Water temperatures are slowly inching up

Things have finally started to happen on the angling scene. We have continued to do well on all the species of winter and at the end of this past week, when the wind settled down, we encountered some pompano, spanish mackerel, and bluefish.

Trout, pompano, and mackerel have been going for jigs and live shrimp on the open grass flats of Sarasota Bay,Palma Sola Bay, and Anna Maria Sound. A couple of trips out to nearshore reefs in the Gulf have given up good catches of big sow sheepshead. The sheepies are in spawn mode big time and that should carry on for a couple of weeks and then peak.

Water temperatures are slowly inching up and several spring species have shown already. There have been schools of bait showing off the beaches but they are deep and the water is still a little too milky to identify what they are. A number of green sea turtles have been seen as well.

When we reach the magic 70's I think there is going to be a sudden influx of kingfish, bonito, cobia, etc., and that action well could be off the charts.

Good luck and good fishing. Be careful out there!!

Capt. "Zach" Zacharias
"Dee Jay II"
941-795-5026
email: zachcap@aol.com
Docked on Palma Sola Bay at
Parrot Cove Marina/ Sunny Shores
115th St W and 36th Ave,
Cortez, Fl 34215