Florida Fishing Report: Florida Fishing Charters

In the philosophical world of Yogi-ism, Yogi Berra once said " It's deja vu all over again". Much the same as February of 2001, February of 2002 has seen some major dips in the jet stream allowing cold Artic air to cross the state in an unseasonable fashion. As I sit to reflect over the past few weeks, Jack Frost is knocking on the back door this evening (again). As we are now entering March, the potential for these abnormal pressure systems making it here decreases and the warming periods come quickly.

As usual the past few weeks, in between the fronts we found excellent trout and pompano fishing. The deeper flats adjacent to the drop offs and structure along the Intercoastal produced best for us the past few weeks for the trout. For whatever the reason the power plant did not produce consistent action this past winter for pompano, or many other species for that matter. I was fortunate to find some consistent pompano fishing in deeper water just inside a barrier island for near a week before a cold snap moved them on. In the same areas a few Spanish mackerel, bluefish and ladyfish made up the bag.

Good pockets of reds are in the ultra skinny but very difficult to approach, not to mention their unwillingness to eat. With pods of over 50 tailing fish in front of us, a good day was getting 2 or 3 before succumbing to the simple logic of better time management. This is typical in late winter as the tides are lower than mean and the water still very cool.

While like 2001, 2002 will not go down as one of our better winters; it is near behind us now. March will see the return of higher flood and ebb tides. With more water along the shoreline and the exodus of winter gamefish from the backcountry, March madness will now be upon us.

Some of the largest snook of the year will be taken as the females migrate to the outside in search of sardines and feed their appetite in regaining lost winter body fat. Gator trout, redfish and jacks will share the house with the migrating snook. Cobia will show first on the nearshore reefs, wrecks, and deeper navigational markers. The first giant tarpon will show inside Tampa Bay with favorable and stable water temperatures. The nearshore muds with the potpourri of Spanish mackerel, bluefish and the first kingfish will take place on the deeper grassflats. Early March is the best time to visit shallow reefs to experience the over-sized and hook breaking sheepshead spawn. In short, the pinnacle of spring fishing will be upon us.

Schools of threadfin herring, scaled and Spanish sardines have been in and out the past few weeks and will become more consistent with the infrequency of passing cold fronts. This “catch 22” scenario of bait schools offers fishing guides some risky and inconsistent opportunities that are well accepted by clients who are in the know. If you are considering the prospects of early spring, now is the time to get time.

Screaming Drags and Tired Arms!

Robert McCue