UPDATE, 03-09-2010 - 03/09/10
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This is an update of the March Planner put online, 03-02-2010. Go to our March Planner to find a more complete coverage of this month’s fishing and related events. It is written so you can scroll down the article to find the information you want.
NOW OPEN ON SUNDAYS: Our store is opening between 7-4 on Sundays, with extended hours when customers are in the store. Our regular store hours are 7- 6 daily, and closing at 7 on Fridays and Saturdays.
ANNUAL TENT SALE, FRIDAY & SATURDAY, MARCH 27 – 28.
The talk about the store is customers will be pleased with the specials they find on artificial baits and tackle. Shelia, our Apparel Director, plans some outstanding buys in camo and shoes.
BIG CHANGES! During January and February several changes were made in the location of fishing and boating products. These changes were made to improve the availability of items our customers requested. We are a one stop store. Now is a great time for fishermen to shop. We are fully stocked with huge variety of baits, tools, and tackle.
LIVE BAIT: We currently have crappie minnows and bigger shiners for bass fishing. We also have crickets, wigglers, and earth worms for fresh water fishing. We have shrimp for saltwater fishing, and plan to have bull minnows and live eels by late March or April.
NEARSHORE/OFFSHORE:
Captain Mitch Coleman (www.floridazeadventures.com, 850-896-4930) offers the following tips for Nearshore/Offshore fishing during the coming month. The picture is provided by “capt. mitch” from spring break 2009. Christian and Matthew are 9 y/os showing off a nice spanish.
“March planning should include spanish mackerel, bonita and cobia. Usually the first spanish will show around mid month when the water temps hit mid 60's. Look for the birds to start working on bait close to shore along Mexico Beach and St. Joe Beach to Beacon Hill. That will signal the glass minnows have arrived, and the spanish will follow. There will be several days with morning fog signaling the changes in water temp.”
“The favorite spanish rig is the mackerel tree's right out of the bag with a small trolling weight and a 1/0 Clarkspoon on the end. The multiple hooks allow for catches of 2-4 fish at a time. These small spring mackerel will offer a barrel of fun for the whole family. If you want to target larger fish, use the combination of a pompano jig and a Clark spoon connected with light wire in tandem. Place the jig in front for a little weight to get it deeper. Put the spoon about 4-6 inches back, and rig it like you would on a kingfish stinger rig.”
“The early mackerel will show up anywhere from the seawall in St Joe, to the back of the second sand bar off Beacon Hill, to Crooked Island. I stay in shallower water (12-18 feet). Don't ignore the spoils area in the bay, in case the March winds keep you looking for a leeward spot to catch a Spring "mack attack."
“While you're targeting spanish, troll a plug on a longer line for bonita and cobia. When going over structure, try a Mann's Stretch 20-30 or the Rapala Magnum. The bonita are lots of fun to catch, and can be frozen for bottom bait when grouper season opens on April 1.”
“Later in the month, be on the lookout for cobia hanging around the buoy line. Just in case you get a chance at a brown bomber, keep a 3-6 oz feather jig ready with "gulp" eel. You will need a large spinning rig 30lb class or up to manage these hefty fish.”
“Catch some spring fever to call in sick~ capt mitch.”
WOODS ‘N WATER, MARCH 2010
Outdoorsmen know that the monthly newsprint magazine WOODS N’ WATER (www.woodsnwater.net, $2.50 per copy, see our ad on page 123) is a foremost resource for coverage of Florida hunting and fishing information. In this issue pages 14-17 contains a coverage of the developing controversy over offshore fishing regulations. Pages 23-27 presents and discusses the hunting zones and dates that will go into effect during the 2010-2011 hunting season. There is no way we can offer such through reporting in this brief online account.
We reviewed the fishing articles, focusing on the question of how the coldest winter in recent memory will affect our local fish migrations (pompano, cobia, Spanish, flounder, etc.). Fortunately for the fish, they are not a slave to our clocks and calendars. We also talked to in the know locals. Some fine guides say they have never seen these conditions before, but are guess-ta-mating a two week delay in the action. Others point out that the martins, robins, and glass minnows are here, and they consider this a good sign. Today’s beach water temperature of 58o, last year’s temperature was of 61o. Should we get a little typical March weather, the water could warm up fast.
INSHORE
We are getting reports of flounder and trout being caught at the head of the bay. However, the best bet for catching continues to be the ICW (Intercoastal Waterway). Trout, reds, flounder, and sheepshead are in the reports. A lot of the sheepshead are small, with the ratio of keepers being 1/5. Experienced old timers and guides do much better than 20 percent, and box nice fish. The size limit on sheepshead is 12”, but it takes bigger ones to make sheepshead worth the effort it takes to clean them~ the small ones are boney, ugh!
