Spring fishing is in full affect! Extreme fluctuations of barometric pressure, and cold fronts have had the bite all over the place. One day fish can be turned on and smashing the first thing that hits the water and the next spooked off with a fly hitting the water. Matching the hatch with the bait that I am seeing in the systems has been the go to trick for me. When fishing artificial or fly I have had my anglers fish very slow and controlled. Sight fishing wise, cast 2-2.5’ in front of the fish so that the fish feels like he found it. Those two tricks have worked wonders for me. Creeks/ Marsh: Redfish are starting to break off of the larger schools. I am finding a lot of 2-4 fish schools working the systems and occasional singles. Current breaks on bends, folded over Spartina and oyster beds have been the main targeted areas. Lots of creek shrimp right now, when hunting redfish keep an eye out for where the shrimp are popping. They have been snitching on where they Reds are as they swim through and work. Open water: Still finding fish in the same places they were during the winter. I spend most of my time in creeks but when low waters keeps me in the main rivers I work creek mouths where larger oyster structure is. Also drop offs from main shoreline. The Flounder bite has greatly increased and should only get better as the water continues to warm. Bonnetheads are back in town and being caught, though I have yet to see any in back waters. Flies: My motto over the past couple of weeks has been “ Elephants eat peanuts”. Small black and purple or natural colored bonefish shrimp patterns have been the trick as well as smaller bead eyed clousers. Ive added 2’ of 10lb tippet as well. Flooded grass areas have also provided some feeding fish. Ive stuck with smaller crab patterns with Zonker to maximize the fly movement with minimum movement from the angler. Artificial: Zman Ned Shrimp on a Zman Ned Head have been the go to with spooky fish. Texas Eye Eye Strike paired with a Gulp Translucent ( I prefer Scooby) have also proven great results. Don’t be scared to jazz up some of the artificial with Procure as well! Live: Live shrimp, cut mullet, and mud minnows are the baits I have had best results with. That being said I have yet to try crab but speaking with some other captains in the area, cut crab has also turned them on. I like floating live bait mid to upper water column. Tight Lines!

My favorite time of the year to fish! Water temps have been fluctuating from low to mid 50's which has the Redfish in the normal winter time feeding patterns. Larger schools in the back of creeks and transiting fish on a falling tide in the system that don't hold water. The systems that are dry during the low, I'm finding the fish have moved out of the creeks and are usually within 100yds on the creek mouth on the shoreline. For the most part they all seem hungry and happy! The water clarity has been amazing! Majority of the bites we have been able to watch as it happens. This is the time of the year for sight fishing! We have been able to spot fish way out and pursue them. Artificial: Zman ned shrimpz, gulp translucent shrimp on a texas eye strike head, and a slow retrieve 3" paddle tail has been the trick for me. Fly: Darker colored clouser and shrimp patterns have been the go-to. Flies with a zonker strip and a little bit of flash have provided a little better results for me. Most of my bites are happening on the fall of the fly during my retrieve.

Seeing lots of happy Redfish! They are slowly starting to move out of the back creeks where they have been held up all winter and moving more towards open water during a falling and low tide. Im still seeing a great amount of fish moving onto the grass flats during a flood tide chasing bait. We have had no shortage of Finger Mullet and Creek Shrimp throughout the entire area. Sharks and Sting Rays are moving in higher numbers as the water continues to warm up. I'm beginning to find Bonnet Head Sharks and multiple different species of Rays on most of the shorelines and the shell banks. Deeper water near the inlets have been holding Spanish Mackerel. They have been arriving in good numbers and have been active and hungry! Ive found the Flounder bite hasn't heated up quite yet. More are being caught but I'm expecting to see it improve over the next few weeks.