While many parts of the country are still battling the effects of the Corona Virus, here in Florida and especially in Citrus County, life is starting to navigate back to normalcy. Local restaurants are once again open and serving patrons. Boat ramps and marinas are open and offering visitors an outdoors reprieve from the constant 24-hour new cycle. And best of all Reel Florida Fishing Charters is still fishing daily and providing visiting anglers with some incredible inshore fishing trips.
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FISHING REPORT
What’s not to like about 80° weather in Florida with little to no humidity? Weather like this is almost unheard of in Florida this time of year and as most venturing anglers have found out lately, it’s still a little to early to put away that sweatshirt when they walk out the door. The beauty of weather patterns like this is that our local fish populations will continue to remain entrenched in their early Spring patterns and should continue to feed consistently until the dog days of summer arrive.
Species such as Cobia, Redfish, Speckled Trout, and Snook will continue to offer anglers the most consistent action along the Nature Coast. Fishing a variety of structures that are known to hold multiple species has been the easiest way to target all of these species during a particular sitting. Structures such as oyster bars, spoil islands, and mangrove-laden islands offer fish the structure need to ambush prey and usually on these structures prey can be extremely plentiful. Crabs, Shrimp, and a variety of bait fish call these structures home throughout a day so it makes plenty of sense to fish as many different baits in a variety of ways to increase successful odds.
When fishing structures that offer up a variety of species I usually like to have multiple rods rigged and ready for what ever may show up above or below the surface. Below you will find my go to rods and rigs for fishing multiple species this time of year:
- Medium spinning gear rigged with 15lb braid, 25lb fluorocarbon leaders, and either ¼ oz. jig heads or 1/0 live bait hooks. These rods when rigged correctly can allow anglers the opportunity to fish for species closer to the bottom or on the surface. A tail pinched shrimp on a jig head is absolutely deadly and free lining a shrimp hooked through the horn in current can easily entice a hungry Gator Trout.
- Medium heavy spinning gear rigged with 20lb braid, 30-40lb fluorocarbon leaders, and “Crusher Style” 3/0 circle hooks. These rigs are Primo for free lining live pinfish in current. A “Crusher Style” of circle hook basically means that there is a minimal amount of lead around the bend of the hook.
- A Heavy Spinning rod rigged with 30lb braid, 60lb fluorocarbon leader, and 4/0 heavy wire live bait hook is a must this time of year as there are plenty of large Cobia cruising the flats. This rig allows anglers easy access to rig a Hogy soft plastic or even a free lined pinfish.
TARPON TIME 2020
It’s that time of year again folks!!! May and June is Prime Time for those anglers looking to target one of the largest inshore species found anywhere on the planet. As most Tarpon anglers will tell you, fishing for Tarpon is more than just another fishing trip, it’s an obsession. All it takes is one time watching a Tarpon take a fly to be sold on the sport.
We fish for the legends. We live for the SILVER KING!!!!!!!
AWESOME LINK TO FLY LORDS MAGAZINE REGARDING 5 TIPS TO LANDING A YOUR FIRST TARPON. A MUST READ:
https://flylordsmag.com/5-tips-for-landing-your-first-tarpon/
CAPT. KYLE MESSIER
(352) 634-4002
KYLEMESSIER@YAHOO.COM
WWW.CRYSTALRIVER-FLYFISHING.COM
