For fishing two great things happen
over the month of March. With warmer temperatures the bait fish migration
begins as large bait schools move into our waters from the south. With the
combination of warm water and a huge influx of food, look for predator or game
fish to get very hungry as the month progresses.
Look for trout fishing to go from
good to great as the month progresses. And not just in numbers, but also in
size, we well note a big rise in large “gators” often 24 inches or larger. The
fish are often schooled in similar size, if you are only catching small ones
make a move, sometimes a slight move is all that’s needed. Although live shrimp
are catching plenty, the larger trout are often keying on oily baitfish. On the
calm mornings look for big fish prowling the shallows, (watch those mullet
schools) where a properly worked top water plug or fly can be deadly. A swim or
crank bait is a great choice in depths from three to six feet during mid-day,
and of course if you can catch some live pilchards, thread herring or pinfish
you really tip the scale in your favor to land some big trout.
Spanish
mackerel continue to get more abundant and larger as the water warms. Inshore,
look for them over areas with a mixed grass bottom in four to nine foot depths.
Bluefish, trout, jack crevalle, big ladyfish, sharks, and cobia are often
feeding over the same bottom. If you have family down visiting over Spring
break this type fishing can provide fast action and lots of smiles. Also, look
for mackerel schooling near any of the Gulf Passes, inlets, and a short
distance off the beaches. Big blacktip
sharks love eating mackerel, keep a heavier rod, rigged and ready if you have
the desire to do battle with these impressive fighters.
Our first
spring high tides of the year are a good time to hook into redfish under the
mangrove shorelines and along oyster bars. Fish on average should be larger
than the winter months, with most running in the 18 to 27 inch slot plus a few
oversize reds. Look for reds tailing or pushing water over the shallow flats or
in sand potholes on the morning low water and working their way around oyster
bars and shorelines as the waters rise. While targeting these areas for reds it’s
common to hook some of the largest trout of the season, plus snook.
Speaking
of snook, the spring season is open for the first time in 4 years. After a
devastating freeze in January 2010 wiped out much of the population, an
emergency snook closure was issued. Snook are not back to the numbers prior to
2010, but they are out there and they well be hungry. Please make an effort to
carefully handle all snook to be released; it’s a great habit to do this with
any fish to be released, no matter what the species. With the 28 to 33 inch slot
it’s a crap shoot to catch a legal fish, but if you do season is once again
open. Make sure that along with a salt water fishing license you have a snook
stamp in your possession if you plan on keeping any.
Tarpon
sightings and hook-ups were beginning to happen the last week of February and we’ll
continue to improve each day. Tarpon schools were found off the beaches and
scattered fish were located in north Matlacha Pass, Pine Island Sound, and
Charlotte Harbor. Expect more and more fish to move into the inshore waters
each week. Also, keep an eye open for cobia, they are likely to show up
anywhere at any time.
Offshore, fishing has been good and
should continue. March is notoriously a windy month but on the calm days look
for good action on red grouper in depths from 65 to 120 feet. Larger mangrove snapper were reported from 60
to 100 feet over ledges. Large amberjacks are in good numbers over structure
anywhere from 60 to 130 feet, plus lots of sharks, barracudas, and possibly
cobia. King mackerel are moving up the coast; look for them around bait school
beginning at about 30 foot depths.
I know a
lot of visitors are down from the north this month for Spring break, if you
have friends or family visiting and you have access to a boat get them on the
water. This is a great month for fishing as the water just seems to come to
life. Larger fish are moving in and hungry, you just don’t know what you may
hook into!
For charter information,
please contact us at:
Phone: 239-283-7960
Website: www.fishpineisland.com
E-mail: gcl2fish@live.com
"Catch the Action" with Captain Bill Russell
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