Saly River, 1/28/14

Crabtrap

I’m very much a fair weather fisherman so, other than a couple completely fruitless sheepshead attempts; I have busied myself with domestic chores and skiff customization during this past cold month. However, today was simply too nice. The combination of Billy and Capt. Loius’s fishin’ reports and the unpleasant fact that I must leave town tomorrow for a month, I just couldn’t help but head out to see what I could find.
With skiff in re-build mode and Mason Creek still too shallow for comfort in the bay boat, I launched at MacRae’s. Down the river I ran bucking the middle of a flood tide. I began throwing a Mirrodine near the edge of the channel just outside of the mouth. Within 10 minutes I managed a spunky little speck of about 17”. No luck for another 20 minutes sent me to the vaguely marked channel leading to the Salt River. This being virgin territory for me, I motored slowly to the mouth and the surrounding mangroves. The open shallows outside did not produce. However once I got into casting range of the island, the trout showed their enthusiasm.
I ended up with three over slot and a half a dozen on the 16”-19” range. The sows were all snatched from the outside of islands, the smaller caught on leeward points with strong current.
Stats: All caught on neon Mirrodines. Water temp in Homosassa river was 70F, the lowest I found all day was 63F. Started fishing at 11:45, stopped fishing soon after high tide a couple hrs later. Sunny and clear water.
Off subject: The last few times that I have been out, including today, I’ve noticed a substantial number of gar on the flats well away from the river. Is this normal? I’m not surprised to see a salt water fish in fresh water but am surprised to see a fresh water fish in salt.
Sorry, no photos. It was a catch and release day and I was alone. I was more interested in living fish than making a good fishing report.

SuperJox

I have seen nice size gar on the flats. There's a certain deep spot south of Chazz that always has a gar farting around in saltwater.

Jim311

I have noticed a correlation between the gar rolling in the bays and recent rains. I think that the rain lowers the salinity just enough for them to tolerate.

ANUMBER1

Nice report..

You went a long way to get to the mangroves at the mouth of Salt River..

Windsplitter

Thanks for the detailed report, have a safe trip.

Redbonz

I have caught quite a few Gars out on the flats of Waccasassa so they do quite well in saltwater....

Crabtrap

Oops...I got my rivers mixed up. I was at the mouth of the St. Martin's River. Sorry for the location mistake. Now I understand ANUMBER1's comment.

Billy

Crabtrap wrote: »

Oops...I got my rivers mixed up. I was at the mouth of the St. Martin's River. Sorry for the location mistake. Now I understand ANUMBER1's comment.

Figured that's what you meant as A#1 is right...it would have been the long way. Gar in saltwater is not unusual and they can be seen gulping air, especially in the summer, out on the near flats. I've caught them (more like snagged with one of them) while fishing for trout.

Bill

ripnlips

I have been seeing lots of gar at the hot water discharge lately. I usually see a few there in the winter but not as many as I have this year.

troutman57

Those gar seem to tolerate salt well. I've seen plenty out past marker 22. The Homosassa is loaded with them right now. The inshore shallow backwaters warm up fast and those trout get real active then thin out. Nice job on the trout. I hear the fish creek area is starting to fire up right now.

davidk5316

Nice report, come back soon so you can get out and putz around in the warmer weather......

angler18

Sounds like a nice outing. That entire area is nice. I have had some of my best winter days fishing fishcreek this time of year during the right tides.

capt louie

Ha , made you go. Glad you wacked 'um :grin
Have a safe trip and will be looking for reports when you get back.