After spending a long weekend in the “Big Easy” for my wife and I’s anniversary, it was time to leave all the good food and times behind, so back to work.

For some good action on Good Friday, the 8-to 10-foot range will be the area to fish. Rocky bottoms will hold sea bass, small grouper, grunts and mangrove snapper. Around the perimeter of the rocky bottom there will be sea trout, spanish mackerel, blue runners and blue fish. If you anchor on a rock, use a 1/8th oz. jig head with a tail hooked shrimp and cast it at the edge of the structure letting it hit the bottom. When it hits the bottom, take up the slack in your line and wait for a bite. 

For fish that are around the rocks, set up a drift so you will pass over the structure and use soft plastics like the MirrOlure LiL Johns or D.O.A. CAL shads. Some of the best colors are watermelon red flake, glow, new penny and gold glitter.

As you are drifting, have the anglers cast ahead of the drift, letting the bait fall 3/4 to the bottom, then use a retrieve that is a vertical bounce with the rod tip, always keeping up with the boat’s drift. I like to tell my anglers to keep it in their lane and this way you can cover a whole swath of water. If you have a couple fish in a row, then mark your location on the GPS or old school throw a marking buoy and stay in that area.

Incoming tide will be early morning or late evening this weekend.

Have wonderful Easter!

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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