Nature Coast, William Toney

 For the stained and clear water the tackle is the same. A large D.O.A. oval popping cork with a 1/8th oz. red jig head and soft plastic tail. Some days trout will bite the dark colors like bourbon, new penny and watermelon red flake then the next it could be white or glow. On my charters I like to mix up the colors to see what ones are working for the day. Target hard patch bottom with rock grass. It will appear yellow ahead of the vessels drift. Some hard patches will produce more trout then others so there is two ways to mark them, one is with a GPS or the old school way with a bleach jug on a line with a piece of lead. I like to use the jug method because it’s easier to make a wide berth around the target area without spooking the fish. A visual aid is much better then a small screen. Sometime this also helps fellow anglers see the spot and will help also avoid running over the fish. I have always felt that fellow anglers who fall into a drift over the same spot are more then welcome if we fall into the same cadence. The redfish bite is very good on the incoming tide. Look on the outside keys with a good school of jumping mullet. The incoming high tide this weekend will be late afternoon. W

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.