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[naturecoaster]

Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report with Captain Toney

updated October 30, 2018 With 70 degree waters, pretty much all sorts of fish are being caught on the Nature Coast. The inshore trout bite has been really good on hard bottom with a thick forest of rock grass growing on it. Glow D.O.A. (305) 5.5 jerk baits are getting the job done or MirrOlure LiL Johns in watermelon red flake under a popping cork during choppy conditions. Outgoing tide is the best bite. As I write this report there are only two days left to keep snook, but the snook bite has been good and catch/release is not a bad thing. Look to catch a topwater snook in mouths of Mason Creek, Little Homosassa River or Grey Mare Pass. High out going tide is best. There have also been some caught in the Homosassa River around the docks and rocky points. The redfish bite has moved more toward the east on the inside western facing points. Live shrimp, cut mullet and pinfish are the best baits. The inshore grouper bite has been very good. Shallow running plugs will get a exciting bite that feels as though the rod will be ripped from your hand. Make sure to retrieve the plug off to the side of the structure so the fish will chase it out. This helps from being rocked up, because the grouper will be away from his house when it hits the plug. High incoming tide will be in the morning this weekend.   Read the full article

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@Naturecoaster: Growing up in a commercial fishing community, sometimes it's easy to forget how hard men and women work to make a living from the Gulf waters. #captainwilliamtoney #fishinginhomosassa #gulfcoastfishing #howtofish #naturecoast #naturecoaster #redfish #shor https://t.co/gqOJlyWhOf https://t.co/RjmCXX7ANq

[naturecoaster]

Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report with Captain Toney

updated October 3, 2018 Good numbers of sea trout are being caught on the Nature Coast rock grass beds. Hard bottom with the long dark brown grass are the best spots to target in about 3 feet of water. Soft plastics like the MirrOlure Lil Johns in dark or glow colors (depends on the day) under a popping cork has been the best bait. My clients have also landed a few flounder mixed in with the trout. The nearshore rocks are still producing plenty of spanish mackerel, mangrove snapper and a few keeper gag grouper. Live shrimp free lined is best for the snapper and macks, use live pinfish for the grouper. A fish that has moved in lately, is fun to catch and good eating, is the triple tail. They like to hang around structures and floating objects. When I target them I use a cork with a fresh shrimp 15 to 20 inches under it and cast the bait just up tide so that it drifts up to the structure. Fly fishermen can also get in on the action because triple tail are aggressive feeders when first discovered, but will shy away after too many bad casts or getting too close to them. The minimum size has changed from 14" to 18" to keep them. High incoming tide will be in the afternoon this weekend.   Read the full article

[naturecoaster]

Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report with Captain Toney

A week of gag grouper fishing is ahead of us after a 5-month closer. If you have really good numbers, an angler can get lucky at 12-feet but most fishermen will start around 18- to 25-feet. Live pinfish is the best bait. Mixed in with the structure will be some good mangrove snapper and a chance at cobia.  Back nearshore I've been catching trout and big black sea bass using 1/8 oz. jig in 8- to 12-feet of water. A technique I use is to cast the jig out behind the drift of your vessel and drag it along with the vessel. There has to be enough wind or tide to keep it moving along, every now and again give it a little lift of the rod tip. All the way back inshore we still enjoying some good red fishing using live pinfish and catching a few big trout in what's left of the rock grass on high tide.  36th Annual Cobia Big Fish Tournament Moves to Crump's Landing This weekend is the 36th Annual Cobia Big Fish Tournament that will be held at Crump's Landing in Homosassa. Normally it's at MacRae's of Homosassa but this year they decided to pass the torch. You don't need to fish in the tournament in order to get in on the excitement come on down to Crumps Landing for the festivities. High incoming tide will be in the afternoon this weekend. 

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 Read the full article

[naturecoaster]

Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report with Captain Toney

Looking forward to the coming month of June. Generally June is the best month to get a shot at a tarpon on the Big Bend. The area west of Chassahowitzka is probably the most well known for Tarpon fishing with fly anglers, but there are other spots on the Big Bend that have fish. The Spoil Banks in Crystal River is a good area. Although not much for sight casting, the Spoil Banks in Crystal River can be exciting casting to rolling tarpon. The Withlacoochee River also is another good spot and live bait is best.   June 1st is opening day for gag grouper. The numerous rock piles and natural ledges that start at 8 feet and run out to 60 feet are the places to fish. Live pinfish are a great bait or if you can sabiki up some threadfin that will put you in business. With the warm waters trolling plugs are not as productive. Mangrove snapper will be on the same rocks and large select shrimp will get the bite. Mid-morning will be incoming tide this weekend. 

