Nature Coast inshore report

The Gulf waters are warming quickly and migratory species like mackerel, cobia, and tarpon have officially arrived. The arrival of these fish combined with our "bread and butter" fish like trout and red fish makes for some fantastic inshore fishing. The red fish and trout bite has been pretty good through out the region. Target mangrove shore lines with structure like rocks and oyster bars. Be sure to fish close to the mangroves as possible as the sun gets higher in the sky. Look for the trout in 2 - 4 ft of water on a good moving tide. Trout like grassy bottom with sandy spots. Any broken bottom like this will hold these trout. Top water plugs like a white Skitter Walk (SW08) are really catching some quality fish early in the day. Later in the day I will move to a 1/8 oz jig rigged with a white GULP shrimp or ZOOM jerk bait. The mackerel bite is improving each week. Both Spanish and King mackerel bending rods. Look for the Spanish mackerel in 4 - 8 ft of water and the King fish are in 50 plus ft of water. If the grass is not bad, try trolling spoons or other lures like a Yozuri Crystal Minnow. Tarpon are not here in great numbers yet, but I am getting report of POONS being spotted, jumped, or landed from South of Aripeka to Homosassa. Get out early and look for pods of these silver kings rolling. Be sure to use stealth when approaching. Tarpon will hit a variety of lures like jerk baits or Twitch n' Raps. Small lady fish, crabs, or a mullet floated under a cork on a 6/0 - 8/0 circle hook is a great technique. I prefer quality heavy spinning tackle(50 series reel-40-50lb braid-8 ft rod) on tarpon and bring a few rods rigged with a variety of lures and baits. Good luck out there and tight lines! Capt. Keith Tomlinson Bulldog Fishin Charters www.bulldogfishin.com (352)238-3581