Well its the end of March and its now spring time here in Florida and that means the weather patterns are changing for the better! As the average temperatures rise into the 80’s so does the water temperature. This is wonderful news for guides and anglers alike not so much for the species we target as they seem to make many mistakes in taking well presented flies and lures.

The snook have been hiding out in the back country all winter, with the warmer water temperatures these fish are on the move, heading towards their summer spawning grounds. I have been finding them sunbathing in the afternoon and feeding voraciously at night around docks and bridge fenders. My go to fly for day time sightfishing has been either an olive Borski slider tied on a 1/0 gamakatsu hook or an EP baitfish pattern in olive and white. Once spotted present the fly delicately up current of the target and get its attention with small strips. After you have the snooks attention longer more abrupt strips have made the game fish come out of its shell to thrash the fly and don’t forget to stripset!

The redfish have also been found in the same areas as the snook and take the same fly patterns. I prefer to finger crawl a borksi slider or shrimp pattern on the bottom as these fish naturally feed off the bottom it makes it easier for that fish to trap your fly.

Migratory Tarpon should start making their way up the gulf coast towards Sarasota and Tampa Bay as the water temperatures approach 78-80 degrees in the gulf of mexico.  You may also find juvenile tarpon in the evening and night hours around dock lights.

Tripletail are also making an appearance on the near by floating buoys and channel markers in the gulf and the bay.

It looks like we are in for another stellar spring and hopefully a strong tarpon season!

Will with a large Tampa Bay snook sight fished on fly!

Darrin and his first ever redfish on fly!

Nanette and her snook sight casted on fly on a cloudy dismal day

Erica and her first saltwater species on a fly rod