By Capt. Brian Boxx
Spring in Southwest Florida is when prayers are answered and legends are born. During the month of May we see many of our inshore game fish become “Twitterpated”. This biological need to pass on their genetics call species like snook and tarpon to group together. These large schools are called spawning balls. This behavior greatly increases the chances of hooking into a trophy size specimen for anglers in the know. Finding an active spawning ball can lead to nonstop action when conditions are right. Focus your efforts on area passes and beaches. Use your sonar to locate deeper fish. Watch for boiling water and diving birds as these are tell tale signs of feeding frenzies.
As we enter into the second month of Spring our patterns have stabilized in the backwaters. The large sheepshead have moved on, but the mangrove snapper have been quick to fill their place. The snapper will eagerly gulp down a live shrimp rigged on a ¼ oz. jig or corked leader. Drift along mangrove edges with decent water flow for the best results. The pompano migration has passed, but don’t rule out the possibility of finding a stray one here and there. I’ll be impatiently waiting for their return in the fall. The speckled trout bite was really good during April, but storm water inundation from the afternoon Spring showers may cause the bite to slow. Snook and redfish are still in abundance in the outer bays, just find clean moving water and try to avoid the brown storm water. Reel Salty Endeavours specializes in night fishing and let me tell you! If it’s the sea monsters and dinosaurs you’re chasing, they are what goes “THUMP” in the night. Trade the bright and early for the red eye and experience MY kind of nightlife. (Contact info below)
Take advantage when the water turbidity is low and try your hand at sight fishing. Sight fishing the flats offers my clients a really productive and exciting endeavor. It’s hard to beat the thrill of the hunt. Imagine, you’re silently drifting along a glassy smooth flat when your captain spots that perfect fish. With the wind and sun at your back, you make out the faint wake and execute the perfect cast. With a quick flick of her tail the peaceful calmness of the flats is shattered by the explosive strike. The acoustics of screaming drag and splashing water are almost completely drowned out by your adrenalin fueled heart rate pulsing your ears. When the water settles and the camera shutter closes you leave her with a handshake, hoping the catch her again another day.
Spring offers many great reasons to get out and enjoy our waters, but spring also comes with a few dangers. As we enter into our rainy season, afternoon thunderstorms can quickly develop on unwary boaters. Thunderstorms may move quickly and conditions may rapidly change for the worse. Dangers of thunderstorms include: gusting winds, damaging hail, heavy downpours, waterspouts, and of course Florida’s number one natural killer, cloud-to-ground lightning. The severity of these dangers is amplified in a maritime environment and a carbon graphite rod is a lightning magnet. When available, a mobile weather alert app like “Dark Sky” can help give advanced warning, but always keep an eye on the horizon. STAY SALTY -Capt. Brian Boxx.