Fishing Good Despite Unusual Weather
Happy New Year from Old Homosassa! We hope everyone had an enjoyable and safe holiday season and that Santa delivered all the new fishing toys you asked for!! We’d also like to thank everyone that fished with us in 2012, our most successful year of charters, and hope to see you all again in 2013!!! You can visit our website at www.HomosassaRedfish.com to reserve your charter, as prime dates in March and April are already booking fast. I’ve actually already booked Scallop charters for August, don’t wait or the dates you want may be booked. Scallop season is July 1st through September 24th.
In between the winter fronts and wicked North or Northeast winds that create the negative tides that this area is famous for, the fishing has been good. Are we really having a winter this year? One day last week while drifting over some rock piles in about 6 foot of water, I caught 2 nice Spanish Mackerels, (got cut-off by some other huge Macs), tasty Sheepshead, Big Black Sea Bass, Bluefish, Trout and Pompano. The larger Trout have been caught closer to the bottom. The crystal clear inshore waters that arrive with the change of season are ideal for sight fishing Redfish and Trout that have settled into potholes and the deeper parts of the numerous creeks that will serve as their winter feeding stations. The best method of fishing these deeper areas are with a slower retrieve as the fish tend to be a little more lethargic with the cooler water temperatures. All the fish caught lately have just shellacked the baits as they continue to feed aggressively.
Watch for next month’s report for photos from my pre-Super Bowl trip to the Cajun Fishing Adventures Lodge, www.cajunfishingadventures.com in Buras, Louisiana. I’ll again be fishing with Captain Johnny “Black” Hodge for three days in the bayou hunting huge Redfish (hopefully a 45+ inch Bronze Bruiser), Trout, Black Drum and Flounder. I’ll be joined by two friends from NYC, Ali Fox and Dirk Reinhardt, who I met last year while fishing at the Turneffe Flats Lodge in Belize. Go RAVENS!!!
On Saturday, February 16, 2013, I’ll be back on the Reel Animals Radio Program with Captain Michael Anderson and 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 you!
Cynthia and I will be heading to Costa Rica for three days of fishing at the “1st Annual Reel Animals Fishing Show Sailfish Tournament” at the Zancudo Lodge, www.zancudolodge.com in Costa Rica, February 23, 2013 through February 27, 2013. The three day tournament, Sunday, 2/24, Monday, 2/25 and Tuesday, 2/26 is being held during peak Sailfish time and will be filmed for broadcast nationwide on the Reel Animals Fishing Show. Watch future reports for broadcast dates. The Zancudo Lodge, where over 70, I.G.F.A. records have been set, is Costa Rica’s premier fishing resort – world renowned for both its inshore and offshore fishing. Voted as the #1 fishing lodge in Costa Rica, and surrounded by the beauty of Costa Rican wildlife, idyllic foliage, and private beaches, The Zancudo Lodge offers guests a variety of activities accompanied by luxuriously appointed rooms and the finest and freshest of our regional organic cuisine.
For all of our friends in or near the Tampa, Florida area, please stop by and visit with us at The Tampa Outdoors Expo & Boat Show hosted by Frank Sargeant, at the Florida State Fairgrounds, Expo Hall, Booth # 314, Friday, 3/1/13, from 1 to 8 PM, Saturday, 3/2/13, from 10 AM to 7 PM, and Sunday, 3/3/13, from 10 AM to 5 PM. Stop by and meet the “REDETTES” and register for your chance to win a FREE charter each day of the show! Admission is FREE on Friday for everybody and children under 12 years old are admitted free all days. New this year, I will be doing the first ever Scallop Seminar at the show, on Saturday, 3/2 at 4:30 PM. Plus we will have my new boat, “Red Eddie or Knot”, at the show in the Young Boats booth. Stop by and take a look at the classiest charter boat in Citrus County!
Upcoming Events
Jan. 26 – Full Moon
Feb. 1 – Speckled Trout Season closes – NE & NW Regions
Feb. 3 – Super Bowl
Feb. 8 – Ocala Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Banquet
Feb. 8-9-10 – Old Florida Outdoor Festival – Apopka
Feb. 14 – Valentine’s Day – Don’t forget about our “Gift Certificates” for your favorite angler.
Feb. 14-18 – Miami International Boat Show
Feb. 16 – Reel Animals Fishing Radio Show – 970 AM Tampa – 6 to 8 AM Eastern
Feb. 25 – Full Moon
Feb. 28 – Citrus County Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Banquet
March 1-2-3 – Tampa Outdoor Expo – Florida State Fairgrounds – Booth # 314