The top bite for inshore waters has been redfish and the nearshore rocks saltwater pan fish. The redfish bite is best on the incoming high tide on the western facing points. Best bait has been live or cut pinfish. On the nearshore rocks use fresh shrimp on a 1/8 oz. jig head as bait. Position your boat so that you can free line the bait across the rock with the moving current for mangrove snappers and the deeper the bait falls there will be grunts, black sea bass, spanish mackerels, flounders and small gag grouper that will take the bait. Use some old shrimp sparingly for chum. If you use to much chum you will be fishing in the middle of a spot tail, pinfish and porgy party. No fun for any angler, except the young ones and if that what its about, then bring a chum bag!

To catch some sea trout try early morning west of St. Martins Keys, the bars north of Chassahowitzka channel and the Spoil Banks. Scalloping is good north and south of the channel. Incoming high tide will be early morning or late evening this weekend.

Capt. William Toney is a full time 4th generation fishing guide from Homosassa. Experience some of Florida’s best inshore fishing and beautiful unspoiled backcountry. His boat is a custom built 23 foot Tremblay and uses G-Loomis rods with Shimano reels. Trout, redfish and shore lunch are Capt. Williams specialty’s but many other species are caught or targeted.

William Toney
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