Looking into our first month of spring fishing always makes me remember smells and sounds that have been with me my whole life. Song birds have a new music in the morning and orange blossoms, azaleas, jasmine, vegetable gardens delight my eyes and nose. Relating to this is how I know where to fish and that all is on track with our Big Bend fishing. Spanish mackerel will be moving through with the warming waters. Structure like natural rock piles will hold mackerels but one of the top areas to fish for them is near the Spoil Banks in Crystal River Bay. On the south side of the banks is the “Humps” and this is a traditional spot to use a chum bag to lure mackerel close to your anchored boat. Other species that can be caught using this method are silver trout, sea trout, pompano and cobia. Free line live shrimp on a 1/0 long shank Eagle Claw hook with the incoming tide works best. I have fished it before all the way trough a tide phase and when the tide turns out just do an about face on the vessel to fish the out going, I know this may be old school but many guides before myself have filled the box at the Humps. The Humps are about 3/4 of the way to short point, leaving Crystal River markers 5 and 6 running north westward. High incoming tide will be in the morning this weekend.
- Nature Coast - March 23, 2024
- William Toney - February 29, 2024
- Nature Coast - February 14, 2024
