Nature Coast, William Toney

Starting with fishing in our rivers, there are some sheepshead and

black drum. I’ve had the best luck fishing the outgoing tide with live

shrimp on the bottom. The cooler days are best and be patient for the

bite. When you cast the 1/8th oz. jig head with a tail hooked live

shrimp near the deeper points along the channel let the bait sit. I

instruct my anglers if you pull your bait along the bottom it will get

hung on the rocks. Let it sit and the fish will find it. If you do get

hung let the hook rest for a few minutes, then maybe a fish will pick

it up or the tide will wash it free saving your tackle.

The trout bite has been best near the entrances of the major creeks

or river mouths. Think of a small area and not a long drift. If you

catch a few trout in a row stick to that spot. Polling, trolling motor

or cranking the outboard and giving a wide berth and working that area

can help you catch a limit.

On the offshore side hogfish has been the best bite. The best

captains I’ve talked to say to work the water from 18 to 25 feet. A

jig called “hog balls”  they sell them at Sodium in Crystal River will

help get the bite. You must work through the regular reef fish then

use the hog ball on the sand around the structure with a drop to the

bottom and lift the rod tip and then a fall to hit the sand. Continue

until the hogfish start biting. High incoming tide will be mid morning

this weekend.