If you ask most people what comes to mind when they think of March, you’ll probably hear something like “March Madness” or “College Basketball. Of course, if you live in South Florida, your answer may be quite different. Down here in this part of the sunshine state March is a time to tangle with sailfish, kingfish, tuna, and tarpon just to name a few. Exactly which one you should chase depends on your preference but one thing is for sure. You won’t be disappointed.
Offshore, packs of migrating atlantic sailfish will still be swimming south with each passing cold front. The most effective way of targeting the spindlebeaks is by using a combination of fishing kites and live bait. Although sails will eat almost any live bait, it is hard to beat a healthy goggle eye or threadfin herring. Because sailfish are highly migratory the bite can vary from very slow to red hot. Ideal conditions consist of clean blue water, northerly winds, and a ripping current. Fish will often be spotted right on the surface as they surf the swells on their way down to the reef towards the Florida Keys.
Since the sailfish action can vary greatly from day to day and even hour to hour, it is important to mention that many other fish will gladly consume the same baits intended for sails. One of the most common bi-catches when sailfishing are kingfish or king mackerel. During the spring it isn’t uncommon to watch a 30, 40, or even 50 pound kingfish sky rocket 10 feet out of the water before inhaling your gog. It is for this reason that many captains (myself included) use trace of single strand wire between the leader and the hook. Using wire may sometimes deter a wary sail from taking your bait but will insure success should a toothy wahoo or king pops up. The only time I would advise against using wire would be if fishing a sailfish tournament where every bite counts.
Another tasty possibility that you may encounter while flying your kites is the hard fighting blackfin tuna. Exactly when the tunas show up in decent numbers varies from year to year but it isn’t uncommon to catch a few of them during March. Tunas can also be a bit leader shy but many are caught using 50 pound leader and wire. Your best bet for targeting these football shaped fish is to fish late in the day until dark if possible. It isn’t uncommon to catch several during the last hour of daylight. Blackfins will eat virtually any live bait if properly presented and just like the big kings, they often blow up on them when presented near the surface. Chumming with live pilchards is a great way to stack the odds in your favor. Tossing some freebies overboard every few minutes is a great way to get them interested.
Finally, if you prefer to fish closer to shore, tarpon will not disappoint. Many large tarpon will take up residence during the spring in and around Miami’s Government Cut. Some of these sliver kings can be 100 plus pounds with fish approaching 150 pounds not that uncommon. Don’t forget to bring your stamina because these fish will bring grown men to their knees and cause them to hand off the rod in mid battle. Unlike their offshore counterparts, tarpon prefer to feast on live shrimp and blue crabs. Crabs are a great alternative late in the season when decent size shrimp become harder to come by. Occasionally, a good sizer permit or mutton snapper falls for the crabs.
Well, that’s pretty much it for right now. I will be conducting several fishing seminars at the Bass Pro Shops in Miami. Topics, dates, and times will be announced both on my FACEBOOK page and website (link below). Also, don’t forget that you can keep up with all of the action by following us on FACEBOOK, Instagram, and Twitter. If you like watching some of the action, be sure to check out my YOUTUBE page for the latest video additions.
Tight lines,
Capt. Orlando Muniz
Nomad Fishing Charters
www.fishingchartermiami.com
(786) 266-0171
Sponsors and friends: Mercury Marine, Bass Pro Shops, Offshore Angler, Tracker Marine, Gray Taxidermy, Baitmasters, Orca Coolers, SeaDek, Costa Del Mar, and Yo-Zuri.