Well finally we are having the kind of weather we should be having by April and the fish can prove it. The fishing was a bit off at the beginning of the week due to high winds from a cold front that dropped the water temp. about 6 degrees, along with a bright full moon. Now that we are past that, the fishing seems to be getting better by the day. There are plenty of nice reds around and they are more than willing to eat a bait. I have checked the stomach of every red fish I have cleaned this week and they are all pretty much the same. Full of small crabs, shrimp, and whatever else they can find on the flats to eat. Now that the white bait has finally showed up it is rather easy to get these fish chummed up and have some good action with some big reds.
Trout is the other big ticket out there right now. Like the reds, they are hungry as well, and are a lot less picky than the reds when it comes to what they will eat. Anything from hand picked shrimp to a Berkley Gulp will do the trick and if you manage to get shiners it is even better. We have also been picking up quite a few Spanish mackerel in the same places we are catching trout. Here is the key, on the incoming tides the water in the gulf is so churned up from this last front the water looks white on the incoming tides. The trick is to keep moving until you find clean water and fish depths of 3 to 8 feet of water over grass. If you are in 3 feet of water and can't see the bottom then move to another flat where it is more clear. That is about it for the trout, it really is that easy.
Now, on to more important things. April 1st is the opening day of grouper season and if you are like me then you know we have only had a few days when we can get out in the gulf with all this wind we have been having to find the fish. Just like trout the most important thing is to find clean water. This can also change with the tide changes just like it can in-shore. There are nice size keeper grouper from 35 feet on out to 80 feet. I like to stop on the way out if the water looks good and try a close in spot before making a long run to catch the same fish. Usually by now they have moved further offshore but this winter is different to say the least. We are a good month and a half to two months behind on a lot of different fish and grouper is one of them so don't waste your gas, time and bait going way out. If the water looks good then stop and try it out at the nearest reef or hard bottom. You may be surprised at what you catch and it only takes a few minutes to check out a spot. I usually don't even anchor when trying out a spot, I just hold the boat in place with the motor and drop a few baits down. If they are there you should know it rather quickly. There are also kingfish out there but just like everything else you need to find clean water and that has been the biggest thing this winter and spring. If you can't see the bottom in a foot of water then how is a fish going to see your bait? We have some beautiful weather all the way through the weekend so get out there and do some catching. It is time!
Sincerely,
Capt. Shawn Crawford
www.captainshawn.com941-747-3856
888-647-2381
