Well spring is upon us and what a crazy ride of a winter this has been! Some cobia even showed up in mid-winter! With any luck Space Coast kayakers will get even more shots at cobia as March progresses. Large bright bucktail jigs, large live baits, and even swimming plugs will get slammed buy these powerful coastal gamefish. Cobia can best 80lbs. and average in the 30’s! Stout tackle in the 20lb. range is needed and it’s a good idea to have a drift sock/bucket to slow you. The buddy system is a necessity for your safety. Things go wrong quick in the big water and a friend can make all the difference. Remember that a cell phone might as well double as a skipping stone about 6-8 miles out. But a (charged) handheld VHF radio can hit a boat for help from some distance.
March will also welcome the heaviest and most aggressive sea-trout to all the local lagoon shallows. These roe laden predators will be looking to pack on some serious pounds in-between spawning activities. By far the best way to hook a large sea-trout is a well presented topwater lure. Low light periods on flats with mullet present will result wide open assaults on your plugs. Larger poppers and in-line topwaters will work, but a walk-the-dog type plug will get the most looks. Skitter walks, Zara Spooks, and Mir-O-Lure topdogs all grace my tackle box this time of year. Colors like red head/white body, white or bone, chartreuse, and especially sea-trout are must have’s. Once the sun shuts down that topwater bite! Switch to a destroyer jig head/SST combo made by Slayer Inc. in colors like molting, gumbo, or pearl white. The biggest trout are best left to the gene pool, but that’s not to say a few of those 18-20in fish won’t make a great meal for the family. Please carefully release any trout over 24in.! Virtually all sea-trout this size or bigger will be female; with practically no males in the 26in. plus stocks. Breeder fish should be cared for and left to breed!
For those of you looking to better you ability’s as an angler, meet fish minded friends, and just have all around good times; don’t be shy! Many groups/clubs are available and very accepting to all anglers. From the FSFA club to Face Book groups like my favorite the Space Coast Kayak Anglers and YakAngler.com. I can’t think of a more valuable tool to all levels of anglers. I am always open to questions and will gladly share my knowledge as will most anglers. March also rings in the fifth year of this passion I call Local Lines Guide Service. The seed for this life I’ve choose was planted long ago; thank you dad and grandpa. The skills you’ve taught me on and off the water have been priceless. Thank you to my beautiful wife! You willingly jumped on this crazy train and helped me chase a passion that gives me more time with our children than any other career this fulfilling could! Thank you to my clients you have all become part of this big family too! And to thank my loyal CAM readers; I will be giving 5 free kayak charter gift certificates(1/2 day 1 client) to the first 5 readers that e-mail me at locallines@yahoo.com with “Take Me Fishing” in the subject line. Good luck and let’s go get some fish!