When I’m out in the dark of the morning hitching up my boat to the truck for the days charter and I break a bead of sweat on my brow this is when I know that the first real push of tarpon will arrive on the Nature Coast. May is when all the inshore and offshore species are here and making their way north. Tarpon is the star of the Homosassa fish parade but sometimes will peak into June. Fly anglers have the best shots at tarpon in the clear flats south of Homosassa, but bait fisherman can also get into the action. Lures cast past rolling fish to intercept them will work and small crabs can’t be beat. Early morning incoming tide is the best time to search for your silver king. At this time I have not seen any tarpon but large bull sharks are here. ( they feed on tarpon )
On the near shore reefs and rock piles a variety of fish like cobia, trout, spanish mackerel, flounder, bluefish, sea bass, mangrove snapper and grunts can be caught. Three to four miles north west of marker #4 off of the Homosassa channel look for areas of patchy bottom, the rocks will be surrounded by an yellow glow that is sand. The dark spot will be the rock. It’s not necessary to fish right on the rock to catch fish unless your after grunts and mangrove snapper. Many species will be near or around the spotty bottom. I have the best luck with D.O.A. jigs either the shrimp or CAL Shads, MirrOlure scented soft plastics and Gulp! Some of the best colors are new penny, bourbon, watermelon red flake, glow, root beer and chartreuse. Moving water is always best, so any tide can work.
Red fishing around the Ozello area and Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge on the incoming high tides. Eppinger Rex spoons in the 1/4 oz. size work best around the rocky keys because of their sink rate. This allows you enough time to get it moving after your cast so you don’t hang on the bottom. At the same areas redfish like don’t be surprised to hook a snook. Saturday is the last day of open season until later in the year. The best bait this week for snook in my boat has been the D.O.A. CAL shad in glow/gold rush with a 1/8 oz. chartreuse jig head. Incoming tide this weekend will be early morning. Capt. William Toney

Capt. William Toney is a full time 4th generation fishing guide from Homosassa. Experience some of Florida’s best inshore fishing and beautiful unspoiled backcountry. His boat is a custom built 23 foot Tremblay and uses G-Loomis rods with Shimano reels. Trout, redfish and shore lunch are Capt. Williams specialty’s but many other species are caught or targeted.

William Toney
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