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 Read the full article

[naturecoaster]

Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report with Captain Toney

All is fine and well here on the Big Bend. The weekends are downright busy with anglers and boaters out at our coastal towns with boat ramps. Weekdays are better. The trout bite has been good out in the eight-foot range over a broken bottom. MirrOlure LiL Johns in watermelon red flake  or  D.O.A. C.A.L. shads in glow/goldrush bounced near the bottom will get the bite. Another of my favorite fish that will add some fine filets to the fish fry is black sea bass. The legal size is 10" and always a great by-catch when going after trout in the same area.  The first part of the incoming tide is best for redfish and they're liking pinfish more then shrimp. There are still some nice cobia coming to the dock from offshore along with some amberjack. Incoming high tide will be in the afternoon.

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 Read the full article

[naturecoaster]

Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report with Captain Toney

With a windy week ahead of us, one tool that I keep on board my vessel is a marking buoy. Even though most anglers have a GPS of some sort, I find myself avoiding a screen on a nearshore flat. Lining up on a stationary object is easier than getting close to a number on a fast drift. Number and MOB will cloud and cover a screen sometimes making it hard to follow your track or remembering the hot number from the day before, changing tides and winds can make a true drift always challenging. On the broken bottom that lines the flats on the Big Bend look for that yellow in color to catch the most trout and big sea bass. If the 3 to 5-foot range is not producing move out to 8 to 10-feet.  A few tarpon have shown up south of Homosassa but season is not fired up yet. Incoming tide this weekend will be in the morning. 

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 Read the full article

[naturecoaster]

Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report with Captain Toney

Another week of social distancing is behind us, but we're not out of the woods yet. Everyone seems to be following the rules, but its a rule on the water that has been here before any pandemic happened: idle speed. Some boaters are not following the idle speed and no wake rule and when this happens it beats up people's property like commercial boats, moored vessels, and natural shorelines. The worst thing a large wake can do is rock boats at the fuel dock and spill gas into the river. No wake means no wake.  The cobia run is in full swing on the Big Bend. Be prepared to cast a live pinfish or eel-like soft plastic on the more high profile rocks starting around 12 feet out to thirty. Channel markers, floating debris, or big eagle rays are also good cobia magnets.  Inshore, the trout bite is good on the 4- to 6-foot flats on a broken bottom. Cast a popping cork where the grass meets the hard yellow bottom. Redfishing is good on the incoming tide using live pinfish. Incoming high tide will be in the early morning this weekend. 

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 Read the full article

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Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report with Captain Toney

Great fishing continues on the Big Bend. We have a few new fish to chase that are seasonal to us. Cobia are moving north and will pass through with the warming water temperatures. Cobia up in the shallows are not usually as big as the fish out deep but provide some great fun. On the flats look for large stingrays. Cobia like to shadow them as with jacks. A small jig on light tackle or 8wt. fly rod is a fun way to sight cast for them. An angler must be prepared because you never know when a keeper may be available and if hooked be ready to follow the fish. On my charters, I've had anglers put quite a few in the boat on light tackle by following the fish and keeping the boat between a crab buoy or marker.  Triple tail have moved into the darker waters of river mouths and channels. They love old crab buoys on the moving tides. A float with a shrimp 12 inches under it with a cast past and let it drift up to the buoy will get the bite. The size of a keeper triple tail is 18" and there are a lot of small fish out there so be ready for the bite to keep them from swallowing the hook. Incoming tide will be in the late morning this weekend. 

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 Read the full article

[naturecoaster]

Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report with Captain Toney

Growing up in a commercial fishing community, sometimes it's easy to forget how hard men and women work to make a living from the Gulf waters. I've found that you will never get rich, and the rewards are far between hardships, but this life is very fulfilling for those who will have it no other way. One of our local blue crabbers had a tough day this week. He was caught in the river during a tornado and had his boat picked up and flipped over! A local homeowner ran their boat out and picked him up and got him to the dock. A local shrimper helped him right the vessel and get it on the trailer. The crabber drained the outboard, got it running and replaced his safety gear, then readied the vessel for work in the morning. Three boxes of blue crab were lost back to the river but with his can-do spirit, it's back to work.  When you're fishing for trout on the big tides, the best spots are coastal bays and passes. If it is low water and calm conditions, the nearshore waters out at 10 feet is a good choice. Redfish are eating live pinfish on high water and snook around the same western points. High incoming tide will be in the afternoon this weekend. 

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 Read the full article

[naturecoaster]

Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report with Captain Toney

We have some very good days of fishing ahead of us. So far every angler has been following the guidelines that have helped to keep our area boat ramps open. Together we can get through this and help keep folks safe. The nearshore waters around 3 to 6 feet are producing trout. I start each client with a different color soft plastic and see what color is working best. As of late, it's been glow/gold flake or watermelon red flake, and sometimes even the color of the jighead can make a difference. If there a little chop on the surface do not hesitate to put the jig under a popping cork at about 18" to 24".  Offshore, look for cobia to be moving through on large structures like wrecks, springs, and rockpiles. A heavy spinning outfit with a live pinfish will get the bite. On this same structure, there will be some mangrove snapper, Spanish mackerel, grunts, and catch-and-release gag grouper. High incoming tide will be in the morning this weekend. 

