One thing about fishing is that catching a fish and landing it takes a combination of skill, luck and a good netter. Netting a fish is a skill in itself.

I’ve seen a lot of good fish lost at the boat from someone using the net like Serena Williams swinging a tennis racket. Leading a fish to the net is the angler’s job, and sealing the deal with the fish in the net is being prepared to slip the hoop of the net under the fish by its head.

Placement of the net in the vessel while fishing is very important. I like to keep mine in the center of the boat with the handle propped up so no one has to bend over to pick it up, because there are cases when the angler has to net their own fish. Bending over to pick up a net can create slack in the line and that can lead to a lost fish. 

Still good action with trout, seabass, flounder, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and other species about 5 miles west of the St. Martins Keys using MirrOlure watermelon redflake provokers on a 1/8 oz. red jig head. Slow vertical jigging will get the bite.

There has been a good push of cobia so, like being prepared with the net, be prepared for cobia with a pre-rigged heavy spinning rod. A live pinfish swimming in a bucket of saltwater with a 5/0  Owner bait hook through the body just behind the dorsal fin is what I have ready to cast.

High incoming tide will be late morning this weekend. 

Homosassa Weekly Fishing Report from Captain William Toney

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

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