Summertime Fishing/Catching in the ‘Sassa
Scallops, Scallops and more Scallops!!
Just a few day before scallop season opens on Saturday, June 25th and runs through September 24th! This is another exciting time of the year here in Citrus County, the Scallop Capital of Florida, as folks arrive from all over to experience what’s best described as an “Underwater Easter Egg Hunt”! This is absolutely our busiest time of the year on the crystal clear waters off of Old Homosassa!! With our fleet of scallop boats we can handle any size group from 1 to 50 guests. Still plenty of prime dates available, please check the Scallop Page on our web-site, https://homosassaredfish.com/scalloping for more details or to book your charter.
Scalloping is part snorkeling experience, part treasure dive and part saltwater fishing experience that can be enjoyed by family members of all ages. 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 or as I prefer to call them “Dollops of Goodness”! We do two Scallop charters per day, the morning charter from 7 to 11 AM and the afternoon charter from Noon until 4 PM. We’ve also added a “VIP Vessel” to our fleet this season. Captain Sean will be running our “VIP Vessel” doing one 6 hour Scallop charter per day from 8 AM until 2 PM. Scallop in luxury!
These trips can also be catered by the Wild Sassa Food Trailer (ask for menu options), menu changes with market conditions. With the Scallop season being closed in the Panhandle of Florida this year due to the red tide in that area we expect to be busier than ever, don’t wait book your charters now. Join the excitement and start a new family tradition that will be added to your list of “must-do’s” every year!
Offshore it’s all about Grouper and Cobia! Having no fishing pressure for several months the grouper will be aggressively feeding. The Grouper bite has been excellent since the season opened and trolling Mann Stretch 30’s is sure to attract attention and to drag these fish away from the rocks. On days where there is too much grass floating to troll try dropping live, pinfish or grunts or frozen baits, sardines or threadfins, and hold on tight. Fishing in clear and clean water not only can you see the structure (rocks or wrecks); on the bottom you can actually see your baits hit the bottom. Dropping a frisky pinfish to the bottom will let you know quickly if a hard fighting tasty grouper is at home on the structure. Turn their heads quickly and keep smooth steady pressure is the trick to success, let them play out and enjoy the fight. This is “shallow water grouper digging” at its best!
The Mangrove Snapper will hold on the same structure as the grouper, so have some lighter tackle ready and free-line cut bait or live shrimp into your chum slick to add some of these tasty “mangoes” to your box. Activity breeds activity! With a mixed bag of Groupers, Mangrove Snappers, Grunts, Spanish Mackerel and possible Hogfish everyone will go home happy!
Cobia fever is still at a high pitch here on Florida’s Nature Coast! Many fish over 40 pounds have been coming back to the cleaning tables. Watch for turtles or rays as Mr. Brown Suit will be riding on their backs. Get a good chum line going and cover the water column with baits and wait for these tasty beasts to arrive. It doesn’t get more exciting when you have one of these monsters screaming drag off the reel, a pure adrenaline rush!
Upcoming Events:
June 20 – First Day of Summer
June 20 – Full Moon
June 25 – Scallop season opens
June 25 – Annual Fireworks on the River Show
July 4 – 4th of July (long weekend)
July 13 – 15 – ICAST Show – Orlando
July 18 – Ocean Day
July 19 – Full Moon
July 26 – Reel Future Kids – Scallop/Springs Day
A tackle box is better than an Xbox any day
Fishing is a real experience that creates memories that will last forever!
“For Real & Forever”
Let’s go CATCHING/SCALLOPING,
Captain “Red ED” Brennan
Work: 352-382-3939
Cell: 352-476-1998