Nature Coast, William Toney

With the up’s and down’s of the wind so has been the fishing. Anglers that have to fish in the wind will know that your body takes a toll from this invisible force. Pulling an anchor, setting up a drift so not to be caught up against the rocks and just working a lure in general has to be done in double time because of how fast the vessel is moving. Pre thinking your game plan can help you catch more fish and not struggle just to “ stay afloat” to say. Think of areas with natural wind breaks like the Ozello Keys. The Ozello Keys are much taller then those to the south, inside the lee of a cove Tin Pan Gap north of Crystal River channel is a good one in a North Western front or a drift with a drift bag or bucket that will let you fish for as much as a mile on a flat without the consequence of running aground. Will you fill the boat with fish ? Maybe. Will you get to fish safely while having a good time ? Yes.

On windy day my go to bait is a D.O.A. Deadly Combo. A popping cork with a 3” shrimp or even a CAL Shad on a 1/8 oz. jig head chugging through the chop will draw the attention of most game fish better then a single lure slipping through the churned up water. Trout are your best bet but I have caught spanish mackerel, blue fish and even triple tail making Olympic length cast in heavy wind.

On high tide the rocky points are producing redfish on live pinfish and even a few snook have been mixed in hitting on Live Targets or MirrOlure MirrOdines. With the up coming full moon as our saving grace from the wind blowing out all the water look for incoming tide around lunch time this weekend.