Have you ever found yourself daydreaming about being on a desolate crystal clear flat where for miles you have the entire flat to yourself? On one side of the flat you can see acres of tailing Redfish, Sheepshead, Permit, and Giant Black Drum. On the other side of the same flat you can hear the sound of pounding birds, feeding fish, and baitfish running for cover as schools of thousands of Jack Crevalle, Bonita, Spanish Mackerel, Bluefish, and King Mackerel slice and dice through the acres worth of bait. Although this may sound too good to be true this is just one of the many possibilities that Nature Coast Anglers are experiencing at the moment while fishing the waters surrounding the Crystal River and Homosassa areas.
Some of the best inshore fishing that the Nature Coast of Florida has to offer will be on display over the next few months. And with waters clearing and temperatures dropping the fishing action that the Crystal River and Homosassa areas are known for will be on center stage until the start of the New Year. Redfish, Black Drum, Sheepshead, Speckled Trout, and Flounder will be the top inshore targets over the next few months and with most of these species sharing the same habitat chances of doing battle with all of these species will occur on a regular basis.
A variety of successful techniques will help keep most Nature Coast Anglers hooked up throughout the fall but by far the technique of choice will be the "Spotting and Stalking" technique. When spotting and stalking the most important aspect to consider is visibility. Clear, calm waters are ideal for working this technique and great baits to start with are Berkley Gulp! Shrimp, Live Shrimp, and Weedless Jerkbaits. The idea behind this technique is to work an area that is known for fish, spot the fish species that you are interested in and then modify your baits, approach, and presentation to the intended target. The baits listed above are all great baits for a the variety of species that you will encounter and considering that most of these fish will be tailing or showing themselves in the shallow waters a subtle approach works best. Keep in mind when working this technique MOST of the time it is better to cast way beyond the fish and then retrieve the bait into your intended targets strike zone. When implemented correctly anglers will be surprised at how effective this technique can be for catching most anything that swims in shallow water.
As exciting as the "Spotting and Stalking" technique can be on many of our inshore flats, the true highlight is occurring along many of the deeper drop offs adjacent to the same flats. In recent weeks drop offs in the 7-10ft depth range have become inundated with speedy Pelagics that are looking to munch on anything moving within their line of sight. Spotting and Stalking is not necessary when the boat at times can be surrounded by acres worth of fish. Jigs, Spoons, and small lures that can be casted a mile are a must to keep up with these fast moving schools, and the only retrieve that is needed is to reel as fast as you can to create a bubble trail behind your bait. Jacks, Bonita, and Spanish Mackerel are normally the fish of choice within these schools but over the weeks Large Sharks and even a few Monster Cobia have been lurking throughout these feeding schools. Long story short just be ready for the unexpected.
So whether you're interested in a relaxing day of sight fishing for Redfish, Black Drum, and Sheepshead or if running and gunning for those speedy Pelagics is more your style, the beautiful weather and great fishing of the Nature Coast is only a short drive away. Feel free to call or email Florida Fishing Adventures to set up your next inshore fishing adventure today.
Capt. Kyle Messier
(352) 634-4002
kylemessier@yahoo.com
WWW.FLORIDAFISHINGADVENTURES.COM
WWW.CRYSTALRIVER-FLYFISHING.COM