_

As I write this report the air outside by the river is 90 degree’s, that’s sounds like summer to me! On the water it’s slightly cooler because of the breeze and as long as there is a breeze the trout have been cooperating. The best areas have been north west of the St. Martins Keys and south around the Chassahowitzka channel. I’ve had success with both dark colors and glow soft plastics. On some mornings they like to have the jig under a cork but mostly on just a 1/8 oz. chartreuse jig head. This is the best way to find out. If there is more that one of you in the boat, each angler should use a different rig until someone starts catching the most fish, then switch to that bait.

Some tarpon are beginning to arrive around Black Rock and I’ve heard report’s of some guides clients catching a few on the fly. Homosassa has record breaking tarpon to be caught on the fly rod and some of the best fly fishing guides in the state, so if your interested in catching a tarpon on the fly, now is the time.

With the arrival of the tarpon, along come’s the big bull and tiger sharks. These big sharks can also be sight casted with a chunk of cut mullet on the flats around Chassahowitzka  and the St. Martins Keys. As the incoming tide covers the flat the sharks move in with the water and don’t think you can just motor up to one and cast out to catch it. Big shark’s are not big from being dumb, you have to approach them as quietly as possible from a drifting boat to get them to eat.

Redfishing  has been a little tough because they just don’t want to eat. My clients and I are seeing plenty and catching a few but some fish around the Ozello area are either getting to much angling pressure or ran over by to many boats. My opinion is that they are getting run over by to many boats because I’ve watched them go from being normal to crazy as a sprayed roach whenever a airboat is within a 1/2 mile. When this happens you can kiss that school of fish good-by. In the Chassahowitza Wildlife Refuge it’s a little more redfish friendly because of it’s large size and lack of airboats.

Look for incoming high tide this weekend very early morning or very late evening. Capt. William Toney www.homosassainshorefishing.com