Fishing on the Nature coast is a lot of fun when you get the weather to cooperate. The tidal movements will determine if you're going to have great fishing or not. Fast moving tides at this time of year tend to make the fish go to there hiding places to get out of the way of fast moving tides. If you have good fishing spots located were fish can hide and not expel a lot of energy like cuts and passes use them instead of fishing open water. On slow moving tides I have been doing great in the open waters about ten miles out for large sea trout and shallow water grouper. On fast moving tides I have been working the barrier islands trying to locate their ambush spots.
Some large schools of redfish are approaching many of our fishing areas as well as snook harboring around the mouths of cannels. My early morning fishing trips have produced many more fish than the afternoon trips as the weather has usually stopped me from staying out on the water. Looking to the weather channel I have witnessed the New England states already have daytime highs in the mid seventies telling me fall is approaching of course in our case we see temperatures in the mid eighties. Fishing from this point on will get better each day till we get a major cold front. The front will be triggering what I call the eating season. The eating season is where the fish feed and build body fat for the winter. Your baits that you use for catching fish will now have to get bigger as the bait in the water is now bigger The fish do not have to eat as many meals to fill there daily quota of bait fish.
To the south of Hernando Beach we are catching reds, snook and larger trout but still in the deeper water. Marker 10 which most people that fish the area off of Hudson know well has not been as good this year, but all the shallow water rocks in the area of Marker 10 are producing sharks and some keeper grouper. West of Hernando beach is still producing Grouper, Spanish mackerel, Amber jacks and some big white grunts along with many other reef fish. Near shore Hernando beach, the trout bite is great one day and bad on another. The reason is the tides are moving with great speed on certain days. Try fishing when the tide is moving slower or find large inshore structures were the fish can stay out of the fast moving water I am referring to when fishing five to ten miles from shore.
Bayport to Homosassa is producing large and small trout great red fishing and surprisingly decent snook fishing. Crystal River is about the same except some nice silver trout are being caught near Yankeetown.
I have been getting a lot of e mails asking if I am going to stay in the offshore business, Yes, I am having a new Sea Fox twenty six foot boat built from my sponsor The Boat and Motor Superstore, this time sporting two Mercury four stroke motors. A mid October due date is planned and I will be doing offshore fishing again at this time. I will keep my twenty four foot Shallow draft flats boat, I am having too much fun on the tower and really learning the inshore waters even better.
Any one who wants to chat about fishing or listen to my fishing seminars I will be at the Tampa Boat show also the Florida Sportsman show working with the Hernando County tourist department promoting our Nature Coast and Hernando County. For information on the shows call Sue Rupe at the Hernando County tourist development dept.
Tight lines till next time
Captain Frank Bourgeois
Always Fishing Guide Service
Office: 352-666-6234
http://www.alwaysfishing.com