It has been great river and creek fishing on the Big Bend because of the cool weather.

Spring-fed rivers during an outgoing tide will pull warm water throughout them and some of the eddies near the channel edges can be a game fish sauna.

Other sources of winter heat can be southern facing sun hitting northern protected creek or river banks. If the bottom is black mud sometimes that makes it even better. The dark bottom will absorb more sunlight making it warmer.  Live shrimp is a good bait, as are suspending plugs and soft plastics.   

On the nearshore rocks, there has been a decent sheepshead bite.

Offshore anglers have been catching big mangrove snapper and a few hogfish.

Incoming high tide will be early morning this weekend.

Free Homosassa 101 Fishing Clinic February 6-7

To learn more about fishing and conservation in Citrus County join me at the Homosassa Civic Club on February 6 at 7 pm for a free “Homosassa 101” seminar. Please bring your questions.

Homosassa Weekly Fishing Report from Captain William Toney

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

If you want to learn more about how to catch Nature Coast fish from Captain Toney, subscribe to his videos at https://inthespread.com