Transition

April is a transition month when changes abound.  As the water warms more consistently by the stronger and longer sunlight the fish become more active.  With metabolisms on the the increase, both baitfish and their predators start schooling and moving and feeding.  Nearshore and just of the beaches it is not unusual to see birds collecting on schools of baitfish. Spinner sharks are everywhere and sometimes in huge numbers. Great numbers of big Jack Cravelle daisy chain in yellow/green schools while Mackeral, both King and Spanish browse for food.  Even cobia are nearshore seem to hit anything that looks like a good baitfish.

Inshore activity, by comparison, is more subdued as the move to a summer pattern gains momentum.  Snook begin to move up from their lower haunts and look for larger bait with greater aggression.  A quiet approach to a lighted dock at night on the rivers can reveal hundreds of Snook when the water is clean.

The lack of rain improves our water quality and visibility providing a healthy environment for the inshore fish but making them wary and temperamental.  Low light provides the best fishing.  Resident Tarpon show more readily in the early mornings and Trout are found on more flats.

All in all, it’s a great time to fish, but keep in mind that the weather can change fishing plans dramatically.  Good news is that we have lots of options this time of year and, of course, it’s still fishing.