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For the New Year us folks in Citrus County have a new or maybe an old gift given back to us. The Fisherman's Cut has been reopened though the spoil banks north of Crystal River.

I have run my boat though it a few times last week and my clients were happy about shaving an extra 20 minute off their very cold boat ride. When I passed through, I slowed my boat to an idle because the dredging process was still going on. When the rock breakwater is in place that should hold back any erosion and may have future fishing possibilities.

Now for the fishing report, these are the places where I caught fish last week. The hot water discharge, Kings Bay, Crystal River and Blue Waters in Homosassa. Trout were up in the springs and were hitting D.O.A. glow shrimp, Gulp! shrimp and MirrOlure Catch 2000's. At the mid-point of both rivers I did catch some redfish near the rocky banks close to the channels. Live shrimp was the best bait and incoming tide was the best bite.

For this coming week I believe with this warm spell the trout and reds will move towards the bigger creeks like Mason, Little Homosassa, St. Martins and Salt Rivers. Try the deeper stretches of the creeks that have a shallow dark bottom flat near by. The fish will warm and sun themselves during the warmest part of the day. The bait that will be on my poles are going to be a D.O.A.  1/8 oz. jighead with a glow CAL Shad, chartreuse MirrOlure MirrOdine and a 2/0 Owner hook with a live shrimp. High incoming tide this weekend will be late afternoon. Capt. William Toney www.homosassainshorefishing.com