Fishing Roundup | Springtime is a great time to cast about, and spring is springing

You remember what the man said.

"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows."

Right about now, you don't need a thermometer or hygrometer to know spring is in the air.

Listen to the chatter of the fishermen, and that tells the story of annual mileposts on the near horizon: Easter, Opening Day, the Masters. Oh so close.

Springish has sprung.

Our boots on the ground in Palm Coast say the mangrove snapper have begun moving from the Atlantic into the river in noticeable numbers. By summer, they'll be as plentiful as mosquitoes.

To the west, in the St. Johns and its wonderful fishing lakes, we're hearing talk of a prime baitfish — the threadfin shad — picking up the pace and preparing to die in large numbers for the sake of bass and bullhead cats, among other freshwater fish.

And you know we're getting there when the snowbirds announce, "Come on in, the water's fine."

Our wintertime regular here, Pennsylvania native Geno Giza, says he's put away the chest waders and transitioned into something we'd call summertime wear down here. His wade-fishing trips are rarely solo ventures these days.

"With the visits from dolphins and manatees, and the return of red-winged blackbirds, it would seem like spring is just around the corner," he says.

Enjoy, because spring sometimes disappears as quickly as it came, the sweat-gland floodgates open, and you'll be reloading your supply of Gold Bond.

Oh, the hygrometer? That's how we measure dew point, but you probably already knew that.

You can run, but you can't hide

Last week, we talked about the tripletail and its desire to seek any type of structure, presumably for protection. Channel markers are a favorite, but anything will do, from floating lumber to a strand of rope.

Well, upon reading that, local fisherman Fred Gunderson went digging through old photos and found one, from about a decade ago, showing a tripletail trying to tuck away in the tiny shade of a discarded beer can.

Any port in a storm, sometimes.

Halifax/Indian River

Let’s work north to south, starting at Highbridge, one of the prime fishing spots you’ll find along Ormond’s picturesque Loop. 

Jeff Muller (Yellow Dawg Bait & Tackle) has noticed a big uptick in baitfish as the weather and water warms. And you know what that means.

“The fishing is great,” Jeff says.

Along with the always prized snook, redfish and trout, Jeff says folks have mixed in the occasional black drum and flounder.

As we mosey down toward the heart of Ormond Beach and approach the Granada Bridge, you’ll find Ike Leary’s Granada bait shop and a very long fishing pier with Ike’s name on it. According to the namesake, you’re also likely to find some snook these days. 

It’s always a good time to remind you about treating snook properly. Don’t hold them vertically, release asap, and watch out for those gill plates (look closely and you might see a Gillette logo on them).

Most fishermen reserve the use of wire leaders for specific outings and targets. Occasionally, in the fog of an angling war, you make the adjustment on the fly. 

An onslaught of large bluefish sent Capt. Jeff Patterson (Pole Dancer charter) to the tackle box this week. He was just off the beach, just north of Ponce Inlet, when he stumbled into a raucous blues bar.

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“There was a big school of them and they were hungry,” he says. “We caught about 10 in a fairly short period of time and left them biting. When you hooked one, five or 10 others would follow it to the boat.

“These fish were all 30 to 40 inches long.”

This led to a tactical reality.

“Diving plugs were working best, but three ‘almost new’ Yo-Zuri lures were completely destroyed and two eventually broke off with a 60-pound mono leader. Big bluefish like this will destroy lures, so metal jigs with a wire leader are a good option.”

Down toward the Canaveral National Seashore, Geno Giza’s hand-made flies have been working on ladyfish, which are big fun to catch, as well as Spanish mackerel and pompano, which are both fun to catch and great to eat if you desire.

Geno says he’d been using a white Clouser minnow, but “after several hook-ups with Spanish mackerel, the razor-sharp teeth shred the fly.”

“But I’m not complaining because they are sporting to catch.”

Completing the southbound tour in the Edgewater/Oak Hill area, Art Mowery confirms the overnight chatter — “the shrimp are still running; lots of large and jumbos,” he says.

With rod-and-reel as opposed to the net, he’s found a few sheepshead but a whole bunch of undersized redfish — “rat reds,” the regulars call them.

Surf

The Spanish mackerel were also making their rounds in the Atlantic, and could be found from the shoreline in the Ormond Beach area — “if you were in the right place at the right time, you could get into a school of them,” Yellow Dawg’s Jeff Muller says. 

