First, I would like to apologize to all three anglers who read my report, including my mother. I had hard thoughts this past week, wondering if I chose the right profession because the weather made me think, “Mmm… desk job in a warm, windless environment would feel good.”

All kidding aside, this winter has been a roller coaster ride of weather that has all of us guessing what is coming next. Like they say, if you don’t like the weather in Florida just wait a minute.

To put some dinner on the table and save some money on gas, stick to fishing in the rivers, major creeks, and backcountry holes. Slow and methodical is the best approach and I say this because there will be a temperature range that varies every day, moving east or west, that game fish will follow. Live shrimp is the best bait and I use a 1/8 oz. jig head for the hook. Pinch the tail from the shrimp and thread the bait onto the jig head tail-first, making sure to push the shrimp so it hooks into the prongs or keepers on the neck of the jig head.

Species to catch could be a black drum, mangrove snapper, sheepshead, redfish, and trout. At any given spot I like to give it at least 15 minutes.

Most of the time if fish are there it will happen fairly quickly but if nobody is home make a move to the next spot west. So back to the east and west line, I begin close to the ramp and work my
way west.

Another factor to make it more confusing is also the warming of the day. On the Big Bend, we have tall trees that block a north wind, but a southern sun can warm a northern bank creating a bite. A dark shallow bottom can be a warm spot to hold fish.

High incoming tide will be in the morning 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. A third-generation fishing guide in the Homosassa area, a member of the Homosassa Guides Association, and author of the Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report each week in NatureCoaster.com.

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