Nature Coast, Capt William Toney 2.23.2016

Let the good times roll! I love spring fishing and this week has given many anglers a good taste of it. The key to successful fishing this time of year is good incoming tides around the full and new moon phases. Warm days also play a key role. Even though we can’t write winter off just yet, a change in fishing tactics to stay on fish that are transitioning into spring should be practiced.

Look for trout to be sunning on rocky points or submerged rock piles on the incoming high tide. On the outgoing tides trout will be more apt to bite near creek and river mouths. Sometimes the channels that we use to get to the Gulf will have fish just off either side on the outgoing tide. I have found some of my best winter spots with the help of Google Earth. Citrus County is full of backcountry and it’s almost impossible to learn it all on your own. Places I’ve fished and poled look allot different on satellite. The deeper blue represents deep water or holes. Sometimes studying after a days fishing will give you a different perspective about a area.

Red fishing has been O.K. Most reds that I’ve caught have been at the top of the high tide. Certain keys that I’ve fished will have the reds at one end during high water but when the tide turns check the down current side on the other end because they will drop down with the outgoing tide. Sheepshead are still biting on the rocks. The deeper the better, most big sheepshead are coming from 15 to 20 feet. High incoming tide will be in the afternoon this weekend. Capt. William Toney www.homosassainshorefishing.com