Spring is here, I can feel it, even if the fish haven’t given a clear signal yet. The Tree of Gold next door is in full bloom and I recently heard the first whippoorwill trilling in the pre-dawn darkness. These have proven to be sure signs of spring and are welcome harbingers to local anglers.
Although the calendar says it’s the first day of spring, I know that another cold snap could be lurking just around the corner. Experience has shown me that fish have their own internal calendar, governed more by the angle of the sun and the length of the day than the temperature and the predictions of the weatherman. Savvy anglers know that when water temperatures hover in the 70s, fish come out of their winter haunts, even when it feels like winter one day and spring the next.
The Tampa Bay shipping channel is one of the first places schools of baitfish and pelagic predators show up in the spring. This is the time of the year to start looking for snook to appear in the surf and for the wheeling, diving sea birds that feast on schools of baitfish gathering off local beaches in their seasonal, primal ritual of renewal. Seasoned anglers know from experience that schools of bonito, Spanish mackerel, cobia and kingfish won’t be far behind.
In the bay, trout, redfish, and snook will be roaming the flats in search of pilchards, shrimp and glass minnows to replenish themselves from their winter fast. Spring is the time when anglers have a host of piscatorial choices and some of the best conditions to pursue them.
Of course, it can all seem just an illusion as another front riles the Gulf, sending chill winds and muddy water into the bay, forcing us to put on sweatshirts. It’s a sort of swing time and the kind of weather that plays with the emotions of the winter-weary. Yet hope springs eternal, and we know from experience that it won’t be long before our intuitions are confirmed. That’s why it’s time to be prepared, with flies tied and tackle organized for that day when it’s no longer a question of when it will happen, but what species we’ll fish for!
I like this time of year, even if it can be exasperating. One day the flats and Gulf can be barren and the next the action can be red hot. That’s why it’s so important to be ready for just about anything. Having a rig on board that can handle a big cobia or kingfish makes good sense and having wire at hand in case the toothy kings make an appearance can make the difference between frustration and success. It’s a game of search and discover, and the anglers who are persistent will eventually be rewarded. If bait isn’t showing, try fishing the areas they’re attracted to. Many times I’ve worked a topwater plug or fly over structure and found fish where there was no outward sign of their presence.
In the bay, work the areas of the flats that hold fish during the season, particularly the seams adjacent to sand areas and the potholes. Pay particular attention to the deep grass that’s often present at the end of a hole and work your casts into the area by casting short and then progressing right over the hole. I think topwater plugs and flies are particularly effective when you’re hunting for fish and can be an invaluable aid in finding action.
Whatever your fishing style or whether you like fishing the Gulf or bays, take advantage of this swing time and eventually you’ll be rewarded with the promise of spring.
