The week ahead looks favorable for some excellent fall fishing. I believe the winds should be lighter, with good tides.

As far as trout goes, recently I had a great day in the backcountry of the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Refuge using popping corks with jigs. With nice weather this week, I believe an angler can catch trout from the backcountry all the way out to the passes, bays, and flats near the major river mouths.

This time of year, I like to look for rock grass, a type of sargassum that grows on hard, live bottom. The larger patches can have some growing more than 3 feet in height from the bottom. This grass is a haven for shrimp, small crabs, and bait fish that trout love to feed on. Another good point about this grass is that it provides protection for trout on a shallow flat from Ospreys. A trout can stay undetected underneath the grass pushed over by the tide. If you are observant and see Ospreys hovering over a particular flat you can bet the trout are there.

Redfish and snook will be on the inside keys. One of my favorite ways to catch them in the fall is to use a top water plug. The floating grass is not so bad right now and pitching a plug right up next to the keys or any rocky point can get some action. A redfish has a downturned mouth so they may roll on it a few times before getting hooked. It’s best to just keep a steady retrieve until the weight of the fish is felt in the rod before setting the hook. Setting the hook too soon will likely pull the plug out of the strike range, missing the fish.

Incoming tide will start around early afternoon this weekend.

Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report from Captain William Toney

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