Showers and thunderstorms likely. Low 67F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%..
Showers and thunderstorms likely. Low 67F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Updated: March 27, 2024 @ 10:31 pm

No one wants to jinx it, but it looks like we may be turning the corner and making the transition from winter to spring fishing.
March 1 marks the meteorological start of spring, but the long-range forecast is for daytime temperatures in the 80s and nights in the 60s, which puts us on track for springtime water temperatures arriving early, according to our source Robert at Gandy Bait and Tackle.
“We’re already seeing things starting to turn to more of a spring pattern,” he said. “We’re going to see things really picking up on trout, snook and redfish.”
Robert’s tip for reds this week is the shallow flats around Fort De Soto. Look for mullet schools, as the reds will be running is behind them taking advantage of the crabs, shrimp and baitfish the passing mullet flush out of the grass. His other go-to spots are Weedon and Picnic islands, where fish that have been holed up in backwaters and creeks will be moving out to the front sides of the islands to feed as the bay water warms. He said anglers looking for trout may want to work 2 to 4 feet of water along drop-offs in front of Picnic Island.
Other things likely to develop over the next few days include schooling Spanish mackerel moving up Tampa Bay to the Gandy Bridge area from the Skyway, where they have been parked for the last month to feed on the abundance of bait there. As the bait moves into the bay with warming conditions, the mackerel will follow. Also, look for the first spring kingfish to be showing up offshore and perhaps around the Skyway.
Capt. Chuck Rogers is predicting one more cool front ahead, but it’s not likely to derail spring fishing, which in his mind is already upon us. On his most recent charter he saw more snook on the open flats and points, as they began moving out of their wintering backwater spots. He is finding plenty of live sardine schools, and while they are sticking to deeper water around the bases of the bay bridges, as the water warms in the days ahead the schools should be moving onto the shallow grass flats, at which time the snook bite will fire up.
The abundance of bait spreading out in the middle of the bay will turn on redfish and likely draw in schools of hungry Spanish mackerel from the mouth of the bay, he said.
Capt. George Hastick predicts this week will see the snook bite take off. Live sardines are easier to find now, and they will be the best bait, though live pinfish or shrimp will do. His advice for the coming days is to ambush fish around creek and river mouths, as fish will begin pouring out of warmer backwaters at the open bay waters warm. Fresh cut-bait has been working best for reds, but with the warm days ahead, he expects live sardines will become the more effective option. Look for reds to be schooling in 2 feet of water over patchy grass bottom and along mangrove lines when the water is high.
Also, look for Spanish mackerel schools feeding on the schools of scaled sardines and threadfins in open-water areas.
The other development we’re likely to see with the warming conditions is more cobia roaming the flats in search of food. It’s time to start checking channel and range markers for cobia, as well as keeping an eye out for schools of rays in shallow water, as cobia like to follow them to feed on the shrimp, crabs and small baitfish the turbulence from the rays’ wings stir up off the bottom.
 
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