Chamber of Commerce weather is in place this week, so get out and enjoy the excellent fishing on the Big Bend.

Inshore the trout bite has been good over broken bottoms on the close-in flats near major creek mouths and river channels. Looking at the bottom in the clear water, it should have turtle grass, brown sargassum, and black sponges to be the best bottom to catch the trout. Use a 1/8th oz. red jig head with a MirrOlure  watermelon redflake Provoker with a up and down retrieve to get the bite. 

Redfish are still on the outside edge around keys, biting on live shrimp.

Some of the deeper holes and channels are good to pick up a pompano or two. A jighead tipped with a piece of fresh shrimp slowly twitched back to the vessel will get the bite. To find these areas, a good tool is Google Earth. The deep spots will be dark blue in color. 

This is the last week to keep grouper. As the season comes to a close, use casting plugs in the 10-to 14-foot depths, and if that’s not producing, move out to 18-to 25-feet and use live pinfish. With the warm weather be aware there could be some fog, especially in the morning.

High tide will be in the morning this weekend. Have a safe and Happy New Year! See ya on the other side! 

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