Spots and Dots on Topwater!!

Report Date: April 9, 2003

It was an overcast morning as we left the dock at MacRae's and headed down the Homosassa River. Bob Stoupa and Mike Bond had left the snow and cold back in Virginia in search of big backcountry Redfish and Trout on light tackle. Bob and Mike had fished with me before and are a trip to fish with.

The weather report called for SW winds at 15 and 60% chance of rain. No Problem! We were headed to the backcounrty and had our rainsuits. Bring it on!!

As the Hewes Redfisher came off plane, we used the bow mounted trolling motor to ease into our first redfish spot being careful to use a stealth approach. We were in less than 2 feet of water and these reds are real spooky. It was overcast, so we started off fishing topwater plugs, one of my favorite types of fishing. I found out real soon, this was a good choice. After a few casts of his Mirrolure Top Dog, Bob had the first big strike. Fish On!!!! A big Red had chased it down from his hideout along an oyster bar. Line started zipping off the reel as the drag from the Daiwa Capricorn began to sing. Then, what every angler fears-as suddenly as the red had savagely hit, he was gone. He had headed back to the oyster bar and took a sharp right. The 10 lb Berkley Big Game mono had been cut on the sharp oysters above the 20 lb flourocarbon leader. Bob was disappointed, and Mike began to kid him. I told him not to worry, that was just the beginning. There were plenty of other redfish, and we were the only boat to be seen and plenty of other fish to catch. We had the Ozello flats all to ourselves. Ol' Mr Redfish had won this battle. However, as the morning went by, both Bob and Mike would win the rest.

On one occasion, while fishing along a grass shoreline, Mike had made a perfect cast. He let the lure rest a second then twitched it and the water exploded!! Mike set the hook. The big red had missed. As Mike reeled in to make another cast, his line had gotten tangled in his lure. While he was clearing it, his ol? buddy Bob, cast to the same spot and Wham!! Mike?s fish hit the plug. Fish on!! Another nice redfish. Bob thanked Mike for scouting the water and locating his fish for him. Mike murmured something about leaving Bob on one on these backcountry islands until next year.
This was just one of many fond experiences these two friends enjoyed this day.


When the day was done, they had caught redfish to 26 inches, trout to 22 inches and had many more exploding, dynamite strikes. The winds became gentle breezes and the rain never came. What a day!!

Thanks guys.. I look forward to our next trip. And thanks Mike for those delicious M.R. E.?s for lunch. It makes me appreciate our troops even more.

If you would like to experience a day like this, give me a call or email to make reservations. We guarantee you will have a fun day on the water with Captain Ed?The RedfishHunter.

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