March Fishing Report

You would be hard-pressed to find a time of year when I am more excited to be outside on the water than right now. The transition from winter to spring is, in a lot of ways, like the twilight before sunrise. Although it’s not spring yet, we can see it on the horizon and feel the changes taking place.

On land, the signs are obvious: the grass is growing again, trees are budding, and wildflowers are popping up everywhere. Under the water’s surface, although more subtle, changes are also taking place. The overnight arrival of pinfish on the flats, or schools of cow-nose rays cruising in and out of the inlets, are all signs that life is returning to our little patch of paradise.

March is a great month to target several different species of fish. One of the most popular game fish to chase this month is Spanish mackerel. Spanish mackerel are aggressive predators with a voracious appetite. They make a great fish to target for novices, kids, and anyone else who enjoys the fast-paced action they provide. Of the many ways to catch them, trolling is probably the most popular, followed by casting jigs or spoons into schools of them. Both methods will fill the boat in a hurry if you get on the fish. Schools of mackerel are usually found by watching for surface activity—looking for bait schools being harassed from below or birds working above them.

Another great fish to target this month is the sheepshead. Sheepshead offer a completely different fishing experience and can be both rewarding and frustrating at the same time. They are structure-oriented fish that forage on shrimp, small crabs and crustaceans, barnacles, oysters, and the like. They do not inhale their food like many other species; instead, they nibble and crush it before swallowing. It takes patience and a good feel to dial in the right time to set the hook. I typically use either live shrimp or fiddler crabs on a #2 VMC circle hook with a split shot or a Carolina rig. I try to match the amount of weight to the current and depth to present the bait naturally.

Redfish schools are also a great target this month, both along the beaches and inshore on the flats. Large schools of redfish cruise along the shoreline and in the troughs along the beach. Finding them requires a bit of running, but once you locate a school, it can make for some excellent sight fishing. Jigs, plugs, topwaters, and similar lures are great for enticing strikes—even from the most scrutinizing fish. Fish on the beaches are rarely skittish or picky, while redfish on the flats can be more selective at times. Inshore schools are typically smaller than those on the beach; however, they can be targeted in a variety of ways that differ from surf fishing. It’s all fun either way.

Lastly, speckled trout have been continuously trickling out of the bayous and back onto shallow grass and sand flats. Broken bottom has always produced the best fish in terms of numbers and average size. Larger fish tend to be in shallower water, along the shoreline or in potholes where mullet and other baitfish congregate. Topwaters are always a staple for speckled trout, but like most predatory fish, they will eat a variety of offerings. Shrimp patterns are the next best choice when targeting specks.

If you have additional questions about what’s biting, how to catch them, or if you’d like to book a trip of your own, I encourage you to give me a call or send me an email.