It is that time of the year when the travelling fish will start to show up in the Big Ben area on the gulf coast. We have to look for the water temp to be above 70 degrees and best of all above 74 degrees for those big ole kings, spanish and wahoo to start showing up in our waters here. That will be the primary near shore fish that we will be looking for in March, inshore the speckled trout, redfish and sand trout will be coming on strong as well as the sheepshead that will still be hanging around the buoy markers as well as in the potholes in St Joe Bay.
March has always been a good early spring fishing month here in the panhandle. Off shore fishing this year will probably come on a little sooner than normal as the water temperature is coming up a little faster due to our warm spring. If you are heading offshore, check the wind and weather first and have your fishing tackle ready for those large red grouper and some of the other bottom fish. The scamp, beeliners and porgy should also be coming on real good in March. Unfortunately, we can still not bring home a gag grouper, amberjack or triggerfish. Nor can we bring home those big old red snapper that are out there by the thousands. You can still have a really good time off shore fishing in March but, unfortunately, you will have to throw most of the larger fish back in that we cannot keep them to make a good seafood platter on the table.
Don’t forget to file a float plan, and let somebody know when you are going to return.