Snook: (Season Closed Catch & Release Only). Normally snook are heading out of their winter hideouts and looking for something to eat. As the water temperatures rise they become more active and start moving into their summertime patterns. We usually begin seeing the whitebait start showing up in March, so get out that cast net, get the holes patched and do a couple of practice throws. Look for Snook to pattern along outside edges and points along mangrove islands and shorelines especially where tidal flows move bait. Live bait, suspending lures, topwater’s and soft plastics always produce.

Redfish: There’s nothing more exciting to a redfish angler than easing onto a shallow grass flat and seeing fish tails waving in the air. March should bring some early redfish activity as they will also begin looking to enjoy a health warm water meal. Nature provided redfish with exceptional eyesight and hearing, so it’s a quiet low profile for some serious stalking. Never throw into the middle of a school always try picking off the outside fish first. Mullet schools you’ve heard it before and you’ll keep hearing it; is a key factor in locating feeding redfish. Redfish follow schooling mullet eating the baits they stir up so, fishing these mullet schools usually produces. Live bait, suspending lures, topwater’s and soft plastics always yield good redfish catches. While some anglers use the dead stick method with cut ladyfish, mullet or chunks of crab.

Spotted Sea Trout: March still produces good trout bites, especially on incoming or outgoing tides. I cannot emphasize the excitement of using topwater lures on calm early morning flats. Trout love the MirrOLure’s 7M series, Top Dog and new MirrOMullet. Twitch or “walk-the-dog” and pause the lure momentarily after each series. Also check out live shrimp under a popping cork or free-lined with a small split shot. If you run out of shrimp the gulp 3” works great under a popping cork. Just hook it in the same place as a live one; at the back of the head.

Sheepshead: Are showing up almost everywhere especially around docks and canals. These tough, toothy, boney mouths mean aggressive hook sets. Try fishing for these great fighters around markers, bridge fenders, docks, seawalls, rock piles, oyster bars or practically any type structure. Shrimp and fiddler crabs always produce, but green mussels and oysters also work. I like shrimp. I break a live shrimp in half and thread the tail onto a #1 hook, then hook the head crosswise behind it under the horn. Add enough weight to get it to the bottom and lift it up about a foot or so and hang on.

If you’re interested in learning to fish the bay area…“GIVE ME A CALL & LET’S GO FISHING” Captain Woody’s been guiding and fishing Florida waters for over 50 year’s providing single boat charters for up to 4 anglers or multiple boats for large group events. And the results are always the same “Memorable Fishing Adventures with Tampa’s Top Guide”.

For more information or to book a trip, visit my website at: www.captainwoodygore.com, you can also reach me on my cell at: 813-477-3814 or office at: 813-982-2034. My Email address is wgore@ix.netcom.com