April- the water is warming up and things are starting to change. The snook are starting to move in their pre-spawn in search of food. The sharks are starting to move inshore looking for food, scanning the flats close to the ICW. Trout and pompano along the outside edges of the sand bars. These guys still can be harvested with a shrimp and popping cork. I like to drift and cast across the sand spots and grass where the trout like to hang to ambush an unsuspecting bait. There can be cobia swimming along the outside of the bar, following big rays or sea cows as they scare baits as they swim along. You can sight fish them and cast something live or artificial, to try and harvest one of these brown shark-looking critters. They fight like crazy and are very good table fare. That’s a look at the inshore.
Now, let’s take a look at the offshore possibilities. When the bait begins its northerly migration the Spanish and kings will be in hot pursuit. Kings- you can troll for them- one method is with some planers with spoons that are close to the size of the baits around. Another method is to make your own king rigs and use live bait near an artificial reef that is holding bait. Catch some live bait with a sabiki rig and keep them alive to accomplish this reel smoking task. The nickname for king mackerel is smoker. They are great to eat. We cut them in inch-thick steaks and soak them in teriyaki overnight and cook then on the grill. They taste like more. Out on the close reefs there will be some gulf flounder on the outside edges of the artificial reefs in the sand. The mangrove snapper will be a great target species at night, as the days start getting warmer. I like to get there before dark and get the boat ready and get chumming to draw them to you. Try and anchor on the up current side a few yards away from the structure, as to draw them up to the surface- this is a blast. You can use your redfish rods to catch these guys, use as light a leader you can to produce more bites, they have very good site. Chum some greenbacks or sardines, use the same for bait, also some shrimp and squid this is all frozen stuff. As the bite slows, try something live like shrimp, greenies or pinfish. In the southern part of our area there may be a few silver kings showing up following bait up the beach, with the big grey eating machines sharks not far behind. Bottom fishing natural structure ledges and divots with hard bottom, you can get porgies and grouper.
If you would like to check out some of the action you can call Capt. Bart Marx 941-979-6517 or e-mail captbart@alphaomegacharters.com I also go with new to the area anglers on their boats and teach them about the area and shorten the learning curve. So always remember singing drags and tight lines make me smile. <*(((((>{