By Capt. Barry Englehardt, Fish With Captain Barry
March is a good month to get your boat and motor serviced (if you own one). Fishing equipment needs to be maintained such as new line, oil reels, new hooks, leaders and other equipment.
As most of you know largemouth bass are prevalent in the upper Tomoka and March is a good month to target them. Last year we had many catches of Snook that were all released.
The Tomoka Basin is a good Snook fishery, and March generally is their breakout month. Remember catch and release builds the number of fish for the future. Other fish that peak in March are black drum, lady fish, sheepshead and pompano. Following that group are reds, flounder and sea trout.
Some people may wonder why I mentioned pompano in the Tomoka.
Last year we caught many Pompano in the basin including a one day catch of nine. This winter was colder than normal and as the water temperature in the river increases to 70-75 degrees the pompano will move in through Ponce Inlet and make their way to the warm Tomoka Basin. Pompano are bottom feeders and travel in schools. In the basin they tend to settle in 3-5 feet of water. Use a pompano rig with shrimp or sand fleas for best results.
