The Last Resort
Mother Nature did not smile on us during a recent trip to Homosassa for some shallow water grouper fishing. So, as a Last Resort (pun intended, see below) we went trout fishing and caught numerous trout on Rip Tide Flats Chubs and Rip Tide Shrimp. Both were pinned on a ' oz. Rip Tide Pro Jig Head and suspended under a popping cork. The weather was just too severe to venture out to the deeper water, which in this part of the country is 20 to 30 feet deep out 20 or 30 miles. That's why they call it shallow water grouper fishing. Stay tuned however, because I plan to reschedule the grouper trip for a later more favorable date. I will report on it when I do. This is the time of the year to get to the Homosassa area if you want to catch some shallow water grouper. Just do it.
Now about the pun I mentioned in the opening paragraph. As it turned out I stayed at a facility called The Last Resort. What a great place to stay while fishing or doing anything else in Homosassa. It features second story lodging with a great view of the river and parking underneath each unit for easy access. A boat ramp and boat dock are part of the property, so if you bring your own boat you leave from your back door and if you hire a guide they can pick you up at your back door. It doesn't get any better than that.
As far as the rooms are concerned they were immaculately clean. The resort is well equipped with a kitchen and all utensils. You would never have to leave the place if you didn't want to. If you bring the spouse along they will be perfectly content to enjoy the extreme relaxation offered by The Last Resort while you are out fishing. When you return from fishing a quick shower will prepare you to spend the evening on the deck with the sun setting slowly behind you as the river traffic slows and daylight turns into night.
In between sleeping in the roomy comfortable bedrooms and spending the evenings on the deck you can be fishing for redfish, sea trout, cobia, shallow water grouper, or a variety of other saltwater fish. It just depends on what time of year you are there. When you get back to The Last Resort there is a convenient fish cleaning station right there on the dock. The last day I was there I woke up to the sunrise pictured below and I just didn't really want to pack and go home. I know I will go back and if you get a chance check them out. You can visit their website at www.thelastresortonline.com.
If you want to go up to the Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park you can be there in about 10 minutes. There is also plenty of other stuff to do at Homosassa and the surrounding county too. For more information just go to www.VisitCitrus.com to see what's in store for you!
Earlier in the week I fished with good friend Capt. Terry Lamielle in the Indian River near Sebastian. We started off early and caught a nice topwater trout on a Zara Spook. Terry later added a redfish on a Gulp Shrimp and I completed a boat slam by hooking up a big momma snook on a gold spoon. There were still plenty of mullet in the river but the bite was slow. We worked hard for the fish that we got.
The Indian River near Cocoa was also slow last week but there were plenty of mullet and lots of schoolie trout between Hwy 520 and Hwy 528. The trout were eager to hit the Rip Tide 3 inch mullet on a ' ounce jig head. I netted a few of the mullet and set one out on a favorite location only to have about a 50 pound tarpon hit just after I had placed it in the rod holder and turned around to the cooler for a soda. I heard the commotion, turned around and there it was, airborne and shaking that head. I quickly picked up the rod but it was too late. He had snapped the line at the leader. Timing is everything.
The next Florida Sportsman Fishing Show is in Orlando on November 10 and 11 at the Fair Grounds. Stop by the Florida Guides Association Booth and say hi if you get a chance. The following weekend, November 15, 16, and 17 we will be in Deland at the Coastal Angler Magazine Boat Show and Fishing Expo. The event will be held at the Expo Center, just off SR 44 at exit 118 on I-4, the first exit west of I-95. The address is 3150 E. New York Ave, Deland Fl.
As always, you can visit my website at www.inshorefishingadventures.com to view pictures of the fish we catch in the Cocoa Beach area. That's what it's all about. Good fishin'.
Capt. Ron Presley
www.inshorefishingadventures.ocm
presleyr@bellsouth.net