Homosassa to Steinhatchee

Includes Horseshoe Beach, Suwanee, Cedar Key, Waccasassa Bay, Yankeetown, Crystal River, Steinhatchee and Homosassa.

Sept 3-5

At Summer’s End?

I don’t know about you, but I’ve has just about as much summer as I can stand! Gainesville just finished a 50-day stretch with temperatures above the 90-degree mark, and I’ve fished several early mornings recently when the water was in the high 80s. However, the last few days, cooler due to the scattered thunderstorms and overcast, seem to have dropped the water temperature a few degrees. So hopefully, so long as Hurricane Earl (named after legendary Homosassa Captain Earl Waters?) leaves us alone, this long Labor Day holiday weekend should bring excellent inshore and offshore fishing.

My friend Gary Simpson, who writes a weekly fishing column for The Gainesville Sun, claims that the redfish start schooling up as the moon gets full in August. That’s a good call, and as I understand it from reports from reliable sources, the bite has picked up—and likely will be good at least into early November.

Capt. William Toney (www.homosassainshorefishing.com) reports that the big reds are already showing up at the Crystal River spoil banks (Short Point, in particular) and Capt. Scott Peters (www.captscottjr.com) from Steinhatchee has already found a few willing schools of reds along the Taylor and Dixie County shorelines. I still believe that the best moon phases are those with hard-moving tides like we’re going to get on the new moon on September 9, but this weekend, just before those dark nights, should be good, too. These are big fish and depending on the depths they’re in, can be spooky. If you’re fishing in deeper water, like that at the spoil banks, they don’t seem to mind lots of boat movements and loud high-fiving. However, if you see backs and tails along a rocky shoreline, use your push pole or trolling motor (or get out of the boat and wade!) to approach the school of fish.

In either case, almost any bait will do. The folks who regularly fish the spoil banks at Crystal River use live pinfish, but I hate the thought of gut-hooking overslot fish (which most of these are). At least, use circle hooks! My bait-of-choice at the spoil banks is a D.O.A. Bait Buster moved slowly along the bottom away from the rocks—on the north side of either Long or Short Point on a rising tide. As for close-to-shore reds, they will eat live bait, but they’ll also attack (without pity) slow-moving, slow-sinking, sub-surface lures like Paul Brown Corkys, Heddon Swim ‘n Images, and MirrOlure Catch 2000s. Don’t cast into the middle of the school with plugs, as you’ll spook the fish. Just toss your lure along side of, or in front of, the moving school and wait for the strike.

Offshore enthusiasts will likely have to continue the long run to 60-plus feet of water to find gag and red grouper. Of course, lots of action can be found on reefs, rocks and wrecks closer to home, if you don’t mind cleaning lots of pinkmouth grunts (AKA Florida snapper). Some anglers talk down this species, but personally, there’s nothing better than a fried Florida snapper sandwich. And it’s good fun for the family, especially when there’s always a likelihood of having to skirt around and avoid thunderstorms. If you’ve got a big boat and are just dying to fish but don’t want to hock your home for gas, you might try fishing some of the closer-in reefs for king and Spanish mackerel. Slow-trolling a blue runner (hardtail) over places like the Citrus County Reefs, The Kingfish Hole at Cedar Key, Hedemon or Red Bank Reef at Suwannee or the Steinhatchee Reef will likely get you a late-summer king. Or, just put a chumbag out and throw jigs over any patch of 8- to 10-foot grass flats. There, you’ll likely find Spanish mackerel—even a trout or a bluefish. At worst, you’ll chum up a school of ladyfish and keep everyone busy.

The long Labor Day weekend is always a good time to relax with the family. It used to represent the starting of the school year, but now it pretty much marks the beginning of college football season. But to me it represents the beginning of fall fishing season.

Finally, as with most holiday weekends, lots of folks who don’t get out on the water often seem to appear out of nowhere at local marinas, boat ramps and fishing holes. This weekend, there’s always lots of alcohol consumption, which doesn’t mix with boating (and the combination of the two is illegal!). And the rules of the road are forgotten or are disregarded by many. Scallop season is ending, too, so expect big crowds at Steinhatchee, Homosassa and Crystal River. I urge those of you who are experienced boaters to be understanding of visitors, lend a hand if needed, and remain calm, cool and collected about the honest mistakes of others. However, I also expect newbies to learn and follow a few basic rules. Some examples are:

• Take time to rig and load your boat before you get your trailer tires wet at the boat ramp.

• Be sure you know the local boat speed limits and understand the terms “slow running” and “idle speed.” Just watch your wake.

• Don’t allow anyone to bow ride on your boat with their feet in the water.

• Diver Down flags should not be flying when a boat is moving.

• Never drink alcohol while operating a boat.

• Run your boat down the proper (usually the right) side of a marked channel.

• As Captain of your vessel, it’s your responsibility to remain free of distractions.

• And just have fun!

captain@twotree.net | www.saltwateranglersguide.com

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