After making it to the top of the hill, I believe we are on the downward slope towards spring. With saying this, there are going to be some cold fronts and cool days ahead.

As far as fishing goes, I’ve been around some outside keys and caught snook in 64-degree water along with trout, redfish, pompano and jacks or ladyfish.

The trout have been sunning on the edges of rocky keys and the best bait is a D.O.A 5.5 glow jerk bait, nosed hooked with an Owner 3/0 bait hook. Tying a loop knot will give this lure two pivot points for action, one at the hook and the other on the lure itself.

I always instruct my anglers, “it’s a “twitch, twitch, and pause on the retrieve.” The strike can be subtle and always set the hook and fight the fish as though it’s a keeper. A lot of anglers feel they’ve missed the fish when actually it’s heading to deep water (where the boat is) and keeping up with it can be a chore, but if you don’t, a Big Bend trout will throw the lure right back at you next to the boat on its first head shake. 

On the near shore rocks is the last rally for sheepshead as we head into the full moon.  Live shrimp is the best bait and right at the change of tides from low to incoming is the best bite.

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