Getting fresh out in Florida
THIS year I decided to spend a few days in central Florida, near Ocala, visiting friends who were our regular Key West captains.
Captain Jack Kelly retired a few years ago now and at 81 he now runs a small bait shop close to Tsala Apopka Lake, with its 77 square kilometres of open water! Jack’s eldest daughter Lori also guided us but moved to her native Ocala several years ago, so it was great to see them both.
Jack’s youngest, Misty, carries on the family tradition, guiding visitors on trips to see and swim with manatees on the coast and fishing the giant lake.
It would have been very rude of me not to give the latter a try so Jack and I had an afternoon afloat targeting black crappie, which the locals call ‘specks’, short for speckled bass.
Fishing 6lb mono and tiny jigs, we took 10 or so to just over 1lb. I also spangled a small largemouth bass which gave a far bolder bite.
I’ve promised myself another go on this wonderful waterway.