It’s looking like if you want to catch some fish, you had best hit the spring fed rivers. It took long enough but the Big Bend is experiencing some real winter weather. Live shrimp is the best bait for bottom fishing for black drum, redfish or sheepshead.

With the cold Gulf waters, call ahead to your local bait house for live shrimp. Shrimp will bury up and shrimpers catch could be down so plan ahead to get them.

Using artificial baits can get you into some fast action with snook, jacks, and ladyfish at the head waters of the rivers. Further west towards the Gulf, I’ve had some excellent trout action using MirrOlure LiL’ Johns and MirrOlure MirrOdines working the baits very slowly near the bottom of deep holes or channel ledges. I like the outgoing tide while fishing the rivers because it pulls the warm spring fed waters though the channels creating warm spots for fish to gather. 

For some dry land action, small game season is open in some of our recreational hunting areas (WMA). Squirrels, wild hogs and others can be hunted with rim fire rifles and shotguns through the end of February. Always go to www.myfwc.com to find open area and regulations regarding each WMA. A cold day in the woods is always warmer than a cold day on a boat!

Incoming high tide will be in the morning this weekend if the wind allows it. 

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