Best Bets fishing report

Report Date: May 15, 2003

If you want to go fishing this month, you can expect a real mixed bag now and for the next couple of months. Redfish, Tarpon, Jacks, Kings, Cobia, Spanish Mackerel, Shark, Grouper, Trout and Lady fish. There are lots of fish offshore if you are willing to look for them and fish for whatever bites instead of trying to target a specific species. Live bait will be available for most of the summer . You can always catch pin fish over grass flats. Dead bait will work on many of the bottom fish offshore and rigged baits and lures will work for most of the pelagics, but live is best.

The 19th annual Cobia ?Big Fish? tournament will kick off June in our area. This year?s popular tournament will be out of MacRae?s Bait & Tackle in Homosassa and is sponsored by The Homosassa Game Fish Club. Check in and weigh in will be out of MacRaes for the June 7th and 8th event. Gator MacRae will be the Weighmaster assisted by Trudy Cooper . Captains meeting is Friday, June 6th at 5:00 at the Manatee Campground and Pub. For more info you can call MacRae?s at 352-628-2602. Tell ?em you read about the tournament in Woods & Waters.

Big Redfish and Tarpon!!!! Yep, that's what we have been catchin' and will continue this month . The ol' spotted tail and the Silver King.. Rod bending, arm tiring, line screaming, tackle testing, bulldog fighting , fly rod angler's dream fish. You hook into a red on medium to light spinning gear or fly rod, and you have a fun time on your hands.

According to Captains Mike Locklear and John Bazo, the Tarpon fishing will be hot this month. Many big Silver Kings will be jumped and landed during June and July. Folks come from all over the world to try to catch a world record off the Homosassa flats when these big silver giants show up. So, give your favorite guide a call and see if he has any openings. You won?t be sorry.

With the full moon of June, July and August the big Reds come inshore each year and school up on the Crystal River and Homosassa flats. This is the best time to catch some of these big 'uns. They tend to be a little spooky, so in clear, shallow water, a stealth approach is required. Once you find and set up on a school, try to be as quiet as possible and careful not to make any type noise with the boat. All it takes is a loud bump on the bottom of the boat and these fish disappear.

We have had best luck fishing from our new Hewes 19? Redfisher flats boat, powered by a new 140 Suzuki four stroke by drifting rocky points and rocky flats, casting gold or silver spoons and soft plastics, like Salt water Assassins or the new Texas Assassins. Once we locate fish, we sight cast to the schools. The most successful technique is using live pin fish, finger mullet or small crab under a Cajun Thunder cork or freelined, however, cut bait of mullet or ladyfish will work, too. You talk about feeling "like a bird dog on point", try standing on the bow of a boat, looking at 50+ big Reds in a tight school just 50 feet away, waiting for you to throw something to eat their way. Son!!!! It don't get no better than that!!!!

Once you have one on, and he feels the hook, it's "Katie bar the door", cause they will tear out out of Dodge like a freight train. That's when you start thinking-did I tie a good nuff knot, is my drag set right, will this line hold, darn, my arm and wrist is getting tired. Then you come to your senses, and realize, there is no other place in the world you would rather be, than right there, right then, fighting a big 'ol spotted tail, Red!

Occasionally, a tarpon or large shark is hooked while fishing for trout or reds. That will get your excitement up real quick! Keep a heavy duty rig available just in case. Many have been hooked, chased and some landed using medium action spinning gear. A fight of 15 seconds, to 35 minutes, to an hour or more can result . If you?re lucky, you can get one to the boat for a quick picture and release.

Trout fishing in our area usually slows down some with fish moving out into deeper water, 10-12 ft and scattered. However, there will be many to catch in and around deeper channels or cuts like the spoil banks off Crystal River.

Offshore grouper, has been outstanding and should continue. Most catches coming from 40-50 ft., however, Capt. John Rodgers and Capt. Jimmy Long know how to catch them on some inshore rocks in 12-20 feet of water. Plenty of spanish mackerel and Cobia will be caught both inshore and off. There have been a larger number of sharks inshore this year. A lot of Black Tips, Bonnet heads, bulls and Atlantic Sharpnose. These are fun to catch on light tackle.

I have noticed scallops galore recently while fishing the shallow grass flats. Just a reminder, scallop season in our area of Crystal River and Homosassa opens July 1st. We are taking reservations now for scallop trips, so give me a call. You folks out there in Woods and Waters land, if you don?t have a boat or don?t know where to go, I can show you. I can guarantee to put you on scallops and have a fun snorkeling trip. A great trip for the family or a group of friends.

Give me a call while these Redfish and Tarpon are inshore and biting. I guarantee you will have a super time catching these bad boys.

Take a youngster fishing, ?cause a child?s smile and a good day fishin? is the best medicine for what ever ails ya.

Until later,
Captain Ed Lewis

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