After last week’s frigid weather, the Big Bend is moderating again. Warm weather this week, with good tides, will have the trout and redfish returning along the edge of the Gulf keys and river mouths. Rocky points will be good areas to target because the rocks will heat up on low water from the sun and as the tide rises, the fish will move into these spots to capitalize on the warmth. Using a nose hooked jerk bait is a good way to target the trout and working it slowly enough to keep it off the rocks will get the bite.

The water is still very cold so don’t expect a hard strike, most of time it is just a light tick. When I feel that tick, I reel fast to take the slack from the line then do a hook set. At first it may not feel like a keeper fish but with the cold water most of the trout we caught fought best next to the boat. 

In the rivers there has been some good black drum fishing. Deeper water along the channel from Hell’s Gate east is the best area to try. Live shrimp on a 1/8th jig head has been the best bait.

High incoming tide will be in the afternoon this weekend

Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report from Captain William Toney

To schedule a fishing charter or shore lunch excursion with Captain Toney, visit his website. He is a third-generation fishing guide in the Homosassa area, a member of the Homosassa Guides Association, and he provides the Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report each week to NatureCoaster.com.

To read about our Shore Lunch excursion with Captain Toney, click here.

If you want to learn more about how to catch Nature Coast fish from Captain Toney, subscribe to his videos at https://inthespread.com