Saying goodbye is hard to do, unless it's goodbye cold weather, and hello Spring!
As the temperatures rise and stay warm all this week, it won't be long until the trout will start moving out to the flats. Right now, they are still up in the deep holes and near the mouths of the rivers, and some are holding up in the local bayous. But in the next 3 ' 4 weeks, they will start to make their move to the ICW and onto the flats of Big Lagoon. Speckled trout were out of season for the month of February, but starting March 1st, they are back on the dinner menu.
Also starting their spring migration/spawning is sheepshead. These crustacean eaters start their annual spawn near the middle of March, usually around the 15th ' 31st. And when they do, the fishing is red hot. I like to fish with live or freshly dead shrimp on a Gamakatsu #4 circle hook or J-hook, depending upon how the bite is. You don't need a big hook; just have a fast tip rod so you can feel the bite. These fish are notorious for stealing baits, but after hooking a few, you'll know what the bite feels like, and then it's all over for the fishes. Fishing near the mouth of the pass with shrimp is a perfect way to bag some of these tasty fish for the dinner table.
If you're looking for some keeper redfish, then don't pass up cruising up and down the beach on calm days. Reds, pompano, and jacks are cruising near the sandbars looking for sand-flees and shrimp to munch on. Once you find a few good fish, either put out the anchor or power-pole, and hold your position and wait for more fish to head your way. This is a great way to ambush the fish. Once you catch a few in this area, give it a little while, and hold your position, because sooner or later, more fish will move in. Just this past week, I had a trip and we hooked up two nice keeper Reds while white trout fishing. We were fishing near the rock jetties in Pensacola Pass using freshly dead shrimp. I was using a Gamakatsu kahle hook on a Carolina rig.
Starting in just a few more weeks, spring breakers with their families will be heading to Pensacola. During this time, many families book inshore guides for the annual sheepshead run; it's light tackle at its finest. Most of the fish are 3 ' 5 lbs, but I catch a lot of fish in the 6 ' 9 lb range during this time period. If you're looking for bigger fish, then look me up starting the first part of April. I have added a new feature to the boat, which is a Cobia spotting tower. When the gulf is calm, I now can sight fish for these monster fish that cruise by our beaches every spring. These fish range from 20 ' 100lbs, and on a Med /Hvy spinning outfit, it is insane how much fun these fish are to catch!
So, now that winter is almost officially over, don't let spring fever keep you off the water. Get out on the water, and catch some fish!
Here's wishing you tight lines and screaming drags!
Capt John
