Area Fishing Report

Tip of the week: Water temperatures are the main factor when you are looking for fish, according to castawaysontheriver.com. When you are cold water fishing, look for fish congregating in the warmer waters they can find. The warmest spots are in deep holes and shallow flats. Use a depth finder to find these deeper spots on the bottom of the river.

1. Yankeetown/Waccassa: Jim Zaloga of Captain’s Cove Outfitters writes cobia and kings are around. A live pinfish on a cork or maybe a black Hogy eel have been working for the Cobia, while a live pinfish on a cork and a shiny mackerel lure has been doing the trick for the Kings. Both Permit and Pompano are showing up at longpoint. Use a live shrimp.

2. Crystal River/Homosassa: Capt. William Toney writes that cooling waters will put anglers closer to the mouth of rivers, creeks and warm water areas. Warm waters can be natural like spring-fed rivers, tree-lined banks that block wind and reflect sunlight or man-made like power plants or sea walls. Live bait is the key to the action and the best can be shrimp, mud minnows or pilchards. Most of these bait are readily available on the Big Bend at most bait houses except the pilchard. In Toney’s area they are around brackish water and can be caught in a cast net. They make excellent bait for trout, redfish and snook. A good bait tank is needed, as they are not as hardy as a mud minnow. Using shrimp on the bottom the bite can be good in the rivers for sheepshead, black drum and redfish. Look for deep sections with rocky shorelines for catching these fish. We are at the last chance to legally keep a snook, the season will end on the last day of November. The slot size is 28 to 33 inches and one-per-angler who possess a snook stamp, along with a saltwater fishing license. Popular areas to fish for them now are around the springs in our rivers. There are closed areas made for manatees that are off limits for fishing, so do not get caught even casting in these closed zones or it may be an expensive day/night of fishing.

3. Withlacoochee: No update.

4. Orange Lake/Lochloosa: Visit http://lochloosaharbor.com/fishing-updates.html for updates.

5. Ocklawaha River: Liz at Fat Daddy’s reports that cooler waters are bringing in more specks, and fishermen have been using minnows and jigs to catch them. Those looking to catch bass have been using mostly shiners.

6. Salt Springs: According to Liz at Fat Daddy’s, anglers have been out often looking for specks. The baits of choice generally have been minnows and jigs. Some bass are being caught with shiners, too.

7. Forest Lakes: Liz at Fat Daddy’s reports that most anglers have been seeking specks of late. They have been around more as the water has begun to cool. Minnows and jigs have been the baits of choice. Some have been fishing for bass, using mostly shiners as bait.

8. Lake Weir: Liz at Fat Daddy’s reports that specks have been biting of late with minnows and jigs being the baits used most often. Some anglers have been fishing for bass, and the primary bait of choice has been shiners.

9. Harris Chain: According to BassOnline.com, bass often can be found here in the open water. The canals have them at times, too. Many catches often weigh in between nine and 11 pounds. Specks also have been found here since the weather cooled the water.

10. Panasoffkee/Tsala: No update.

11. Astor Park: No update.

12. Ponce Inlet: According to www.floridasightfishing.com, redfish have been biting all over Ponte Inlet and New Smyrna Beach. Most big bull redfish have come in upwards of 20 pounds with some coming in as big as 40 pounds. A lot of snook also have been caught in New Smyrna Beach and Ponce Inlet with most using live bait but some using soft plastics. Generally, the snook have been between 26 and 34 inches. Several tarpon in the 50-75 pound range have been caught in New Smyrna Beach, as well.

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Area Fishing Report