September 12th 2013 Homosassa Fishing Report Scallop Report

The night time temps are starting to drop just a few degrees, giving us here on the Nature Coast the hint that fall is just around the corner.  October is the month of several changes here in the small stretch of paradise that i get to call home. First Stone Crabs are back in season. They will be on the market and ready to be consumed on October 15. With the Crystal River Stone Crab Jam the first Saturday in Nov. Another change is the opening of a new store here in Crystal River, Sodium Fishing Gear. I had the opportunity to sneak a peek in the store the other day. Brandon and Casey not only have fishing apparel from head to toe, but they also have rods, reels coolers, a full line of Carbon Marine products, Fly fishing gear and much more. Stop in and support one of the "local" businesses.

  On my trip yesterday I was polling my clients down a shoreline, I could see fish working in front of the boat about 150 yards. I told my guys to get ready to throw. When I was able to maneuver the boat into casting position I told Bo and Jordan to throw in front of the school of Reds. One guy made a perfect cast and the other was behind the school. About 2 seconds after the first bait hit the water, drag was rippin off the Okuma reel. We were able to catch 3 Reds out of that school before they just blew out on us, the first one was 30 inches, the second 31 inches and the third was 32. What a awesome bunch of fish. They defiantly had all of our hearts pumping for a while.  
    Trout will be back inshore once again in some larger numbers making it possible to catch a limit without having to run way out into the open bay, as the water temps begin to drop a few degrees. I have been eagerly awaiting this event to happen. I typically fish with a popping cork rig this time of the tear. Last October we did very well on the Trout and I have already noticed some early arrivals.
  Capt. Kelly Kofmehl
  352-302-5861 or1-352-445-2755
Scallop numbers have still been good. Call us for a Scalloping trip.

August 19th Homosassa Fishing Report Scallop Report

 Homosassa Fishing Report Scallop Report

 

As daylight started to break in the East, I picked up my client. The sky was black out to the west. We left the dock at 6:30 am and headed down the Crystal River. Grabbing for our rain gear in the idle zone. We ran a couple of miles and only a sprinkle or two. Then the bottom fell out of the sky. We had to idle for about ten minutes or so. When we came out of the rain we were almost to the first spot that I wanted to fish. I got the boat anchored and made the first cast and within about 5 seconds the drag on my Okuma Cedros 30 spinning reel was screaming. At the first sign of the big Red fish I knew that he was over the slot, 28.5 inches. The next cast was a 19-inch Red, then a 11 inch mangrove snapper. The bite was finished at spot number one. Spot number two, we set up and threw out some cut bait, fish were striking everywhere I looked. The action was hot as the weather. We were able to fill our Red fish bag limit and release 6 or 8 more fish. we landed 8 Blue fish, and about that many Jacks. I asked my client, Dan, if he wanted to go to another spot and see what was going on there and he said sure. Spot number 3 was a winner as well. 2 more top slot Reds and the last cast a 33-inch Snook. I had Dan back to the dock by 10:30 and started to clean his fish. These are the kind of days are what can be expected through out the month of September.

    As the full moon begins to build this month some of the big Trout will start to move back inshore to fatten up for the winter months to come. I love fishing in September when schools of Red fish show up and Trout come back. Look for action packed, drag rippin days for this month. The action will be hot. If you want to get in on some of this give me a call.

  Capt. Kelly Kofmehl 1-352-302-5861 or 1-352-445-2755

Scallop numbers have been good. Call us for a Scalloping trip.

www.Spottailscharters.com

www.FloridaTarponGuides.com

www.CrystalRiverfishingguides.com

http://www.scallopingcrystalriver.com/ 

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July 19th Homosassa Scallop and Fishing Report

As July begins to rap up and we roll into August the biggest thing going is still the hunt for Scallops. I have watched as many boats as I can remember seeing coming to the pristine grass flats of the Nature Coast to hunt for these tasty treats. I'm not sure where all of the scallops keep coming from but there seems to be no end to them. On a recent charter, my clients were able to gather their limit in an hour and a half. Some days it takes a little longer. I have also noticed a considerable  difference that a mile can make in the size of the meat. One of the best pieces of advise that I can give is to make sure that you have a good mask. I was standing on the bow of my boat today looking down in the water, I counted eight scallops in a ten foot radius, I called one of my divers over to the boat and watched as he swam over them and only saw one. I started pointing them out him. This is the same crew that did so good a couple of days before. He had started having trouble with his mask leaking a little and was having a hard time seeing them. I started to wonder how many he had actually swam right by and not seen. This is one of the reasons that you not only need a good mask but one that fits well.

   On the fishing side of things, we have been able to scrap a few Red Fish along. They have been a little slow to bite, I have been able to catch just as many on top water and spoons as I have on bait. Throwing the artificials has allowed me to cover more water faster with my clients. The Black Drum bite has stayed strong all summer and should stay that way until we start to get some cold fronts this fall. My clients have caught good numbers of drum in the 50 pound range. It is an awesome site to see them tailing on the some of the many oyster bars that litter our coast line. To see that massive tail come out of the water while they are feeding on top of the bars, then to sneak up on them and place your bait right next to a 50# fish is quite the rush when your line comes tight. The battle is on. These are just a few of the exciting fisheries that are going on on the shore line off of the mouth of the beautiful Crystal River. A place that I am truly blessed to call home. 
 
Capt Kelly Kofmehl
Inshore and Back Country fishing

Homosassa Fishing and Scallop Report for June 17th

Nothing goes together like the 4th and Scalloping! Diving Scallops during the day then coming in and watching the Crystal River fireworks after dark form the boat is one of the traditions that my family has kept to as long as I can remember. This is a tradition that I have been sharing with my kids as well, and they love it. From the teenagers to the youngest at the ripe old age of 3. My little guy loves to go and get in the water with the rest of the family. He is not big enough to dive the scallops yet so what we do is we get a float that he can set in and tie a string to it and Dad drags him along as he dives. Remember safety first while on the water this summer and always keep an eye on the weather. There is one thing that I have learned out of all these years on the water, you may have the experience of a lot of years operating a boat but the boat you are passing, it may be their first time on the water.

          On the fishing side of things. The Trout bite has stayed strong as the water temps have gone from warm to hot. The Trout have  moved from the shallow flats to the flats of the Nature Coast that are in 6 to 10 foot of water. The two methods that have been working the best for me are: popping cork with 3 feet of leader, and a jig with a soft plastic bait with some scent  on it. The other that has worked so far is a jig with a soft plastic with scent like a Gulp, bouncing it along the bottom. This all works the best when the tide is moving. The fish don't seem to be biting when the tide is slack. A lot of small Trout mixed in, makes me feel good about the Trout fishing In the future.
         Black Drum and Sharks are two of the big fish that will be here for a drag rippin summer. The largest Black drum that some of my clients have been able to land has just been over 40 pounds, with 30 pound fish very common. The size limit on the Black Drum has slot of 14 to 24 inches with 1 over 24 inches and a bag limit of 5. The slot Drum are very tasty, they have a meat comparable to Red Fish. However the over slot fish tend to have worms in them. The big ones fight hard and make a great picture for a trophy to remember them by. When targeting the large Drum I free line a blue crab with a circle hook. I have also caught them on shrimp and gulps.  A good leader is necessary as they  feed around and on live oysters which are very sharp and will cut your line.  
 
 
Capt. Kelly Kofmehl
Inshore and Flats Fishing