A good Fall trout bite is happening on the incoming and out going tides. Tall brown rock grass is the key structure to find trout. On low tide it will be visible laying on the surface indicating areas you do not want to run your motor. Some of the bests spots though on outgoing tide will be a pass or channel edges that are deep enough to cover the rock grass. On high tide the areas you could not run your motor would be the spots to check. Some of the best lures are soft jerk baits, single hooked jigs and top water plugs.
For red fish I’ve experienced a few schools of them but the fishing pressure for them around certain keys can drive the fish away. My best luck has come from targeting smaller bunches of fish away from the crowds. South of Homosassa artificial baits work best like dark colored soft plastics, gold spoons and top water plugs. North of the Homosassa River live shrimp or cut and live pinfish has been the best bait. When I’m red fishing either side of the river I always keep a glow soft plastic with a chartreuse 1/8 oz. jig head ready for the snook that are usually in the same area.
The near shore mangrove snapper bite on the shallow rocks is still good and expect to catch some grunts, sea bass, spanishmackerel and flounder. Best bait is live shrimp. High incoming tide this weekend will be late afternoon. Pray for no effects from hurricane Irma, we don’t need any of that!
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.
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