Ocala/Marion County fishing report for July 13, 2022
Tip of the week: According to spacefishreport.com pompano, whiting, croakers and snook have been the most commonly caught species during the summer months and this trend looks to continue into August on the Space Coast. Also, the shark fishing remains consistent if you can find enough soaking time between the slime to get the sharks’ attention.
Yankeetown/Waccassa
No update.
Crystal River/Homosassa
Capt. William Toney wrote that when redfishing around Homosassa he uses two different methods depending on if he is at the outside keys or the edges and backcountry. On the outside keys the bottom is more forgiving with grass and some scattered hard bottom. In this setting he said he likes to freeline his bait because of the fishing pressure this area gets. A more natural presentation works better here, and the snag-free bottom is friendly to live pinfish or shrimp moving with the current down the mangrove edges. If you move further east the points and shorelines become very rocky, and putting a bait on the bottom will result in snags and hang ups. For fishing in this area Toney said he uses a cork and jighead placed about 17 inches below the cork. Live shrimp is his bait of choice with the tail pinched off and threaded on the hook tail first. The reason he uses a jighead is because the weight of it keeps the bait just below the cork and just above the rocks. For some hot-water trout action move south of the river and use a popping cork with a dark color soft plastic. Look for water about four feet deep with rock grass and fish the high outgoing tide. When the tide changes the bite will end. Incoming tide this weekend will be late afternoon leaving a late-morning low for scalloping.
Withlacoochee
No update.
Orange Lake/Lochloosa
Visit http://lochloosaharbor.com for updates.
Ocklawaha River
Liz at Fat Daddy’s reports that bass have been biting artificial baits (specifically plastic worms) and have been caught with regularity on the top water. Bluegill and shellcrackers also have been biting worms and crickets. She added that fish can be caught all day, but to avoid the harshest heat of the day. Anglers primarily have been coming early in the morning or in the afternoon after 4 p.m.
Salt Springs
According to Liz at Fat Daddy’s, plastic worms have been very effective for catching bass of late. The same goes for crickets and worms if looking to bring in shellcrackers and bluegill.
Forest Lakes
Liz at Fat Daddy’s reports that most anglers have been bash fishing of late with great success. Plastic worms have been the most-used bait of choice. Those seeking shellcrackers and bluegill also have left happy, and most have used worms and/or crickets as bait. The heat has been unbearable at times during the day (though the fishing is still good then) and most have been coming early in the morning or in the evening.
Lake Weir
Liz at Fat Daddy’s reports that bass have been caught with frequency primarily using plastic worms. Shellcrackers and bluegill are being brought in with both crickets and live worms.
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 9 and 11 pounds. Specks also have been found here since the weather cooled the water.
Panasoffkee/Tsala
No update
Astor Park
No update
Ponce Inlet
According to www.floridasightfishing.com, redfish have been the main target since March in Mosquito Lagoon with better numbers of redfish this year than the last few. Most of these redfish are ranging 20-30 inches. Anglers are targeting them mainly on live bait. Giant trophy redfish of more than 20 pounds are starting to congregate in bigger groups on the flats in the Indian River Lagoon and holes in the intracoastal waterway closer to Ponce Inlet. The big redfish are getting more active, but there generally are long waits for just a couple bites …other things are really heating up so not spending much time if at all until we get fully into summer and the big reds start really firing. Snook fishing around the tidal areas of New Smyrna Beach and Ponce Inlet, even down into Mosquito Lagoon, ramped up in the Spring and have continued. There have been multiple trips lately with 10-plus snook landed. Most of the snook are 18-25 inches. That will be steady through the fall. There also have been a lot of black drum in the last couple of months. Pretty much everywhere in Mosquito Lagoon has had a big school of hundreds of 2-year-old drum in the 18-22 inch range, which means they had a great spawn two years ago.
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Ocala/Marion County fishing report for July 14, 20122
