Spring is here and the summer time pattern won’t be far away. Water temperatures are on average in the mid to high 70’s and tarpon, snook, redfish, sea trout, jacks, and ladyfish are all becoming more active as their appetites demand it! When scaled sardines begin to show up on the flats, the action begins.
Snook have begun their transition and can be found at all the mouths of the creeks and rivers. It’s not uncommon to get a cold front of two so they won’t leave these areas for the next month until things start to get really hot. When it comes to a fly selection, our bay has a darker sand/mud bottom mottled with grass and I’ve always found darker flies to work the best. Little crabs, sliders, and clousers on a number four or six is a go-to almost year round when they begin to show up. Light tackle anglers need to be able to throw far and introduce their offering as unobtrusive as possible. Snook have the ability to feel something enter their “zone” from a distance that we can’t comprehend sometimes and it all has to do with their lateral line combined with their extraordinary sight. Small bucktails or zman plastics allow us to throw baits great lengths and are small enough that allow us to introduce the bait with minimal disturbance.
Sight fishing for redfish is still as it’s peak with the clean water from the winter temperatures with the added perk of climbing water temps. Fly fishing for redfish in our bad always requires a long leader and the size of our flies are generally a number four to six. With the lack of back in the water, they’ll rarely turn down a crab fly that’s “their idea.” In the northern part of the bay, we are starting to see a little dirtier water due to rain and the fish can be a little less spooky and more willing to bite. It’s important that when visibility is compromised to go extra slow and always position yourself with the sun at your back!
Jacks and ladyfish are always such gamers and great for anyone looking to get into fly fishing. Flats that receive direct flow from either a bridge/pass will hold a lot of bait and in return the predators follow. Getting up tide and setting up a drift or anchoring on the edges is a great way to get tight!
Night time fishing for snook and tarpon is starting to heat up after some of the warmer days. New moon nights are always the most productive but paying attention to moon rise/set times and coordinating your game plan around such can also be spectacular.
