The Warmer Side of Winter

When it comes to our weather patterns in Texas, there are a few things that we know for sure. One of them being is that summer is going to be blistering hot and the other is that winter is going to be bone-chilling cold. The other two seasons provide much fishing-friendlier weather but the bad thing is, those days are numbered and never last long. March happens to be one of those months where there are still cold days coming but the end of winter is in sight.

As the days continue to get warmer, so does the length of daylight hours. Longer days create more sunlight which allows for more outdoor activities to be had. It seems that this month is the kickoff for most anglers. By this point, hunting season is finally over with and it is also a perfect time to get back out on the water; especially if you are not a fan of the colder months.

It seems that this is the time when other fishing related events begin to pop up on the calendar as well. The Houston Fishing Show is at the beginning of the month, March 1 through 5, and if you have never been, it is worth going to spend a day. There are plenty of vendors that comprise pretty much every product that can be found on the Texas coast. You can find rods, reels, lures, kayaks and anything else that you can think of. I know that I always make a point to head over to the Fishing Tackle Unlimited booth, Sightcast Flies booth, and always Chickenboy Lures. I will be at the JH Custom Rods booth Saturday and Sunday and if you need a rod or just want to say hello, please come see us.

As far as fishing goes, it too begins to kick off with the return of shrimp, shad, crabs and gamefish that migrated out to the Gulf and have begun returning to the bays. With every passing day the water gradually becomes warmer and more signs of life start to appear. Along with that, this is usually the time that we start to see grass growing in the backwater ponds; just in time to create refuge for the host of returning forage species. Mother Nature sure knows how to work in harmony with all of her creatures.

This particular time of the year is when I will spend a little time doing something different, and that is targeting flounder. It is no secret that they move out to the gulf to spawn during fall months and this makes catching them an easy task along the channels and passes at times. However, it is hardly ever mentioned about fishing for them during their return in spring. This is really my preferred time to target them because fishing pressure is low and they were able to spawn to ensure a future crop. As for methods I prefer to catch them, I generally like to hang around main passes that lead from the main bays to the Gulf. These are the areas they will first begin to stage once coming back inshore.

When it comes to trout, there is a good chance that a dedicated angler can catch their personal best weight-wise in March. There are some really nice trout still in their winter patterns but are beginning to eat a little more often with the rising temperatures. A big Super Spook on a sunny day makes for a really tempting meal to a hungry fish. As far as the schoolie-sized trout, they too are beginning to feed more predictably, following the shrimp and smaller baitfish. Also following the same food source are the gulls and they can be a dead giveaway of where fish might be. When you can get on a few of these schools and stay with them, it makes for a memorable day of fishing.

In life I have come to learn that there rarely is a time when everything is just perfect and there always seems to be an exception; fishing is no different. During this time of year, fishing can be great in general but with the exception of being perhaps the toughest season for targeting redfish. I spend a vast majority of my time trying to catch these viscous little critters and month of March is the most difficult for me. It’s not for the lack of them being in marsh – it’s their diet. They’re completely focused on gorging themselves with small shad and they are 100% focused on this. The problem is finding a lure that mimics tiny shad and that can also withstand the beating an upper-slot redfish puts on it. What I’ve found that works best is tying a tandem rig with 1/16 oz jigheads and putting smaller white perch plastics such as Fin-S-Shad or the baby Zoom flukes. Or if you are a fly fisherman, a spoon fly works great. You can catch them on your normal redfish arsenal but it becomes fairly difficult this time of year and you will get plenty of refusals.

Regardless of what you like to target, there are plenty of opportunities coming up in the next month. The bright side about this time of year is that it is only going to get better from here. Right now is a perfect time to get out and enjoy our Texas resources. When you do, please practice good boating safety, wear a life jacket and as always, have fun and enjoy life.