Redfishing around the St. Martins Keys has been good as long as there is enough water to float the boat close enough to the keys to fish. A full moon, new moon or south western wind before a cold front, incoming tide is what it takes to get close enough this time of year.
The redfish will stage on the flats just before the tide gets high enough to flood into the mangrove keys. As the tide gets high enough the redfish will move into the interior of the key and sometimes into a pond inside the key.
The best way to catch these fish is to sight cast to them. I pole my boat to within a long cast to the edge of the keys and stake out. Higher elevation is the best way to spot them, but remember they can spot you just as quick in the very clear water. I have my clients and myself keep our movements to a minimum and always have two rods at the ready.
To be successful at getting the fish to eat the bait, I like to study the direction the redfish is swimming and try to cast ahead of it so the bait and fish will intersect. If the redfish is stationary then I will cast up current of the fish and let the flow of the water bring the bait to the fish with some manipulation of the line and reel.
Seatrout fishing has been the best bet as of late. Good size trout are still on the outside flats around Grey Mare Pass, Homosassa Marker 14 and the Chassahowitzka NWR boundary poles. Outgoing tide is the best bite and the best baits have been D.O.A. Deadly Combos, MirrOlure Soft Baits, Zoom Flukes and Gambler Flapping Shads.
Inshore grouper fishing has improved with reports of some anglers catching 15lb. gags in as shallow as eight feet! We are near the end of the season with just about 15 days left, so good luck. High incoming tide this weekend will be in the morning. Capt. William Toney www.homosassainshorefishing.com
By Kacey Karas