Nature Coast, Capt William Toney 5/3/2016

Summer like conditions will give way to spring cool weather this weekend. That’s fine by me, one last week of open windows with the A/C turned off. The bite has been typical of early summer with a few new species thrown in the mix. The snook bite has been good with big fish being taken on the outside points and deep water cuts in the backcountry. The season is closed right now so handle each snook with care, the best bait that I have caught them on this past week is the D.O.A. CAL Shad in glow/gold rush belly with a 1/8 oz. chartreuse jig head.

The crab lines have been holding some nice triple tail. Most fish have been short of the 15” minimum size but you never know when the big boy will be under the buoy. Live shrimp under a cork drifted right up to the float will get the bite. The best trout bite will be in the 3 to 6 foot depths. Look for spotty bottom with a mix of turtle grass, hard coral, sponges and sand. I have been throwing a cork rig with a MirrOlure Lil” John in watermelon red flake on a red jig head. The near shore rocks are holding some spanish mackerel, a few trout and mangrove snapper.

Offshore some nice mangrove snapper, king fish and cobia have made their way to the docks of MacRae’s of Homosassa. Thirty feet is the starting depth for big fish. This weekend look for a new moon incoming high tide about midday. Capt. William Toney www.homosassainshorefishing.com

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.