June 16, 2014
There are two good things; the first is the full moon is past and secondly, scallop season is just ahead of us. Fishing this past week was good but the last days before the full moon things went south. So to start, the best places to fish for speckled trout is northwest of the St. Martins Keys or inside Seven Cabbage Bay in Chassahowitzka. The best baits have been the D.O.A. Deadly Combo with a three inch shrimp root beer holographic color or a MirrOlure Lil’ John in root beer, bourbon or water melon red flake color with a 1/8 oz. jig head, reports Capt. William Toney of Homosassa Inshore Fishing Charters (352-621-9284).
On the near shore rocks west of Homosassa marker #2 there are good catches of saltwater pan fish on the rocks and ledges. Species like black sea bass, mangrove snapper, grunts, Spanish mackerel and trout can be caught near or on top of the rocks. Jigs and live shrimp are the best baits, Tony reports.
Redfish are still one of the most productive fish to catch inshore. Incoming tide is the best times to fish for them around the outside keys. Just as the tide turns in, I’ve had good luck sight casting to redfish as they come to the key from the deeper flats. When the tide reaches peek depth, I like to pole around the keys and have my clients use Eppinger Rex Gold Spoons to catch these fish. On the low side of the tide, sight casting live shrimp works best. I have not seen any scallops myself, but from the talk around Homosassa we have another good crop of them this year and the season will open on June 28. Incoming high tide will be early morning this weekend, Tony reports.
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Capt. William Toney is a fourth generation fishing guide and Homosassa native. He specializes in saltwater, light tackle, inshore fishing for redfish, speckled trout, tarpon and other saltwater species. Toney is a full time, United States Coast Guard licensed guide, and a member of the Homosassa Guide’s Association. Toney is also the host of Brighthouse Cable Television’s “Nature Coast Outdoors,” which airs on Brighthouse Channel 16 in Citrus and Levy Counties.