This a fantastic time to fish the Nature Coast. There is so much going on it’s hard to decide what fish to target. The bigger sea trout are starting to show up in increasing numbers on the shallow flats in less than 2 feet of water. In the early morning and late evening, try top water plugs. Skitterwalks, Chug Bugs and soft plastics work extremely well. Don’t be surprised if a Spanish mackeral or a bluefish crash your lures. That’s what happened to my most recent client who caught a 27” Spanish mackeral. Both clients caught their limits in sea trout.
Further inshore, snook and reds dominate the scene. Large schools of reds are feeding around the oyster bars and spartina grass. Watch for their V wakes and throw ahead of the school. Don’t forget to work the schools of mullet. Often reds will swim with them eating what mullets scare off the bottom. Snook are moving to their fall and winter haunts and are feeding aggressively. Again top water plugs and soft plastics will fool them. Berkley gulp shrimp on a light jig will also produce. Snook like moving water so look for areas of good tidal flow such as creek mouths and around shallow bars. Top water plugs, soft plastic jerk baits and Berkley Gulp on a weedless 4/0 or a 5/0 hook work well.
This afternoon, Gil, a close friend, and I decided to fish for a few hours on an outgoing flood tide. The sea breeze was blowing at about 15 knots which made it impossible to sight fish. Blind casting to the shore produced a red of 24”. Gil was throwing a white Redfish Magic soft bait and missed a slot size red. We then decided to target sea trout on a nearby flat off Bayport. Gil was quick to hook up to a trout of 25”. He did keep that fish, since one sea trout over 20” is allowed to be kept for dinner. I ended up with three nice trout.
Please, above all, remember safety on the water and respect other fisherman.
Tight lines and screaming drags, Capt. Larry Roderick, Flats Slam Fishing Charters, (352) 835 3785