Marco Pompano was reporting dream conditions midweek from his post in Wilbur, where he brought in a couple sheepshead along with a few pompano and some whiting. A couple days without the steady gusts was a welcome respite.

“Perfect conditions,” Marco said Wednesday. “Green-blue water, hardly any wind.”

Hope you enjoyed it, because it’s supposed to start blowing again today and into next week. Nothing biblical, a two-club wind at most, but enough to factor it into the equation.

Cathy Sanders (Fishin-girl.com) is reporting surf-temp readings in the mid-60s.

“That’s an indicator that the spring pompano run is beginning,” she says. 

Or at least fixin' to.

Flagler

Sometimes, it’s hard not to catch a ladyfish. I know, I know — “where have you been all my life?”

They’re rather active in the intracoastal, and a blast to catch. The poor-man’s tarpon, kinda-sorta, given their habit of including aerobatics in the ensuing battle.

Not good to eat, but don’t tell that to some other fish. Dean Turner (Hammock Bait & Tackle) reminds us of such.

“They make great bait for other gamefish,” he says. 

Along with mangrove snapper beginning their annual trek into the intracoastal, Dean reports a wide variety of keepers throughout the system.

“The sheepshead bite has remained consistent,” he says. “Redfish are being found everywhere, also silver trout and spotted seatrout directly across the street from Hammock Bait at Bing’s Landing.”

Over on the beachside, the surf anglers have been pulling in some large whiting, along with sharks, of course. 

St. Johns

Capt. Bryn Adams (Highland Park Fish Camp) says bass — both largemouth and sunshine — are starting to arrive in schools, while many fishermen are still finding enough specks to make a trip worthwhile.

“The big females are moving into shallower water again for spawn,” Don McCormick adds. “The best depth for catching them is usually 3-4 feet along a lily-pad line. Once the water temp gets above 75 degrees these fish will move to deeper water.”

The bluegill bite is good with live crickets, and shellcracker season is quickly approaching.

Learn to fish

Have you ever had the “pleasure” of teaching a spouse or other family member how to tie a knot, rig a rod-n-reel, etc.? 

Needless to say, like driving tips, it’s often best left to others to do the schooling. So mark down next Thursday (March 21) on the calendar, because the knowledgeable folks at Halifax Sport Fishing Club (3431 South Ridgewood) are dedicating their monthly seminar to the ins and outs of fishing.

Various booths will teach various things — basically a soup-to-nuts tutorial on everything from knots to baits to cast-netting to taking care of your gear.

As usual, a brief business meeting starts at 7 p.m., with the clinic beginning about 7:30. More info always available on the website .

Hook, line and clicker: Send us your fish pics

We want to see your most recent catch. Email your fish photos to ken.willis@news-jrnl.com.

Please include first and last name of angler(s), as well as type of fish (we're occasionally stumped). All are included with our online fishing report, and some occasionally make the print edition.

Do I need a fishing license?

You can find all the license info, including exemptions, on Florida's Fish and Wildlife Commission website: MyFWC.com. But the basics are: No: If you're 65 or older, 15 or younger, you don't need a license. “Probably” Not: If you're fishing with a licensed guide or charter boat, both of which often purchase commercial licenses that cover their customers. Yes: Most everyone else, including visitors from other states. Yes: Even if you're a shore-based angler (shoreline, dock, pier, bridge, etc.), and even if fishing with a shore-based guide.  However: The shore-based license is free . . . But: You still need to register for that free license.

Where do I get a license and what does it cost?

Many bait shops sell licenses, as do the bigger retailers (Bass, Dick's, Walmart, etc.).  Florida's FWC uses a third-party site for buying or renewing fishing licenses:  GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. The cost: $17 for an annual license. Don't forget: Whether you're fishing fresh or saltwater, you need the specific license. Freshwater and saltwater licenses are both $17 annually.

I’m here on vacation, do I need a license?

Yes you do, and they're also available at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com or certain bait shops and big retailers. Cost: $17 for three days, $30 for seven days, $47 for a year. Also: Non-residents need to purchase that license even if they're just fishing from shoreline or shore-based structures. (Florida residents need that license, too, but they're free.)