We have two months every year when I expect the wind to blow and blow and blow some more; November and March. Every so often we have a year when the expected does not occur and I’m hopeful this March will be kind to us. In the event we have a typical blustery March I still expect to catch fish and will only give in to the wind if the howling gusts create dangerous conditions on the water.
Hide when you must under the lee shorelines. This becomes especially beneficial after a few days of strong winds from any one direction. If it means traveling into the wind a ways in order to find shelter you’ll often be rewarded with schools of mullet which traveled into the wind and stopped when they found land. You’ll also find the predators that followed!
Do not forget your top-water plugs. We can usually take advantage of the grass free environment the persistent winds create. Strong wind blows the floating grass to the windward shores and leaves the calm leeward waters free of floating grass; perfect for surface plugs. Walking plugs like the Fender Walker from Banks Lures are my first choice with propeller baits (Flats Mullet) and popping baits (Party Popper) a better choice if the water is a bit choppy.
Of course the Exude Dart will be used often for the anglers who love to cast soft plastics. This versatile lure can be used effectively as a search bait while blind casting and as a finesses lure for tailing redfish. Possibly the best attribute of the Dart other than its fish catching ability is it casts like a “dart” even into the wind!
Too windy to cast you say? Anchor your boat in strategic locations and toss out some natural bait. Live mullet and live shrimp placed onto clean sand spots will catch it all. The dead version of these baits work well along with cut ladyfish, pinfish and blue crab too. Success will follow for the patient and persistent angler.
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