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Outdoors

Warmer waters become more lively

By ED WALKER
Published March 10, 2007

Spring-like temperatures have begun to make it feel as if winter may finally be behind us. Then again, things had warmed up nicely before the passage of the last cold front so it may be a bit early to declare the end of winter. One thing is for sure; longer periods of daylight combined with improved weather will soon lift local water temperatures out of the upper 50s and low 60s. Once the gulf waters reach 68, there will be exciting changes in the feeding patterns of fish and number of species available.

Soon the Gulf will come alive with migrating bait schools, the hungry birds that depend on them and all of the pelagic species that have wintered off the Keys or far offshore. It is an exciting time to be a fisherman. You can almost feel the increase in activity before you put a line in the water. To experienced anglers, pelicans, gannets and terns diving in the Gulf or along the beaches indicate more than the presence of baitfish. Increasing minnow populations mean more mackerel, sharks, cobia, blue runners and jacks. It even initiates the migration of large pinfish from offshore to the back to grassflats. This moving swarm of activity causes a corresponding up-tick in the feeding patterns of everything it passes. Shallow water gag grouper, which have been somewhat dormant, will come to life again to capitalize on the baitfish buffet.

Nomadic amberjacks, which travel wherever the food source goes, will join the resident fish on the bigger wrecks. Mangrove snapper will also feed much more aggressively when the bait train comes through. It is no coincidence that snook and big jack cravelles return from the backwaters and canals to the flats at almost the same time the bait pours in from offshore. Expect some of the best fishing of the year for trophy snook to take place this month.

The use of live bait will begin to be more important as the local fish population shifts its primary food source from shrimp, glass minnows and crustaceans, to scaled sardines and threadfins. You can certainly still catch fish on artificials and live shrimp but anglers boat-casting the live sardines will usually do better.

Staying in tune with the day-to-day movement of available baitfish can be one of the great challenges that face weekend anglers and fishing guides alike. The sardines often settle into one particular area for a few days then leave due to changes in weather, tidal phases, water clarity or the predators present. During these shifts in location, anglers are forced to try different spots at random until they find what they are looking for. It takes patience but early in the spring season it can be well worth the effort.

The chum used to attract these prized baits varies greatly among fishermen. Many have their own "secret recipes". For years the basic ingredients have been Kozy Kitten cat food and canned jack mackerel or sardines. From there, the list of additives runs from fish or anise oil, oatmeal and bread, to grits, sand and oatmeal. Personally, when the bait is thick I use Kozy Kitten right out of the can. When the bait is sparse I will mix in sardines and a splash of menhaden oil to make a longer scent trail.

For shallow-water cast nets I prefer a 10-foot 1/4-inch mesh net with half the weight of most commercially available nets. The lighter weight makes it easy to throw and greatly reduces the amount of mud and weeds it brings up.

[Last modified March 10, 2007, 07:38:15]