by Capt. Matt Mitchell
With the warm-up now in full swing, traditionally by mid-March our strong winter cold fronts should be all but done, and fishing will just get better and better. Anticipation is building now that Spring is just around the corner, and our waters are at that tipping point of coming to life with baitfish and hungry feeding fish. A few days ago, I saw a free-jumping tarpon in the sound, which is a sure sign we are getting closer to that magical time of year.
Tarpon season marks my favorite time of the year. Although we can often have fish as early as March, it doesn’t kick into high gear until April/May. Water temperatures in the mid-70s open the door, and these fish flood into our waters. This is the most exciting time of year and means changing gears as an angler. We are lucky enough to live in one of the best places on the planet to tarpon fish, and this fishery will go all the way until Fall.
Redfish action continues to be good, with plenty of fish in the mangrove creeks during lower tides, then around the oyster bars on higher water. Bouncing live shrimp on the bottom seems to be what they want. Generally, I move a lot when targeting redfish, as with a dozen casts, you will catch one if they are there. Once locked, you can catch as many as a dozen in rapid-fire style.
After well over a month off from the daily early morning throwing of a cast net, I’m ready to get back to it and start shiner fishing. These magical shiners will show up first in the deeper water around the causeway and off the beaches before flooding into the sound. Soon we will be chumming for them with tropical fish food mixed with menhaden oil out on the grass flats. Shiners, aka whitebait, pilchards, and scaled sardines, are the most prolific bait in our waters and simply disappear during our coldest months of winter.
Fishing our waters successfully means staying in touch with the ever-changing conditions. Saltwater fishing has so many variables, and no two days, let alone winters, are ever just alike. Being able to change things up depending on what the day gives you can make all the difference in the world. Water temperatures are what fish use as a calendar and a major factor in where they will be located.
Capt. Matt Mitchell moved to Sanibel in 1980 and has lived in St. James City since 2000, when he started his fishing charter business. He spends over 300 days a year “living the dream” fishing. For questions and info: bookings@captmattmitchell.com.
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