Big Bend Forecast
May 26, 2023
By Capt. William Toney
Homosassa to Steinhatchee Capt. William Toney gives the fishing forecast for Homosassa, Crystal River, Yankeetown, Waccasassa Bay, Cedar Key, Suwannee, Horseshoe Beach, Steinhatchee and Keaton Beach.
May 26 - 28
Getting ready for a big Memorial Weekend. I'll do the best I can to help all the anglers be successful in their quest for a fish dinner. For the best action head west toward the Foul Area, it's about 5 miles northwest of the St. Martins Keys. Use soft plastics on a 1/8oz jig head and cast them ahead of your drift. The dark grassy bottom is the best to target sea trout. In this same area on a long drift, you will pass by small rock piles that will have gag grouper, white grunts, mangrove snapper and Spanish mackerel. To target the rocks, pull off the soft plastic and use a fresh shrimp to put some grunts and snapper in the box. These fish are good eating and add up quickly so be careful how many you put in the box because it can be a pile on the cleaning table. I like these small fillets pan-fried and used as fish tacos. It's an easy way to feed a small crowd and it's hard to beat fresh fish. For redfish, I've done best by casting cut pinfish up under the mangroves on an incoming tide. Position the vessel so you can free-line the cut bait with the tide so it gets way back in the overhang of the mangroves. I always watch the line for a slight jump in it and when that happens reel down until you feel the weight of the fish before setting the hook. Keep the rod tip low so as to not tangle the limbs of the mangrove until the redfish is in the open, then put the pressure on the fish. High incoming tide will be early morning this weekend. Have a safe and Happy Memorial Day, and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice so we can live the life we have in the U.S.A.
Editors Note: Signatures Needed! The "Right to Clean and Healthy Waters" petition needs 900,000 signatures by November 30 to get on the 2024 ballot. Learn more here: http://www.floridarighttocleanwater.org/
Capt. William Toney www.homosassainshorefishing.com
