Time spent in the woods makes for a better chance at getting a buck and time spent on the water makes for a better chance of staying on fish.

On the water, you have a better chance of ” just lucking up ” on fish because this is the time of year to catch fish. Fall fishing on the Big Bend is some of the best inshore redfishing, trout and snook there is. Nearshore and offshore gag grouper start to feed with the cooling waters from shorter days. 

Look for trout in the many rock grass beds that are growing on hard bottom. I like to listen to the clicking noise that echo’s from the hull of my boat of all the small shellfish on the moving water.

This hard bottom is alive with everything that make a good ecosystem for sea trout and other sought after species. A popping cork with a glow soft plastic is the bait that has been producing well for me. On low tide you can see the brown grass laying on the surface. 

On the nearshore rocks, look for the possibility of catching keeper gag grouper on casting plugs. Approach the structure with your big motor shut down and drift past it within casting distance.

Lipped plugs that run 3- to 5-feet under the surface will get the strike. Cast past the structure and make sure to bring the plug just off to one side so the grouper has to run away from the structure. This will help the angler turn the fish from getting back into the hole from where it came. In shallow depth, starting at 8-feet, a keeper gag will put a heavy spinning outfit with 30lb. braid to the limit.

High incoming tide will be in the afternoon this weekend. 

Homosassa Weekly Fishing Report from Captain William Toney

To schedule a fishing charter excursion with Captain Toney, visit his website.

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