Besides the traditional Nature Coast bread-and-butter fish, like trout or reds, other fun to catch fish have moved in.

Triple tail is one of my favorites, and though more seem to favor the deep dark waters west of the Duke Energy plant, I have caught them as far south as Chassahowitka. Triple tail love structure and most of them have been off of a crab buoy or near floating tree limbs, floating cardboard, and older channel markers. A free-lined shrimp will almost always get the bite, but soft plastics or fly’s can sometimes seal the deal.

When I spot one, I continue on the same speed of the boat until I feel I’m a safe distance as not to spook the fish and then do a wide arc around to shut down and let the wind/tide move the vessel into casting range.

Bluefish and Spanish mackerel are usually not on most anglers menu to eat, but if cooked that day are not to bad. The rocky area around the bombing range (northwest of St. Martins Keys) is a spot for these hard fighting, line cutting, toothed fish. I like to use a long shank hook to prevent cutoffs when using live shrimp.

One of the best-eating fish in the Gulf (and with the smallest size limit at 10″) is the black sea bass. I find casting around hard bottom or low profile rocks in 8 to 12 feet of water is best. Most any dark colored soft plastic with a 1/8 or 1/4 oz. jig head will do because they are very aggressive. If you catch one, generally there are more down there.

High incoming tide will be in the afternoon this weekend.

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

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