The Bite is On in Homosassa!

If you haven’t fished in Old Homosassa before, now is the time as the bite is on! We’ve had recent charters where we’ve caught as many as 12 or 14 different species. Everything from Redfish, Speckled Sea Trout, Grouper, Black Sea Bass, Pompano, Sharks, Spanish Mackerel, Cobia, Bluefish and Grunts they’re all hungry and feeding aggressively! The bigger “Gator” Trout are still up in the shallow water South of Chassahowitzka Point, while many keeper Trout are being caught while drifting the lush grass flats North of the Homosassa River. As I said in my last report, it’s almost hard not to catch Spanish Mackerel as they are thick just about everywhere. Just drop a chum bag over and wait for these fast swimming fish, (up to 35 miles per hour), to flash and attack a live shrimp on a long shank jig head and scream drag off your spool. Keeper Gag Groupers are being caught on the near-shore rock piles. On a recent charter with the Jerry O’Brien party from Sebring, Florida, we brought one to the boat and he had a twin swimming with him. Each day more and more Cobia are being brought back to the cleaning tables and that bite should continue into June. Watch for Rays or Turtles as these tasty fish will be close behind.

On another recent charter with Adam Vehe from Tampa and his Dad, Ron from Omaha we had gone a couple of hours without any action and I was baffled as to the lack of fish. I finally asked Adam if he had any BANANAS on board and after he remembered the jinx associated with that fruit he told me that he didn’t have any with him. What he didn’t know was that his Dad had put a couple of bananas in the cooler without Adam knowing. Well Adam had no problem throwing the bananas overboard to please the fish Gods and it was like someone turned on a switch and we started catching fish so fast we couldn’t keep count! We ended the day with at least 10 or 12 Sharks up to four foot long and way to many Spanish Mackerel to even guess how many! Some of the Macs were “Axe-handle” size and I’m sure went on the grill soon after they arrived home.

If you haven’t taken advantage of our “Introductory Special”, the first time you fish with me, it’s only $299.00 for a full day charter for one to four anglers and includes everything except your lunch and beverages. Check our web-site, www.HomosassaRedfish.com, for more details or to book your unforgettable day on the water. Don’t wait as prime days in April and May are filling fast.

We recently filmed a TV episode with Hook, Line & Skillet – “A Catch & Eat Fishing Show”, it will air on The Sportsman Channel on Tuesday, May 3, 2011, at 8 PM Eastern time. The Sportsman Channel is aired on DIRECTV, channel number 605, or on Dish Network, channels number 285 and 395, or check with your local cable company for listing. We had tons of fun shooting the show and we got some awesome footage above and below the water! Plus we ate real well too!! We’d also like to thank all our friends at Homosassa’s Riverside Resort for everything they did to help with the show. We’d love to hear your input after you watch the show. Chef Pete Flores is a hoot!!

On Saturday, May 21, 2011, I’ll be back on the Reel Animals Radio Program with Captain Ben Marshall, from 6 to 9 AM, broadcast in the Tampa area on 970 AM – WFLA or online 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!

Special thanks to Gail & Phil Oakes of the Homosassa Riverside Resort, www.RiversideResorts.com, for their continued support and donations to the Florida Coastal Conservation Association (CCA), www.ccaflorida.org. Gail and Phil have agreed to donate two nights at the resort which will be packaged with two full days of fishing with Captain “Red ED”, and will be part of the live auctions at both the Tampa, 4/21/11, and Hernando County, 4/28/11, CCA Banquets.

Scallop Season opens July 1st! Book your Scallop charters soon at, www.HomosassaRedfish.com, as most of July is already booked. We had our BEST season ever last year and hope for another banner season this year! It’s an underwater Easter egg hunt!!

Upcoming Events

April 17 – Full Moon
April 21 – Tampa Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Banquet
April 24 – Easter Sunday
April 28 – Hernando County Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Banquet
April 30 & May 1 – Citrus County Builders Association (CCBA) Tournament
May 3 – Hook, Line & Skillet Show – 8 PM Eastern
May 8 – Mother’s Day – “Gift Certificates Available”, surprise your special “MOM” with a memory that will last forever!
May 15 – Stone Crab Season Closes
May 17 – Full Moon
May 21 – Reel Animals Radio Show – 6 to 9 AM Eastern
May 21 – National Safe Boating Week Begins
May 30 – Memorial Day