Many changes have taken place in both Lagoons in the past few weeks,  but the one thing that has been consistent  is the excellent fishing we have been experiencing on the flats. 

 

Hopefully we have seen the last of the really cold weather for this year.

 

A few days ago there was frost in the morning and the water temperatures were hovering around the low 50 degree mark.  

 

Just this past week the air temperatures soared to the mid 80s and the water temperatures have reached the mid 70 degree mark. 

 

Every day we keep seeing more and more baitfish in both of the Lagoon systems. 

 

And, as the water gets warmer their numbers will continue to increase.  

 

You can expect sea trout and redfish to be following these schools during the upcoming month.   

 

Our local fishing guides are reporting huge schools of redfish in the Mosquito Lagoon roaming the shallow flats in schools of sometimes over 500 fish.   

 

Daily sightings of up to 1000 redfish are not uncommon and this scenario should continue through March, well into late spring. 

 

The eastern no motor zone in the Mosquito Lagoon is another location you will want to target.

The Sea Trout bite is getting better and better every week as the numbers of bait fish increase.

 

Beginning in March the large female spotted sea trout  will be fattening up for the the spring spawn.  

 

The Western grass flats of the Indian River around Scottsmoor down to  Mimms will be the place to look for these "gator" trout.  Target the sandy potholes in the  grass flats where both redfish and sea trout can be found seeking the sun's warmth. 

 

 

March is still an excellent time for fly fishing for Redfish if you can tolerate the windy conditions.  The fish are still eating small crabs and shrimp. 

 

For the most part, any pattern tied to resemble these crustaceans will be effective.   The waters are still crystal clear and longer casts remain the norm in both Lagoon systems.

 

If you are using spinning tackle, use smaller three inch baits for both redfish and sea trout for  the most consistent bite. 

 

The larger DOA CAL jerkbaits and the DOA baitbuster series will not get as many bites, but the fish that you do catch will be substantially larger.

 

Schools of black drum are all over the Indian River in the shallows outside of Peacocks Pocket all the way up the East bank of the river.   Right now the size of the black drum schools range from 30, to over 200 fish. 

 

If you fish the leeward side of the islands during windy days you will hook more fish and March will have plenty of windy days! 

 

 

Port Canaveral becomes Cobia central if all the factors come together this month. 

 

The cobia should be moving inshore when the water is clean, the seas are calm, the surface temperatures are in the 68 to 70 degree range, the baitfish schools arrive and the manta rays show up.

Don't panic, these conditions appear every season during the upcoming months. 

 

Cobia fishing is a hunt and sight fish game for small craft boaters.  You have to first find the fish, then see them, and then catch them.  Clean calm conditions provide the best visibility on a sunny day between 10 am and 4 pm. 

 

If the fish haven't been under too much pressure by other anglers, you can catch them using brightly colored jigs or a grub rigged with long plastic worm or strip.  Artificial eels behind a white or chartreuse jig are killer.

 

As a last resort, you can always use live eels if you can find a bait shop that sells them at a reasonable cost.

 

If you fish in Florida waters out to the 3 mile limit, you are allowed one cobia per person or six per vessel; which ever is less.

 

If you fish past the 3 mile limit in Federal waters, your limit is two per person however, you cannot stop your boat when transporting your catch through Florida state waters until you reach your boat launch or port.

Tripletail will also be a possibility outside of Port Canaveral where they will be holding around any floating debris, seaweed or bouys that mark the shipping channel.

 

Tripletail are great tablefare and are very popular with small craft anglers because they can be easily found within a few miles of the coast.

 

A free lined live shrimp, small jig, or DOA artificial shrimp will pick up dinner with a well placed cast.

In March we occasionally get a short run of Spanish mackerel moving north along the beaches, around the ocean piers and into the inlet jetties.

 

Two of the best spots for Spanish mackerel during the run is the south jetty fishing pier at
Port Canaveral and the north jetty pier at Sebastian Inlet.

 

The Coca Beach Pier and the fishing piers in the Daytona Beach area are also hotspots for Spanish mackerel when they begin their run.

 

Launch your boat at either Freddie Patrick Park adjacent to Sunrise Marina or at Port's End Park next to Scorpions New Port Marina. 

 

 Playalinda Beach  remains relatively deserted, especially during the weekdays.