitzka Point. We’ve recently had days where we’ve caught anywhere from 20 to 30 to 50 Trout! It’s almost every cast and actually my clients have been surprised when we haven’t hooked up on every cast! The outgoing tide has produced the best Trout bite and their bait of choice continues to be the Berkley Gulp popped behind a Cajun Thunder. Try different colors as some days they’ll eat the Pink Shine and other days it’s the Nuclear Chicken.
On a recent charter with Len Breehl from Ormond Beach, while drifting over a near shore rock pile, he had a 23 inch Gag Grouper whack a Pink Shine Gulp, 5 feet from the boat in 6 foot of water. After a great battle on light spinning tackle the Gag went in the cooler and later Len told me it was his first keeper Grouper! We also caught 20 to 30 Trout that day among the 12 different species!
The Redfish are scattered but when you do find them they will be schooled and lately the best bait has been live Shrimp fished on the bottom up in the rocks or oyster bars. The best place to hunt for the “Bronze Bruisers” is the outside edges of the mangrove islands on an incoming tide. Try the points off St. Martins Keys and a just little further North, Grey Mares Pass and Mangrove Point.
Listen for Captain “Red ED” as he will be making a guest appearance next Saturday, 11/6/10, from 6 to 9 AM, on the Reel Animals Fishing Radio Show broadcast in the Tampa area on 970 AM – WFLA.
We would again like to thank everyone who came by to visit with us at the Florida Sportsman Fishing & Boat Show in Tampa, Florida, September 25 & 26th. The show was a major success and we look forward to fishing with all our new friends here in our little piece of paradise, Homosassa, one of Florida’s last best kept secrets. Greg Wagner was the winner of the drawing at the Tampa show for a FREE full day charter. Greg’s charter is good for one to four people, and includes everything except lunch, beverages and gratuity, trip must be taken on a mutable agreeable date within one year of the Tampa show. Our next trade show will also be in Tampa, March 4, 5 & 6th, 2011, at The Tampa Tribune Outdoors Expo & Boat Show, hosted by Frank Sargeant at the Florida Fairgrounds. Come by and visit with us and the “Redettes” at Booth # 314, and register for your chance to win a FREE charter.
Upcoming Events
November 1 – Trout season closes, South Region
November 6 – Blues & BBQ Festival, Old Homosassa
November 6 – 3rd Annual Stone Crab Jam, Crystal River
November 7 – Daylight Saving Times Ends
November 11 – Veterans Day
November 13 & 14 – 36th Annual Homosassa Arts, Crafts & Seafood Festival, Old Homosassa
November 21 – Full Moon
November 25 – Thanksgiving Day
November 30 – Hurricane Season Ends!