Nature Coast, William Toney

Fishing this week has put me close to the dock’s. I’ve spent some time

around Sugar Bowl and in the Homosassa River. What I’ve been catching

on the outside of the river is trout on a popping cork rig doing long

drifts south of the channel. The wind from the north will push your

vessel south so cast ahead of the drift and this will be the best way

to put some fish in the box for diner.

River fishing for sheepshead and black drum has been very good. Look

for rocky shorelines that are close to the channel. Live shrimp on a

1/4 oz. jig head will get the bite. Be prepared for lots of snags on

the rocky bottom. If it happens give your line some slack and wait

about 2 minutes. If there is bait on your hook small fish or a keeper

sheepshead most of the time will pick it off the rock to save your

hook or catch the fish. When I fish the river I start close to the

ramp and work my way west until I find fish. When you find fish it’s

because the water temperature are right for the fish and that will be

the best area to focus on. I will say it’s not the fast fishing we’ve

all experienced but patience and enjoying the beautiful river will pay

off at the end of the day. High incoming tide will be early morning

this weekend. www.captainwilliamtoney.com