The pesky wind continues to make angling hard at times, but there is plenty of action to be had, especially if you do not mind filling in the time between trout, red, and snook hits with ladyfish and jack action. The trout, redfish, and snook are out there, but most of the areas I know of that are holding good numbers of fish are tough to fish when the wind is blowing 20+. When the wind has been down enough to fish the windward edges of flats, around spoil islands, and around docks these types of areas have been holding fish. With all the wind it has been important to pay attention to how the current is moving around these areas to maximize strikes. The current moves food and when fish are feeding they will set up in spots where they can use the current to their foraging advantage. Thus, the windward edges, points of spoil islands, and the back sides of docks.
Water temps just took a dip back down into the mid-60s the last few days but already are on their way back up into the mid-70s by late afternoon. As a result, some of the best action has been from noon on through 5 pm. As usual, shallow diving plugs and soft plastics have been the go to lures. I know what you are thinking, "the same old lures, the Yo-Zuri 3D Fingerling and the Rip-Tide Flats Chubs, doesn't this guy ever use anything else." Well, I guess I just like to keep things as simple as possible and if they work why change. You also have to realize that I take anglers of all skill levels out on water and they all must be able to work the lures correctly to get strikes. These two lures are easy for everyone to fish and best of all, they elicit strikes from just about everything that swims. A Case in point was yesterday. I had a 9-year-old girl, her dad, and granddad on my boat. I had all three of them throwing 3Ds and they all caught fish including trout, snook, snapper, grouper, ladyfish, jacks, and catfish. "What no redfish, nope, no redfish." We substituted two puffer fish instead. So, that is why I use the few lures I use, because they are effective and everybody has fun catching fish while using them. Because of the cooler water temps we slowed down our retrieves to get strikes. Just a few rips and a long pause is all it took. White has continued to be a very productive color for both the hard and soft baits. I once heard someone say, "If it is not white, it is not right." So far this spring, I have to agree. Until next time, Tight-Lines to all.
Sincerely,
Capt. Ron Bielefeld
Tight-Lines Inshore Guide Service
Sebastian, FL 32958
www.tightlinefishing.com
772-388-9880
772-633-0325