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 Read the full article

[naturecoaster]

Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report with Captain Toney

In my line of work I am very fortunate, blessed, and work hard at what I do. To be able to spend most of my waking hours outside has helped me to be able to see some exceptional wildlife on the Big Bend. Over the last few weeks, I've witnessed some cool stuff on the water and land that I feel is only because us "humans" have had less of an impact on the environment recently than any other time I can remember in my life. One thing is noise. It's so quiet.  Jets are less frequent in the sky and traffic hum is nonexistent. I know this won't last forever but it's necessary, and in their own strange way the fish, fowl, and fur like it too. Heck, I even had a wild hen turkey at my boatyard near the river in downtown Homosassa!    Trout are out at the 8-foot mark near the Foul Area. Redfish are eating live pinfish north of the Homosassa River and gold spoons south of the river. A few triple tail are showing up on the nearshore buoys. Offshore keep an eye out for cobia heading north. Incoming high tide will be in the afternoon this Saturday, and Sunday is Easter.

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 Read the full article

[naturecoaster]

Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report with Captain Toney

I will have to say this past weekend was about as busy as any scallop season after the 4th of July. Many anglers are getting out and practicing the sport of fishing. On the Big Bend people ask "where are the rocks"? The best way to let them know is that the rocks start at the boat ramp and end on the horizon. If you are not familiar with this area once you leave the marked channel, the best thing to do is slow down and learn as you go. Tapping rocks or shallow bottom is better for your motor and passengers then hitting hard at high speed.  The trout bite has moved out to deeper water. Starting at 8-foot, use a combination of light and dark color jigs one for each angler and see which one is catching best. Spanish mackerel, sea bass, bluefish, and jacks are willing to bend the rod. Redfish are scattered around the inside keys on high incoming tide. Keys north of the Homosassa River are better for using free-lined live pinfish and south of the river shrimp under a cork seems to work best.    Offshore the best keeper fish have been mangrove snapper. 18- to 20-feet on natural rocks is the best place to find them. There has been a light push of cobia coming though. High incoming tide will be in the morning this weekend

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 Read the full article

[naturecoaster]

Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report with Captain Toney

All is awesome fishing on the western Gulf! The Big Bend is rockin' out with trout, redfish, snook, jacks, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, tripletail, sea bass, and the ever sporty ladyfish. Now that's just what's happening inshore. Out deeper is some good mangrove snapper, kingfish and cobia action. Inshore incoming high tide is the best bite. Some of the best soft plastics are the glow 5.5 (305) D.O.A. jerk baits and MirrOlure LiL Johns in glow or watermelon redflake. The best spots have been the Spoil Banks, west points of Ozello and west points of Chassahowitzka.  For cobia out deeper, go to structures like old towers, markers wrecks, and high profile rocks. Heavy spinning tackle that can cast some distance with a live pinfish for bait will catch the surface cruising cobia or just having it prepared when fishing the rock piles can make success happen. High incoming tide will be early morning or late evening this weekend. 

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 Read the full article

[naturecoaster]

Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report with Captain Toney

Great weather and good fishing are what anglers have been experiencing on the Big Bend. The area around the Bombing Range has been a traditional hot spot since I was young. I remember using Loves Lures while out there with my dad and uncles. One chore I performed was to keep a small pile of cut shrimp, mullet or pinfish that we would tip our lures with. Using tandem lures we could catch two trout at a time, or a sea bass and a mackerel, or a bluefish and a trout. It was fun fishing that can be experienced today.  Back inshore the trout bite is good around rocky shorelines, points with redfish and snook mixed in together. Offshore there's been a good mangrove snapper bite starting at 18-feet with some hogfish. High incoming tide will be mid-morning this weekend. 

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 Read the full article

[naturecoaster]

Homosassa Inshore Fishing Report with Captain Toney

With the wind hopefully behind us, look forward to more pleasant fishing weather. We will have low water throughout the rest of the week, but that's easier to fish in without being pushed by a gale-force "breeze". Look for trout to be in the outside creek mouths near the deep water. Another spot that is good for not worrying about the shallow water is around the Spoil Banks in Crystal River. For Spanish mackerel, the nearshore rocks are holding plenty and free-lined shrimp is the best bait. There are snook on the outside points and a few still in our rivers. MirrOlure MirrOdines are working well and so are D.O.A. glow jerk baits with a chartreuse jighead.  This weekend should allow anglers to head offshore to catch mangrove snappers in the 20' to 30' range. The best-eating fish should be around the same depth, so if hogfish is your favorite, now is your opportunity. High tide will be dark in the morning or dark in the evening.

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 Read the full article