The sheepshead bite has been in full swing when the conditions have allowed safe boating from the strong winds. Starting at 8- out to 15- feet, the sheepshead are on the structures and eating fresh or live shrimp. I use a 1/8th oz. jighead with a live shrimp that has it’s tail pinched off. The reason why is that I can push the jighead up inside the tail of the shrimp so that it is caught on the jighead barbs and the sheepshead have to bite all the way up on the hook. The edges of the rock are the best places to cast.   

New regulation for trout are now in effect that started February 1st. There is no captain or guides take, with all the guides (including myself ) who were keeping their limit, this will add thousands of trout per year to the Big Bend waters and I believe will create an unbelievable fishery.

Anglers are permitted to keep five trout between 15- and 19-inches and only one trout in the vessel can exceed 19 inches.

This is another excellent rule because it will still allow a big fish for tournaments and allow those big female trout to live on to reproduce even bigger trout with their superior DNA. Big trout don’t get big by being dumb. Imagine catching a 25″ plus trout regularly and getting a good photo then letting her slip back into our waters! Our future looks good!

High incoming tide will be early morning or late afternoon this weekend.

Free Homosassa 101 Fishing Clinic February 6-7

To learn more about fishing and conservation in Citrus County join me at the Homosassa Civic Club on February 6 at 7 pm for a free “Homosassa 101” seminar. Please bring your questions.

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