The Homosassa Fishing Report for October 2014

 

The cold fronts have started pushing their way down into Central Florida. Bringing some much needed relief from the heat of summer.  The water temps continue to slowly drop,and the trout and redfish bite is heating up. Trout have moved on to the flats of the Nature  Coast. Spanish mackerel and Bonita are on the move back south for the winter. As as they head south they come close to the shore following the baitfish. I have been seeing pods of Spanish mackerel off of the Crystal River channel bars and along the edge of the spoil banks West of the power plant. 
  I Will be targeting trout and redfish in the month of November. I can target the Trout when the tide is not right for Red fishing. This time of year I like to use a popping cork with about 24 inches fluorocarbon leader to a 1/8 ounce Jig with a soft plastic artificial bait. Live shrimp is also a good choice under the popping cork. Look for patches of the yellow bottom with kelp Grass scattered throughout it. Work around the edges of this bottom for Trout with the popping cork. I like to drift fish this way to cover more bottom. Trout Will be in pods. You might drift for 10 minutes without catching a keeper trout then you will hit a spot where you catch two or three keepers in a row. After you have drifted through the fish and don't get you anymore for a few minutes go back around in repeating your drift.  You can expect to catch Mackerel, Seabass, Cobia and other fish while drifting. When the tide reaches the point to go and fish your favorite redfish  hole hang on because they are very aggressive with the cooler water temperatures and get ready for some drag screaming runs. November is a very good month to get your limit of trout and redfish in one day. 
   Stone crabs season has been open for about 20 days. The claws go very nice when you have company and for thanksgiving. Call the Crab plant in Crystal River to order them for your feast. 1-352-795-4700

Capt Kelly Kofmehl

2014 April May Fishing Report

I met Gary Yackel and his family at the dock at 8 on a Saturday morning. We took off, down the river. I knew that the CCBA fishing tournament was the same day. I headed straight to my pinfish traps, when I slowed down at the first trap I looked behind me and there were 2 boats following me. I thought to myself, I know how this day is going to turn out. We took off through the mangrove littered creeks ran about a mile, a wake popped up on the North shore line of the creek that we were in. Gary saw it also, he has fished enough with me to know that their was something to the wake. I shut the boat down and let the fish settle. Put the Minn Kota in the water and slowly eased up the narrow ditch that the fish entered. Slowly and quietly we pushed forward until I could see about 40 big Reds in the back of a pond that ditch opened into. I launched 2 live pinfish into the middle of the school. It was only about 3 minutes, it felt like 30, before the drag started screaming off of the reel that Gregg was holding. The oversized Red put up a hard fight, then it decided to head out the creek where the boat was anchored. As the Red came towards the boat it turned and went under 3 mangrove roots. I told  Gregg to open the bail on the reel, to give the large fish a free spool. I quickly slipped my shoes off and the wallet out of my pocket and into the water I went with rod in hand. I was able to slide the rod under the roots as the red shot under the the boat and out the creek. As soon as the line was free from the mangroves I handed the rod back to Gregg , so he could finish the fight with the 32 inch Red. The day turned out to be a good day fishing with some big Trout for dinner.

 
 
Capt Kelly

March 2014 Crystal River Fishing Report

I was poling my Gulfshore 20 into a narrow Mangrove creek, when a school of over slot red fish started pushing a wake 40 yards up the creek. I told my client, Robert, There thy are, get ready. I knew where the fish were going to settle, so thats where we placed the large, live shrimp that Robert was using for bait. 60 seconds later the fish spook and come pouring out the creek like a bunch of Texas long horns on stampede. I tell Robert there they go look at all of them, as they blast out the creek 10 feet from the side of the boat. I'm looking at the fish as they rocket by, Thats when iI see it, Robert's line is going with them! I start shouting out of excitement, REEL! The bull on the other end of Roberts line took him around the boat 3 times. All I could hear, besides screaming drag, was Robert. " Lord please don't let this line break. When we got the fish in the boat it was 33inches and weighed 12.5pounds.  

  We have also been able to do some sight fishing for Trout getting our limit on most of the trips over the last 30 days. Fishing has been on fire, and will be as water temps are warming up. Book your adventure now.
  Capt Kelly
1-352-445-2755

November 2013 Homosassa Fishing Report

November makes me think about turkeys, pumpkins, family and hunting. My Family always spends Thanksgiving in the woods at our hunting camp. Good times and great food, with friends and family. But I have to come out of the woods and fish; I can never stay away from the salt water of the Nature Coast for any length of time. What I have been doing lately and it will work right through November, is a new bait that I have been trying and having a lot of success with. It is the 3D TPE Shrimp, made by Savage Gear. 

On a recent trip with clients I was trying the Savage shrimp while my clients were throwing another bait. We were using Cajun Thunder popping corks with about an 18in leader and the jig on the bottom of the rig. It is rare that I fish with my clients, but they insisted that I did. I wanted to try the bait, so I stayed in the back of the boat while the 2 of them fished out of the front. It was about 30 minutes into the trip when I was asked if they could use one of the Savage shrimp as well, of course my answer was sure you can. I wanted to try the unproven bait before I gave it to someone to use. In my book it is now a proven bait.
  With the cooler nights of November and the waters cooling down, the Red fish bite will be a little more aggressive.  We have had a good summer with the Reds and with most of the fish that we have caught being at the top end of the slot or bigger. The fall months should be the same. Mackerel and other striking fish that migrate South for the winter are on the move as well. Some large schools have been spotted in about 30 feet of water. There will be smaller schools within a  couple miles off of the shore line. The Gag Grouper bite has also been strong in shallow water. All of these fish will stay strong until the water temps fall below 60 to 65 degrees. This Thanksgiving season lets all take time to be thankful for the things that we have been blessed with; we all have something.
 
Capt. Kelly Kofmehl
www.spottailscharters.com
Inshore and Flats Fishing
www.okumafishing.com