Nature Coast: William Toney

High east winds are making the Big Bend look like winter instead of Fall. After getting away from last week’s Harvest moon the tides are low in the mid part of the day with no moon to help push in the tide. My best bet has been to target sea trout that are moving into the bays and flats near most of our river mouths. To target the upper slot fish look for live “yellow” bottom and set your vessel’s drift to intersect as much of that on a long drift as possible. On a sunny day it’s easy to see it but with overcast conditions it can be hard to spot. Some of the drift’s I’ve been successful at laitly has been on the south side of the Homosassa Chanel, west of the St. Martin’s Keys east of the Bird Rack and just west of Mangrove Point. 

The best bait has been the MirrOlure LIL John or Provoker in water melon red flake under a popping oval cork. I tie the jig about 18″ to 20″ under the cork with a loop knot for maximum action. Always cast down wind ahead of the vessels drift anything behind is “used ” water.  Don’t be shy about working the cork with a double pop and pause to get the bite. Always have the net handy and don’t try to lift the trout into the boat, with a soft mouth they are likely to shake off the hook. The limit is 5 per license angler between 15 and 19 inches and one per vessel that is over 19″. If you are fishing with a guide or Capt. they can not keep their limit. 

 High incoming tide will be early morning this weekend.