Nature Coast: William Toney

After a hot hot week on the water, I’m looking forward to a week that has some breeze to it. The trout fishing has been tough for this time of year and many anglers have been asking me about it. One thing I noticed is the lack of rock grass that is usually growing all over the flats, I believe it’s because of the unseasonably warm water. The trout I have been catching is on the outgoing tide around the bars in Chassahowitzka, Homosassa and Crystal River bay’s. A popping cork with a MirrOlure LIL John in watermelon red flake or a nose hooked D.O.A. 5.5 glow jerk bait. The cork will do two important things. The popping will help attract fish and also keep most of the floating grass of your hook. 

 The nearshore rocks have cooled off with the mangrove snapper. I don’t know if most of them went offshore or some has moved into the rivers. The inshore rocks are still holding some good sized grunts and the occasional keeper gag grouper. Casting a plug for grouper has been tough because of the floating grass so the few I’ve gotten is on cut porgy’s, pinfish and grunts. Incoming tide will be midday this weekend. 

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