Off the coast of Hernando County there are bountiful seas. Although we are lacking in beaches the gulf is full of treasures. Hernando County has around 20 miles of coastline. It also has several boat ramps that can be used to launch a boat into the Gulf.
Offshore where there is the proper mix of salt and fresh water there are scallops. As you head out further into the gulf there is still abundant sea life. There are flying fish only a few inches long that sail out of the water for up to a quarter mile. There are large jellyfish that look beautiful as you pass over them.
To find fish offshore you look for depth changes on the bottom. This is referred to as structure. You may find a pile of rocks, a ridge, trench or wall. The fish tend to congregate in the vicinity of these areas, since they provide safety for smaller fish and place to ambush from for larger fish.
The locations of some of the best spots are a closely guarded secret and can be used as currency with the right person. Our captain knew of a number of good locations. The first location the fish were biting, but the captain felt we could do better, so we tried a nearby spot. At that spot we were catching grunts as fast as we could bait our hooks. By the end of the day our arms were worn out from reeling in fish. The fish are called grunts because of the noise that they make.
We also caught several grouper. Grouper are more of a challenge to catch because they are bigger and they live on the bottom and will run under rocks unless you quickly reel them in. Once they are under the rocks it more likely that your line will break than you reel them in.
There was a barracuda that feasted on the grunts as we pulled them up. Sometime he would take the whole fish sometimes he would only eat a half. Although the barracuda eventually got hooked itself and after a fight the line broke and the barracuda got away.
If you ever have a chance to fish the gulf, it is an opportunity you should take.