By Jimmy Tomazinis
mail@floridanewsline.com
Just like that, we’re entering the third month of the year and spring is well underway. February held some warm days like last year and fishing has responded well. March is like the October of spring as we start to transition back into our summer pattern. Trees will be brandishing vibrant green leaves and even the fish will somehow absorb the colors to look more picturesque. It’s hard not to get excited about fishing in March.
Specks responded to the warm weather last month, and lots of big fish moved into area creeks. This month most of the bigger fish should still be in the shallower water. They can seem very scattered when they do this so be patient and fish thoroughly. Minnows may not be the best for this since they are a slower presentation. Small jigs or beetle spins work well when you need to cover water searching for fish. I don’t find them to be too picky when they’re in the shallows either. I like bright colors so they can see it. By the end of this month lots of them will be done spawning and they’ll start moving back to deeper water and back out to the river. If you’re looking to keep any, remember to only take what you need. These fish are sowing the seeds of our fishery for the coming years.
Bass will be doing very similar things to the specks this month. Unfortunately, they just don’t seem as numerous. We don’t have the best sight fishing opportunities, so looking for beds can be tough. If you slowly and methodically work shorelines, you should eventually come across some fish. I spend most of my time with shiners this time of year since it’s the most consistent way to catch larger fish.
It’s also not too soon to be thinking about chasing some saltwater species in the river. Redfish will be moving in hungry and one of the best bait this early in the year is blue crab. Before we get the flush of bait fish, crab is just about the only thing on the menu, but they don’t seem to mind. Another crab eater to be on the lookout for would be sheepshead. Use a smaller piece of crab or clam if you’re trying to fool one. Get out there and enjoy it. Tight lines.