This time of the year redfish are more wary than ever, and stealth is needed. A popping noise that provokes a seatrout to swooosh a bait can send a redfish packing. The reds are being found in 3’–5’ of water in locations where the water is warmer. Live bait under a float that is allowed to swim about is a method worth trying for the angler who must have a redfish. During a typical March, drifting the potholes around Blacks Island, and fishing their edges with top water hard baits, takes some of the nicest trout caught all year.
BOAT-LESS FISHING:
Along the seawall at Jetties Park glass minnows and small mullet can be seen along the wall. Pods of bait out from the wall can be seen on calm days. We continue to see trout and hear of flounder caught at this location, but most of these fish have been short. Until the last few days, the weather has seldom been comfortable for family fishing. This is changing quickly. The HOTBITE is still to come.
The “Best Bet” along the beaches continues to be Whiting. A new Bluewater employee, Adam Black, tells us he is getting reports of good action around the Mexico Beach canal for whiting. If past years are an indicator, other species will soon make a show at this reliable location. This being the case, other locations for this kind of fishing should also heat up. We include Beacon Hill, Indian Pass, the Stump Hole, and points north along San Blas peninsula.
One local angler set April 1 for the “annual pompano run.” What we do not know is whether the April Fools will be those who come too early, or those who come too late! What we do know is that the pompano run will signal that spring fishing has arrived in force, and the first of April is not a fools date.
FRESHWATER:
We are hearing of some good catches of crappie at Howard’s Creek and Depot Creek on small shiners. Locals have warned us that once the water warms, these slabs will be headed for deep water. In a way it is funny how one species of fish is coming when the next is going. Carol Anderson, our local on-the-water bwo staffer, says the water is still a little high and too cold for freshwater fishing at its best. However, a few nice bass are showing up. The days are warming to a point where old timers are yearning to get out of the easy chair and on to the water.
The trot liners are reporting nice catches of channel cats and blue cats. The water still needs to warm for the shellcrackers and bream fishing to turn on.
Compiled by your fishing friends at Bluewater
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Internet Special
Older Fishing Reports
| 03/09/10 | - | UPDATE, 03-09-2010 |
| 03/02/10 | - | March Planner, 2010 |
| 02/17/10 | - | Update, 02-17-2010 |
| 02/03/10 | - | February Planner, 2010 |
| 01/28/10 | - | Update, 01-28-2010 |
| 01/21/10 | - | Update,01-21-2010 |
| 01/14/10 | - | Update, |
| 01/05/10 | - | JANUARY PLANNER, 2010 |
| 12/16/09 | - | HOTBITE, 12-15-2009 |
| 12/09/09 | - | HOTBITE, 12-09-2009 |
| 12/02/09 | - | December Planner |
| 11/25/09 | - | HOTBITE, 11-25-2009 |
| 11/19/09 | - | HOTBITE, 11-18-2009 |
| 11/11/09 | - | HOTBITE, 11-11-2009 |
| 11/03/09 | - | November Planner, 2009 |
| 10/28/09 | - | HOTBITE, & Bird Hunting |
| 10/21/09 | - | HOTBITE, 10-21-2009 |
| 09/30/09 | - | October Planner, 2009 |
| 09/23/09 | - | HOTBITE, 09-24-09 |
| 09/17/09 | - | HOTBITE, O9-16-2009 |
| 09/09/09 | - | HOTBITE |
| 09/02/09 | - | September Planner |
| 08/26/09 | - | HOTBITE: 8-26-2009 |
| 07/29/09 | - | August Planner |
| 07/22/09 | - | HOTBITE, 07-22-2009 |
| 07/15/09 | - | HOTBITE, O7-15-2009 |
| 07/09/09 | - | HOTBITE, 07-09-09 |
| 07/01/09 | - | July Planner, 2009 |
| 06/30/09 | - | SCALLOPS IN ST. JOE BAY, 2009 |
| 06/24/09 | - | HOTBITE, 06-24-2009 |
| 06/18/09 | - | HOTBITE, 06-17-2009 |
| 06/10/09 | - | HOTBITE, 06-10-2009 |
| 06/03/09 | - | HOTBITE, 06-03-2009 |
| 05/27/09 | - | June Planner |
| 05/20/09 | - | HOTBITE, 05-20-2009 |
| 05/12/09 | - | HOTBITE, 05-12-2009 |
| 05/06/09 | - | HOTBITE, 05-06-2009 |
| 04/30/09 | - | May Planner |
| 04/21/09 | - | HOTBITE, 04-21-2009 |
| 04/14/09 | - | HOTBITE, 04-14-09 |
| 04/08/09 | - | HOTBITE, 04-08-09 |
| 03/31/09 | - | APRIL PLANNER |
| 02/03/09 | - | SHEEPSHEAD |
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