Landscaping Company Inc. enjoyed landing trophy reds with Bay Flats Lodge Guide Harold, March 1, 2013.
I don’t think there is another time of the year when I truly enjoy fishing more than I do in March. It’s a time of the year when everything seems to be undergoing a change of sorts. Bay waters once again come alive with the obvious presence of marine life that hasn’t been visible the past couple months. Underwater blooms of saltwater vegetation that were absent in colder conditions are now starting to burst into growth out of the bay floor. And changes in the weather spark a long-awaited warming trend for bay waters that will soon, in turn, signal to the trout and reds that the beginning of spring is now upon us.
Change is often accompanied by challenges, and this month will definitely be no exception to that rule. March anglers can probably count on just about as many changes in fishing patterns as there are days in the month. Well, maybe not that many, but there will certainly be a lot!
Wind is one good example. Wind is a major player this time of the year which contributes to the make-up of challenging patterns right now. This month will bring fluctuating winds in an environment where the recent norm has been winds blowing out of the northeast. We will now begin seeing a southeasterly flow emerge which will only continue to increase in strength and dominance as we progress throughout spring. But don’t get me wrong, we’ll still see the occasional cool front with north winds this month, but these fronts will be weakening as we move forward into spring.
Of course the wind might also decide not to blow on occasion, and you might just awaken to the presence of a heavy fog on any given March morning. What are you to do when this happens? The answer for me is pretty simple, but the choice is yours. Whenever I’m faced with impossible fog at the first appearance of daylight in the morning, I generally prefer to wait-it-out at the dock. I really don’t want to be running across the bay in thick fog if I can at all help it. Doing so is very dangerous, and it can prove to be downright deadly in certain circumstances. If you do choose to go out in the fog then please remember to go slow, stop often to shut-off your boat engine to listen for other vessels, sound a horn, wear your life vest, and be careful. And don’t be foolish enough to rely on your GPS unit to provide you with the same capabilities as that of a radar unit, as this can only spell trouble for you in any situation, but especially in foggy conditions. It’s only a guess of mine that the fish will still be there whenever you’re able to get out there safely, so always reconsider your options before risking danger to yourself or to others.
Along with changes in the wind this month will be the changes in the tides and the climate. History shows us that March will give us higher tides over those we’ve become accustom to during the winter months. Tides that have been either extremely low or that have not had much movement over the past few months will now start to become increasingly more active as the days go by. Climate changes, too, are often more noticeable to us this month in that they tend to be somewhat alternating on almost a daily basis. We’ll awake to cooler mornings, but will often end each day with much more warmth than we’ve been experiencing over the course of the past few months. This can often torment anglers when they’re attempting to make up their mind as to where it is they should fish on any given day, and it is why I tend to begin implementing certain changes in strategy this month.
A very prominent strategy difference for me in March is the time of the day that I prefer to be fishing. Being a professional fishing guide doesn’t always allow me to be out on the water only at the time I wish to be, but whenever I have a say in the matter I choose to fish during the afternoon hours this month, all the way up to sundown if possible. Why? Because my past fishing records tell me that the morning bite is not always as good as it has been in the afternoon (historically) once the sun and air temperature has had an opportunity to warm the water by a few degrees over the course of the day. As the waters warm throughout the day, baitfish activity often increases as a direct result.
On those days in March when it is necessary for me to be fishing really early in the day, I’ll adjust my tactics throughout the morning until the day warms a bit. The morning will probably start out cool, so I’ll start my wading session in deeper water over mud and grass, just as I did in past winter months. As the air and the water begin to warm, I’ll transition my efforts to flats areas wherever I notice any concentrations of baitfish – specifically mullet right now.
I’m a huge believer in working the mullet, especially in March when the trout are looking to satisfy an appetite they’ve had for quite some time. Trout eat a lot of finfish, and mullet are one of the more popular on the list. It’s for this reason that you’ll find me fishing this month wherever I happen to find mullet. I won’t be looking for the big pods we see in summer, but instead any small school or just a few that may be swimming together. I’ll adjust my bait presentation according to the mullet. If the mullet are rafting on the surface, I’ll throw one of my favorite top water baits. If the mullet are lurking below the surface, I’ll use a slow sinker or plastics. If the mullet are moving fast, I’ll use a faster retrieve. If the mullet look to be barely moving, I’ll slow my retrieve…and so forth.
After all is said and done, however, probably one of the most important changes coastal anglers need to make note of right now is the fact that spring is here, and this means that there will certainly be more boat traffic on area bays. Meaning also that everyone needs to be safe, and give each other plenty of working space while fishing – there’s plenty of room for us all out there!
Capt. Chris Martin, Bay Flats Lodge
www.bayflatslodge.com
