By Captain Phil Muldrow
Way back in October, you might remember I mentioned that we, way down in Dixie, are supposed to have a wet and fairly cold winter. The National Weather Service was right, for sure. The extra rain was nice, but it came with a price; lots of wind and tough conditions to navigate. So far, this February is still part of the previous forecast with more wind and rain on the horizon. It’s kept our inshore and offshore water temperatures way down, hence, it has put a damper on most fishing opportunities. I said all that to say that our 90 day forecast for March, April and May is for below normal precipitation and above normal temperatures. If they nail this forecast, we fisher folks along the Nature Coast will have a real good chance to have a decent spring with lots of fishy opportunities.
Our current water temperature at our Cedar Key pier is 60 degrees and our 100 mile buoy SW of Cedar Key is 68 degrees. That’s a big improvement from not too long ago. By the time you read this in March, assuming the weather guru’s are once again right, our inshore temperature should be right around 70 degrees. 70 degrees means we will have an opportunity to find speckled trout on the grass flats and adjacent sand banks or spotty bottom. Silver trout and whiting should be available in the many channels. Reds, puppy drum and a few flounder might also be feeding around our oyster bar systems and rocky areas. Also, don’t forget about Spanish mackerel on world famous Seahorse Reef. Tarpon, shark, cobia and triple tail will probably not show up until April, and for sure, in May.
As far as our offshore outlook goes, rock bass and grunt will continue to be active in live bottom areas from 25’ and out. Red grouper will also be available in 55′ and out. They may not be quite as active if our offshore water temperatures take their time rebounding, or if we get some cold water upwelling. Gags will definitely be hungry but will be catch and release assuming the Gulf Fish Council keeps the same season as last year. Kingfish will also return if our water temperatures rise above 70 degrees.
As you can see, I sure filled this month’s article with a lot of assumptions and ifs, but that’s the way I see it.
March is normally very windy along the Nature Coast and it usually cones in like a lamb and goes out like a lion, or vice versa. Let’s hope for many good sea days in the month of March. As always, good luck and good fishing. See you next month, “if nothin’ don’t happen!”