May Horseshoe Beach
This is one of my favorite times of the year here. The fish are everywhere. If you have every wanted to come explore this area now would be a great time to come jump in my boat. We have been on great schools of redfish and the trout are like shooting fish in a barrel. You can run across cobia cruising the flats and a few mackerel in between.
The redfish is my passion, it always has been and the area between Horseshoe and Steinhatchee is impossible to beat. I don’t care where you stop in this stretch as long as you have good grass bottom with potholes you are going to find spot tails eating. If you are out and about early pick up a Mirrolure topwater and go to casting. This is my favorite thing to do. Sometimes they will hit it all day but if they taper off of it switch over to a Zman diezel minnow paired with a fishhead 3/8 oz dude jig head. I will make a steady retrieve with this bait varying my speed until I see what the fish want. If the floating grass is becoming a problem try throwing a Zman paddlerz with an ez-keeper hook. This will eliminate the floating grass and will produce great results.
The trout have been ridiculous. My bait of choice here would have to be the mirrodine. These baits are money. You might not get as many strikes with these as you would with live shrimp but the ones you get will be quality fish. Bait number two for me right now would be the Zman Trout Trick in the shrimp po boy or fried chicken pattern. Pair this with a trout eye ¼ oz jig head and go to working the bottom.
Keep a rod in the boat with a black Hoagy eel tied on. The cobia are hanging around and if you get an opportunity to tangle with one you want to be geared right for it. These fish will spool a reel in a hurry if you don’t have the right equipment.
If you are ready to come explore our beautiful area and catch some great fish give me a call and lets book your trip now, you can also go check out my new website www.floridaflatscharterco.com. Until next month be safe, have fun and take your kids fishing.
Capt. Craig Spitznogle
Florida Flats Charter Co.
(352) 445-4978
www.floridaflatscharterco.com