March 2010: Lower Keys Inshore Fishing Report

Well, all I can say is buuuurrrrrrr! Nature has been kicking our tail down here in the Lower Keys.  A few days late in February showed promise but that quickly subsided to yet another cold front.  Now March has arrived and all I am hoping for is some warmth.

Water temperatures are down. That is a fact. I can’t remember when it has been so cold for so long. All I know is that it will warm up eventually and when it does, hold on. It is a well known fact that Permit will be feeding voraciously in large numbers this month. Look for that to happen once we get steady temperatures in the 70s.  That is a bet that I would gladly make. Hopefully in my next report I will be able to back that up. But this is not a fishing prediction report so let me get to what is actually happening in the back country right now.

Trout, Ladyfish, Mackerel, Barracudas and Sharks are abundant. Some are available more so than others on any given day. For the best shot at ‘cudas, go west young man. The Marquesas have proven to be the hot spot for them.  Closer to home, the basins between Key West and Cudjoe are alive with Trout and Ladyfish. Pompano are also in the mix. As with most species of fish, when the water is cold, slow down your presentation. Drag, don’t bounce your baits on the bottom. The fish are sluggish and inactive. They will however still eat bait that is placed right in their face.  Sharks have been present on the flats late in the afternoon. It takes time for the flats to warm up but once it does, the toothy critters will start to show up. I haven’t seen any giants but there are plenty of puppy Lemon Sharks to keep any angler entertained.

We as fishermen will not sub come to the cold! Dress a little warmer and be positive. All in all it really is not that bad after all. We need to keep that in mind as we wait for the warm weather. A cold day on the water here is better than a summer day in Michigan…at least to me.

Until next time,

Bo