Hernando Beach trout bite is HOT!

The weather has continued to be fantastic throughout our entire region. Gulf waters continue to warm and the flats fishing has heated up also. Expect this trend to continue as Spring settles in. The hot bite out on the Hernando Beach flats has been trout with the mackerel taking a close second. Look for the trout in 2 - 6 ft of water. Target grassy bottom with sandy pot holes mixed in. Cast to these "white patches" as you come to them. Trout will also hold near structure like rocks or deeper troughs. Look to these areas on a good moving tide. This is when most species will be ready to feed on anything the moving current brings by. I have had a lot of success on recent trips using top water. The bone colored Skitter Walk has been my go to lure, but working a white ZOOM Fluke jerk bait or 3" GULP shrimp on a 1/8 oz jig in the water column is also producing. Spanish mackerel have really settled into our area in good numbers. Look for these toothy critters in 3 - 8 ft of water. I like to set up near structure and deploy a chum bag. The chum brings in small bait fish which makes for quite the buffet for these predators. For bait, use small pin fish, shrimp, or white bait. Free line these baits in your chum slick on a moving tide. A steel leader will prevent break offs, but I use a 2/0 2X-LONG shank hook. The long shank on these hooks will protect against the many sharp teeth mackerel have and since there is no leader, you will get more strikes. Small silver spoons or a suspending lure like the Rapala Twitch n' Rap are great artificial options. Have a heavy spinning outfit on stand-by in case your chum grabs the attention of a cobia. I use a 7 ft med/hvy rod combined with a 40 or 50 series quantum boca reel. Use 30 - 40 LB braided line (power pro) and a 3-4 ft section of 40 - 50 LB leader. I tie on a 1/4 oz jig with a 4 - 5 inch jerk bait. Cast in front of these fish and keep your offering moving until you feel the heaviness of the fish. Good luck out there and tight lines! Capt. Keith Tomlinson Bulldog Fishin Charters www.bulldogfishin.com (352)238-3581