Mobile Bay Fishing Report: March 2014

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[dropcap]M[/dropcap]arch is always the kickoff of the inshore fishing starting to come alive. The water temps usually start to rise and the fish become more active in shallow water. March is a transition month where the fish are moving from a deep water winter pattern to a shallow water spring pattern. I like to target 3 species in March and those are Sheepshead, Redfish, and Speckled Trout.

The Sheepshead bite always gets fired up in the late winter and early spring. I always look for them to show up around any structure with plenty of growth. They like to feed on small crustaceans like crabs, shrimp and barnacles. The gas platforms in lower Mobile Bay and just south of the beach are my favorite places to start. Anchoring up or tying off to the platform is the best method to setup on the rig. Fishing around docks and pilings are also great places to find them on days that the wind is howling like it does in the spring. Depending on the conditions I like to free line a live shrimp with a split shot or a Carolina Rig with a small sturdy hook. These fish are very strong so use stout tackle and a tight drag to pull them away from the structure they are holding on.

Speckled Trout are sometimes hard to target in March because they are usually on the move in transition from a winter time pattern to a spring time pattern. Look for them to show up on flats with oyster shells feeding on shrimp as the water temps begin to hit the mid to upper 60s. I like to look for any feeding signs to give me an idea of where to start looking. Bait flipping, fish slicks, and good water clarity are all signs that trout may be in the area. Top waters, popping corks and suspending hard baits are all excellent weapons for these shallow water predators as the bait begins to show up.

March is usually about the time of year the big schools of Redfish show up on Dixie Bar. Live bait is always best but sometimes hard to find this time of the year. Catching your own bait or using artificial bait with a good sent is your best bet when trying to catch these monster bull reds. I always like to drift from either deep water to shallow or the opposite to find what pattern they are holding in. Once you hook a fish make a mark on your GPS, taking note of the water depth, the direction you are drifting and try to repeat the drift a few times until you dial into the school. Looking for birds working bait and finding slick are another give away on where to start looking. Remember these big bull reds are the breeders in the population and table far is fairly low quality so please practice catch and release.

March is the kick off to the warm season and usually gets most fisherman fired up for what is about to come. Remember the signs to look for with the warmer water temperatures rising to find more success in shallow water.