By Capt. David Lifka
mail@floridanewsline.com
In North Florida, February is pretty much the month that says goodbye to winter and welcomes in spring. By month’s end we should be seeing enough warm days to trigger the much-anticipated annual largemouth bass spawn in all our freshwater bodies of water.
Whether a novice or full time bass fishing enthusiast, the first few weeks of spring guarantee some of the best and easiest bass fishing of the year. Pre-spawn and post-spawn bites find bass both hungry and aggressive. Both artificial and natural baits will provide plenty of action wherever they are fished this time of year. Area ponds are a great and easy place to fish for kids to get their first bass light casting rod and plastic worm.
While spring bass fishing makes the scene for freshwater fishing, saltwater fishing is also beginning to heat up starting at the beach. Like bass fishing this time of year, some of the best surf fishing of the year takes place in the spring. Bluefish will usually show first with whiting close behind — or often a mix of both.
Both species will also be hungry and aggressive this time of year, making catches easy and plentiful. Fresh dead shrimp, sand fleas, or cut fish are all proper baits, with the whiting preferring shrimp and sand fleas, while bluefish will go flat out crazy for cut fish baits. Simple fish finder rigs with a two- or three-ounce pyramid sinker fished just behind the breakers is all it takes. Once again, a great and easy way for kids to get out and actually catch something.
Springtime bites will also be on the increase for most all other species of fish in fresh and saltwater. Sheepshead, drum, trout, flounder, reds and more will become active in the areas of the river closer to the ocean, but will also be working their way closer to us as the season progresses.
As always, be sure to check the FWC’s saltwater and freshwater regulations for size and quantity if you are keeping your fish (https://myfwc.com).
Fishing Report: Bass action on the rise in area freshwater. Blues and whiting at the beach.
Whether you catch one, some, or none, the family time spent fishing will last a lifetime.
Email your Catch of the Month photo to catchofthemonthpictures@gmail.com. Be sure to include the name of the person(s) in the photo, the name of the person who took the photo, the type of fish and date and location of the catch. We will select a photo each month for publication.
Photo courtesy Jimmy Tomazinis
Nicely spotted redfish caught off Mandarin Point.
