Excting Times in Homosassa!!!
Exciting times in Homosassa
June is always an exciting time of the year here in Old Homosassa. The inshore bite continues to be HOT as you never know what going to be screaming drag off your reel. On a recent charter with Tom Howard and his 14 year old son Brian from Longwood we caught 8 different species. Of course, Brian was most excited about catching Sharks but we also caught Sea Trout, Black Sea Bass, Bluefish, and an unusual Houndfish, (see picture in our Photo Gallery).
On another recent ½ day charter with Bob Hillerich and his family from Brooksville, on the very first cast of the day we had a keeper Redfish in the cooler. The Redfish ate a live shrimp tossed up to the rocks on an outgoing tide. Gary Waters from Stella, Missouri was also lucky enough on his first cast of the day to catch a 17 inch Sea Trout and ended his day by catching a nice and delicious Black Drum.
Cobia over the legal size limit of 33 inches to the fork of the tail have been caught on the inshore rock piles. Watch for Stingrays and Loggerhead Turtles as Cobia will swim on their backs looking for an easy meal. The 29th Annual Cobia Big Fish Tournament is June 8th & 9th; last year’s winning Cobia weighed 61.12 pounds and won $6800.00!
Young Boats has sponsored me for this year’s tournament and we’ve compiled an All-Star Team to compete against 199 other boats. Captain Dan Clymer excitedly reported hooking 16 Tarpon in the last week and bringing a few boat side on a fly! Most of the Silver Kings are still south of Homosassa, try the sandy Oklahoma Flats for the best opportunity to site fish these prehistoric trophies.
The offshore bite has been just as HOT, as we’ve been slamming the Gag Groupers in 20 to 30 feet of water. It doesn’t matter what bait you’re using as its being inhaled as soon as it hits the bottom. Hold on for some hard grunting fun! The only bad part about catching all of these Gags is that season is closed until July 1st, so we’ve been releasing between 25 to 50 gags per trip. Who said there was a shortage of Gag Groupers?
On one of our recent offshore scouting trips for the Cobia Tournament, fishing with my mate Buzz Lersch and Captain Ben Dyal, Ben and I had a double-header of Gag Groupers hooked in about 20 feet of water over a wreck when a 250-300 pound Goliath Grouper came up off the bottom and tried to eat my Grouper about 10 feet under the boat, missed it but got Ben’s and almost took him for a swim! When the Goliath saw the boat he let go of the Gag and when Ben brought him aboard you could see the marks from the humongous Jewfish. That was heart pounding excitement!
We’ve also been catching some keeper Red Grouper, that season opened April 1st and some really nice Grunts, (great table fare), Sharks and Sea Bass while playing with the Groupers. We have a few prime dates still available in June; check our web-site at www.HomosassaRedfish.com for more details or to reserve your charter on my new Young Boat or on my newly renovated Carolina Skiff. Let’s go CATCHING!!!
Who doesn’t like to go SCALLOPING? Scallop season opens July 1st and runs through September 24th. If last season is any indication, (they were larger than ever before), we are expecting another banner year for these tasty morsels. Snorkel in crystal clear water, usually waist or chest deep, over pristine grass flats and bag your limit of these delicious shellfish. You’ll be able to find scallops north of the Homosassa River starting in about 3 feet of water and South of Chassahowitzka Point, just look for the fleet of boats, they will be everywhere! Check our web-site at www.HomosassaRedfish.com, for more details or call 352-382-3939, to reserve your charter, as prime dates are filling up fast.
We are doing two scallop charters per day, the morning charters are from 7 to 11 AM, and the afternoon charters are from Noon to 4 PM. Don’t wait any longer to book your charter as most of July is already booked. This is a great way to cool off from the summertime heat and anyone that can swim can participate. Scalloping is the greatest family sport ever, which can be enjoyed by family members of all ages and will definitely create memories that will last a lifetime. Join the excitement and start a new family tradition that will be added to your list of “must-do’s” every year!! It’s like an underwater Easter Egg Hunt!!
Red Ed “Koozies” Contest
Send us a picture of you holding your favorite beverage in one of our famous Red Ed “Koozies” from all around the world and we’ll do a drawing and award the winner with your choice of either a half day fishing or scallop charter. Please send your pictures to, RedEd@homosassaredfish.com. All photos will be posted on our web-site, www.HomosassaRedfish.com
Upcoming Events
June 8 & 9 – 29th Annual Homosassa Cobia Tournament
June 15 – I’ll be back on the Reel Animals Radio Program with Captain Ben Marshall, from 6 to 8 AM, broadcast in the Tampa area on 970 AM – WFLA or on line at www.970wfla.com If you’d like to call in and talk some fishing the toll free number is 800-969-9352. It would be great to hear from my Tampa Bay area friends!
June 16 – Father’s Day – “Gift Certificates Available”, surprise your special “DAD” with a memory that will last forever!
June 23 – Full Moon
June 29 – Homosassa River Annual Fireworks Festival
July 1 – Scallop Season Opens
July 1 – Gag Grouper Season Opens
Capt. “Red Ed” Brennan
www.HomosassaRedfish.com
(352) 382-3939
Important Seasonal Open/Closure Dates:
44 Day Florida State Waters Recreational Red Snapper Season begins June 1
The 2013 Gulf of Mexico recreational red snapper season begins June 1 in state and federal waters. This year’s state season is 44 days long and will be open through July 14 with the first day of the closure being July 15. The federal season off Florida will be 26 days long. The state season was approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) at its April 17 meeting in Tallahassee. State waters are from shore to 9 nautical miles in Gulf waters; federal waters extend beyond that line to 200 nautical miles.
Atlantic Snook to Close in State and Federal Waters
The recreational harvest of snook in Atlantic state and federal waters closes June 1. Snook will reopen for harvest in Atlantic federal, state and inland waters, including Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River, on Sept. 1. Snook remains closed for harvest in Gulf of Mexico state waters, including Everglades National Park and Monroe County. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will decide at its June meeting in Lakeland whether to allow the Gulf snook harvest to reopen Sept. 1.
Gulf Amberjack Closes in State and Federal Waters
The recreational harvest of greater amberjack in Gulf of Mexico state and federal waters closes June 1. Greater amberjack will reopen for harvest in Gulf of Mexico state and federal waters Aug. 1.