Hernando Beach fishing report

Both fishing and scalloping are very productive off Hernando Beach. Scalloping will soon come to an end the 25th of this month, but the shallow water fishing will really heat up as we approach Fall. We are still finding good numbers of scallops in 6 - 8 ft of water North of Bayport. We have been limiting out on most trips in about an hour. Target grassy bottom 4 - 6 miles North of Bayport. The scallops are thick in these regions but be sure to plan your trip around the low tide. The water gets to 10 ft of water around the high tide which can be much more difficult to get down to these tasty bi-valves. The deeper flats is still has a hot trout bite in 8 - 12 ft of water. A 1/4 oz. jig coupled with a white 3" GULP worked across the bottom is my preferred tactic. Trout can't seem to resist this offering, but sea bass, blue fish, lady fish, grouper, and a early Fall Spanish mackerel often join in the rod bending fun. It is still warm out so the best red fish bite is early. Late September means large schools of red fish will on the move and feeding. If you find a large school moving through a area be sure to approach them quietly or get ahead of them and let them come to you. I like to use a white Lil John or scented GULP shrimp on a 1/16 oz. jig and cast it in front of a passing school so they can find it slowly moving across the bottom. If you locate a large school sitting still in a area, be sure to cast to the edge of the school to target the outer fish. If you hook up on one of these fish the school is less likely to spook and you can keep working that pod of reds. Good luck out there and tight lines!