INGLIS/YANKEETOWN
May is a great time of year to be on the water. Everything has come back to life, and out of the creeks. You will find bait everywhere you look and fish around it. Be sure to do a good once-over on your boat before you hit the water, especially if it has been sitting for a while. If you need to have anything repaired, or just your yearly maintenance, go see my friends at AAA Outboards in Crystal River. They will get you fixed up right, and get you out on the water fast.
The redfish in our area have been plentiful and hungry. The area around Drum Island has been holding great numbers. If you are like me, and are on the water before the sun is, pick up a Mirrolure topwater plug and work the oyster bars and any rock bottom you can find. This will produce some spot tails and snook as well. Once the sun gets up, I have been switching off to a Zman diezel minnowz on a 3/8 oz Fish Head dude jig head. I have been using a steady retrieve, varying the speed until I see what the fish are wanting to see. As clear as the water is right now, you are going to want to stick to more natural colors and use a smaller fluorocarbon leader. This will put more fish in the Yeti, I guarantee it.
This time of year I also keep a bigger rod with a black Hoagy eel tide on in the boat. The cobia are cruising the flats and around the channel markers. It helps to always be prepared. You don’t want to miss an opportunity at one of these explosive fish. A live pinfish will also work.
The trout bite is also going strong. I like to get in the 3 to 4 ft range and pick up a mirrodine early in the morning. The harder you twitch these baits, the more action you get out of them, so don’t be afraid to put some muscle into it. If they are shying away from the mirrodine, pick up a Zman Trout Trick in the fried chicken or shrimp po-boy pattern. Pair this with a ¼ oz trout eye jig head and work the bottom. This has been my go-to bait as of late, and has produced some big numbers.
If you have any questions about our area, or you want to book a charter with me, please give me a call and go check out my new website www.floridaflatscharterco.com. Tarpon season is also in full swing and I do run trips in St. Pete, so if you are interested, let me know because they fill up fast. Until next month have fun, be safe and take your kids fishing.
Capt. Craig Spitznogle
Florida Flats Charter Co.
(352) 445-4978
www.floridaflatscharterco.com