_

Every year I look forward to June because I am invited to the River Palms Fish Camp in Jensen Beach for the D.O.A. Outdoor Writers Event. The fishing is always great for me because it offer’s a change of scenery and a good chance at a snook or trout of a lifetime.

Beyond the fishing though the camaraderie with fellow D.O.A. pro staff guides, professional writers, photographers and representatives of the fishing community is the hart of the event all because of one man’s quest to produce fish catching lures. To put a face on D.O.A. Lures it would have to be Mark Nichols rod in hand, wading a flat along the Indian River with his trusty old Dolphin skiff staked out somewhere near by. He field test his lures daily and I’ve fished with him enough to know that the 3” shrimp is his baby. The two days that I fished, this was the lure of choice for me although I caught fish on most all the assorted lures from D.O.A. that I was supplied with, the 3” shrimp was my comfort lure.  Capt. Chris Myers (www.floridafishinglessons.com) and I on the first day caught 8 different species on the 3” shrimp including playing ping-pong with some monster snook through some bridge pilings. The second day I fished with James Harter a expert angler of the area. As we fished our way up the south fork of the St. Lucie River I caught 16 snook that morning but the largest one got the best of me when my leader was cut after a series of runs and crazy cart welled jumps. I still laugh when I think about his words to me “ you had your chance”.

Back over on the west side, Homosassa still has a few trout inside the flats. The bars north and south of the Chassahowitzka channel are producing some large trout on the first of the incoming tide and just as it turns back out. Near Homosassa Point and also at Trout Key on high tide look for trout around the sandy potholes. For deep water trout along with a variety of other fish, the deep grass bottom out in 10’ to 12 ’ of water north or south of the Homosassa channel is a good starting point. Dragging your lure behind the drift of the boat works best out there.

Red fishing has been a hit or miss lately and to be successful cover a lot of ground. Work the outside keys on the incoming high tides. The north or south sides of the St. Martins river have been the most productive area as of late for me. Near Chassahowitzka Point tarpon fishermen are having success with most of the tarpon moving by on the incoming high tide.

High incoming tide this coming weekend will be late afternoon. Capt. William Toney www.homosassainshorefishing.com