The inshore bite for gag grouper has been about as good as it can get on the Big Bend. I believe the limits set by the FWC are starting to pay off. The 24″ minimum size was hard to swallow at first but after a few years, there seems to be more quality gags coming to the cleaning table for an angler’s two fish limit. Casting and trolling plugs are catching the lion’s share but a live pinfish free-lined over the rock will catch fish. Starting in as close as 6′ and as deep as 14 ‘ is the best depth. 

The same rocks that are holding keeper grouper are also home to some good-eating mangrove snapper. On light tackle, my clients and I have caught some mangroves up to 15″ on trout rods with live shrimp. They are lots of fun on light tackle and when the bite turns on, I suggest keeping the baits in the water and capitalizing on it until it stops because snappers will turn on and turn off like a light switch.

There is a closure for keeping flounder coming up on October 15 through November 30 state-wide. It’s one fish that I don’t catch a lot but would love to figure out how to catch them in our area. Most folks that get them use a pole spear method around the rocky sandy bottom. So If you happen to catch one during the closed season, please return it back and then tell me the spot you caught it!

Incoming tide will be early morning and late afternoon this weekend

Homosassa Weekly Fishing Report from Captain William Toney

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