Capt. Mike Locklear's Adventures
Capt. Mike Locklear
October 13, 2009
Homosassa - Saltwater Fishing Report
For five generations my family has called Homosassa home. Our fishing guides here mostly are from the same kind of raising, that there Daddy and Grandfathers made their living here guiding and commercial fishing. I have watched it grow and have made new friends from New York to Washington State.
You can not go wrong with coming here for your vacations to relax and enjoy some fishing or golfing. Our golf courses here are many and some the best in the country.
Most guides have written about how hot the weather has been here the past few weeks. This is true and such a scenario troubles the fish into staying further offshore than we like to travel in a day charter.
Nonetheless redfish and trout along with a few seabass provide the action. Although slow this past week just yesterday we landed over 20 fish that were a variety of non desirables to redfish to 22-inches. These are the best eating down to 18-inches.
With tides incoming at the start of the day, redfish should react to piece of bait or a lure such as a top dog MirrOlure. As the water warms to its maximum for the day, not much will bite unless you fish for Spanish mackerel. These speedsters are located in 10-feet of water outside of Homosassa Bay or along the humps of the Crystal River bay.
Anchoring is the best method. Drop over a store bought chum bag or make your own. Use 30-pound fluorocarbon and long shank 1/0 hooks. Cast in the direction of the chum slick and one important tip is to bring along a 100 shrimp and break them into thirds. Dole these out sparingly but over a period of time until the mackerel begin to strike the surface. Use a full shrimp on your hook and free-line it out towards the small pieces of shrimp you tossed out. Sometimes it is better to use a Cajun Thunder cork in-between your standing line and the leader and hook. A small split shot #4 in size a foot above the hook helps to get the bait down and off the surface where it will collect grass. A leader of about 3-feet long is good.
Now when you cast it out there, let the cork drift in free-line mode until your cork goes under. Then set the hook and reel fast if your line goes slack as the fish could be coming towards you at mach 1 speed.
Also you can employ a jig with a piece of shrimp and retrieve it in quickly as the mackerel like the speed. Silver spoons in half-ounce are a killer and for more fun try a tip dog MirroLure.
I offer half-day, two-thirds day and full-day trips up to four persons. This action should last until December. For more information please join the site here and write me a note.
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