River fishing continues to be productive due to the chilly Gulf temperatures.

This week in Homosassa Bay it was 56 degrees so you definitely do not want to go swimming! In the rivers, there are black drum, sheepshead, redfish, mangrove snapper, and trout.

If you need to find space and open water there are fish to catch in the cold Gulf. Trout can be found on the Spoil Banks in Crystal River, sunning on the rocky points on high tide, and stacked near rocks out at 10 feet.

While sheepshead fishing out on the nearshore rocks once we caught a trout. I tied on a glow D.O.A. CAL shad and my clients caught one after another. The water was 56 degrees. 

This is a great time of year to target redfish with a fly rod during windless days. The clear cold water makes them easier to see because there are fewer nutrients than a summertime Gulf. This fishing is best with a team, one who poles the boat and one who fishes. An 8wt rod with a floating line works best and a selection of crab pattern flies in brown or white will get the job done. The time between 10 am and 2 pm is best because the sun’s position giving you the best light.

High incoming tide will be early morning this weekend. 

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