By: Caitlyn Gatrell
Spring is definitely one of my favorite times of the year to fish my local areas of the Ten Thousand Islands, the Everglades, and Marco Island. The weather starts to settle into a nice rhythm, with the heat increasing, the water warming up, and the fish becoming noticeably more active. After the on and off cold fronts and windy days, spring finally brings comfortable weather, calmer conditions, and longer days on the water.
I look forward to the spring season transition because it brings the return of Daylight Savings, aka later mornings and later evenings! The later sunsets make a big difference for fishing, especially for those like myself who aren’t always eager to wake up extremely early. With the time switch, you can still get out early to catch that productive morning bite without waking up in the wee hours of the morning.
A typical spring fishing day for me usually starts with an early morning or later afternoon run out to the islands in search for lively bait. That first, or straight to the mangrove lines, oyster beds, or shore points with a fresh artificial lure on. The water is often calm, bait is beginning to show up more, and the fish are starting to transition into their more active patterns. Not to mention the wildlife life is out and about and the views are just spectacular.
As the season progresses, trophy species like snook and tarpon become much more common in our area. Snook begin staging along shorelines, backwaters, mangrove mazes, and passes, feeding aggressively as the water temperatures rise. Spring is a great time to target them because they’re active in preparation for spawning, but not yet in the peak pressure of summer. A well-targeted cast along some mangrove branches can quickly turn into an exciting hookup.
Tarpon also start showing up more frequently throughout our area, with bigger ones being seen and schools passing through. More are soon to come as the season progresses and summer comes around, but spring offers the first consistent chances at seeing them roll or hooking into one. Trust me, there’s nothing like spotting a tarpon roll close by, getting a bait or lure in front of it, and watching or feeling them strike on it.
One of my favorite things about spring fishing is the flexibility that the longer evenings provide. Instead of feeling rushed to get everything together before sunset, oftentimes almost impossible if you’re getting out there after work hours, there’s more time. Time to launch and get out to your spots, gather bait, set up gear, and plan where you want to target the evening bite.
Some of the best action happens right as the sun starts dropping, so it’s best to be ready for that moment. A lot of species, including tarpon, begin feeding more aggressively in the fading light. The feeding frenzy at sunset is quite insane!