As we close in during the last weeks of grouper season, anglers are doing well catching them.

Capt. Chris Wilkens has been doing very good in the 15- to 25-foot range. He said the best baits are sardines or live pinfish on the bottom but trolling plugs are doing good with the lack of floating grass on the surface. While bottom fishing, his anglers are catching plenty of grunts with their limit of gag grouper, but not many mangrove snapper, hogfish, or sheepshead. 

On the inshore side, the trout bite on the rock grass beds is very good during the high outgoing tide. Jerk baits or a single jig has been the best bait and the color varies between glow or a dark color like watermelon red flake.

Redfishing on the incoming high tide is good on the outside keys using live shrimp, or there are few in the deep holes on the rivers. Use live shrimp on the bottom.

Sheepshead are starting to bite in the rivers also, as they move out to the rock piles to spawn.

High incoming tide this weekend will be in the afternoon. 

Homosassa Weekly Fishing Report from Captain William Toney

To schedule a fishing charter or shore lunch excursion with Captain Toney, visit his website.

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