Looking at one more winter push and hoping this is the last one. Blustery conditions may shut down an offshore trip this weekend, but our Big Bend Rivers and backcountry can offer some protection and a few fish.

The water temperatures are in the low 70’s so I don’t believe we’ll have issue with cold fish but with a cold front comes high pressure. High pressure can put the lock jaw on most every Gulf fish so if it’s a bluebird sky and breezy, expect a slow bite.  

Fish to target in the rivers:

Snook – try around docks and blow downs near deep water. Snook fishing can be very good at night. Some of my favorite baits are D.O.A. 5.5 glow jerk bait, if it’s a lighted dock use the D.O.A. glow 3″ shrimp and cast it to the edges of the light on the water or skip it under the dock. The MirrOlure MirrOdine in silver/blue or silvergreen. This is the color of needle fish, one of their favorite meals.  

Mangrove snapper – there are still a few keepers left in the rivers. They like the deep springs, rocky channel edges and deep-water docks. Live shrimp is the best bait and I use a 1/8 oz jighead to put the shrimp on after I pinch off the tail. The shrimp is threaded on the tail first. Bottom fishing with this same rig in the deep holes of backcountry creeks you can catch redfish, trout, black drum and sheepshead.

Incoming tide this weekend will be in the morning. 

Homosassa Weekly Fishing Report from Captain William Toney

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