Most people may be unaware that the Groundhog has predicted Spring would come early this year and to my amazement that prediction has been the most reliable weather forecast we Nature Coast Guides have received all year. Our local temperatures have been hovering in the mid-to-upper 70's and we have been blessed with summer like temperatures minus the humidity and rain. These warm late day temps have helped keep the water temperatures around 65-66 degrees which has helped keep most local inshore species active and hungry. At these temps most fish don't have to move far in search of food and finding a consistent water temperature during this time of year can be the most important part of fishing any area along the Nature Coast.
On recent charters I have worked particular areas were warmer water can be found. On the first trip I decided to work a local spring fed river that pumps out millions of gallons of 72 degree water every day. With water temps consistently remaining the same in one are for a long period of time the idea is not to just fish were the fish will be, but fish during their feeding times. Fishing this are for the last 10 years I have learned the most Redfish really get fired up as the tide goes slack near these springs. When the tide goes slack the ticket is to sight cast Redfish while laying on the bottom in crystal clear water from 5 feet to 6 inches of water. My clients have thrown live shrimp and finger mullet at them, but a Berkley Gulp! seems to still be the bait of choice.
Now as fun and exciting as river fishing can be, discharge areas of Power Plants can be even better. The Citrus County area also has a local Power Plant that also discharges millions of gallons of warm water every day. Most discharge areas are loaded with long oyster bars and huge boulders all of which can hold redfish during particular times of the year. However, there is nothing more exciting than sight casting to huge schools of redfish pushing down a long mangrove laden shoreline. On a recent charter I put Trey Carr and Michael Potapow on a nice school of Reds on crystal clear sandy shoreline just outside the outflow of the Power Plant. As the school approached we tossed live select shrimp at them provided by the world famous Ed's Bait and Tackle. If you could only see the looks on these 10 and 11 year olds as they reeled in their monsters, it was priceless. To make this even better these two boys out fished their dads that day, giving them a little bit of "bragging rights" for the next fishing trip.
Red Hot Fishing Charters
(352) 634-4002
kylemessier@yahoo.com
WWW.REDHOTFISHINGCHARTERS.COM
1.JPG)