Homosassa Scallop Season
Homosassa Scallop Season
Opens Early – June 25, 2011
Scallop season has opened early this year and has been extended to Sunday, September 25th!
If last season is any indication 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! This is a great family activity that can be enjoyed by family members of all ages and will create memories that will last a lifetime. It’s like an underwater Easter Egg Hunt!! Check our Recipe Page, www.HomosassaRedfish.com, for some delicious ways to prepare your catch. Many of our clients enjoy spending half day fishing and the other half day scalloping. This is also one of our busiest times of the year as we have clients that return every season, so book your Scallop charters early!!!
The Redfish bite continues to be hot as the weather with many “Bull Redfish” being caught on the incoming tide at the mouth of Mason Creek. Fishing just south of Mason Creek with Jacob, and his dad, Mark Kessler from Indiana, Jacob hooked his first ever Redfish that gave him a fight and memory that he’ll never forget! After an epic battle the Bronze Bruiser wrapped the braided line around a rock and I told him the only way he was going to catch that fish was to get out of the boat and go after it before the line was cut on the sharp rocks. So we both got out of the boat and waded towards the fish who was so tired he was now just lying on top of the rocks. After getting him in the net, I grabbed the line and un-wrapped it from the rocks and we headed back to the boat with a 30 inch Redfish in the net! That was very cool!!
To the North of the Homosassa River try near Mangrove Point, look for rocks and oysters on the outside edges of the islands because if you’re not in the rocks you’re not in the right place. The Redfish are using the shade of the mangroves to escape the warm waters. The Gulf water temperature has reached 90 degrees. Try tossing a live Shrimp, cut ladyfish or whole Pinfish at any rocky point or mangrove shoreline and wait for the explosion and line screaming action to begin. Hold on tight as these fish hit like a freight train! The Speckled Sea Trout will move further offshore and to deeper water with all the snorkelers in the water. Try drifting the flats in 10 feet of water using the fairly new scented bait from MirrOlure the 5 inch Provoker in the Watermelon Red Glitter color behind a popping cork with a ¼ ounce jig head to attract “Gator” Trout over 20 inches! The Berkeley Gulp Jerk Shad in either White, New Penny, Camo or Pink Shine have been a constant producers of many slot size, (15 to 20 inches), Trout. The inshore rock piles are still producing a great variety of fish such as Speckled Sea Trout, Spanish Mackerel, Snapper, Bluefish, Flounder, Black Sea Bass, and Gag Grouper. The Cobia run has reached a fever pitch, with the Brown Clowns following Sting Rays and Loggerhead Turtles. They are aggressively eating and will attach Pinfish, cut Mullet and even Berkeley Gulps popped behind a Cajun Thunder.
Charlie from the Florida Wildlife Commission recently told me this season has been one of the best Tarpon runs since the early 1980’s! On a recent charter we actually had two hundred plus pound Silver Kings appear from nowhere in 5 foot of crystal clear flat calm water on the world famous Chassahowitzka Flats trying to take a hooked Trout from my landing net! As fast as they appeared they disappeared and left a group of startled anglers in boat wondering what would have happened if they had got that Trout. Contact Captain Charlie Harris, Captain Jimmy Long or Captain William Toney as they are the most veteran and best Tarpon fisherman in the area. Is it your turn to catch a World Record Tarpon here in the “Tarpon Capital of The World”, Old Homosassa???
Visit with us at the Fishing Conversation with Captain Mike Anderson from the Reel Animals Fishing Program, as I will be his guest speaker at Gator Ford in Seffner on Tuesday, July 12th from 7 to 9 PM, and register for your chance to win a FREE one day charter in beautiful Old Homosassa. Rumor has it that the “Redettes” may be in attendance! Gator Ford is located at 11780 Tampa Gateway Blvd., Seffner Florida, Exit 10 off of Interstate 4.
Come bend a rod with us in one of Florida’s last best kept secrets, the beautiful and productive waters of Homosassa and Chassahowitzka!! Let’s go CATCHING, Captain “Red ED”
Upcoming Events
June 25 – Scallop Season Opens
June 25 – Homosassa River Fireworks Festival
July 4 – Independence Day
July 12 –Fishing conversation with Captain Mike Anderson
July 15 – Full Moon
July 27 & 28 – Lobster Mini Season