Just in case you were in a friggin coma, THE COBIA BITE WAS ON FIRE IN MARCH!! Many excellent catches were reported, with several fish caught over 70lbs. With a little luck, the run will continue into at least the early part of the month. In addition to the free swimmers and bait-pod dwellers, keep your eyes peeled for the occasional ray or defined color change with weed cover. The cobes will be following the rays or feeding in the weeds. Jigs and livies will top the list of cobia killers.

Now that you're awake, it's finally here, the month every fisherman dreams about... April. This is the month that the winter-time bite meets spring-time weather. Don't get me wrong, we can still expect some lingering fronts with winter winds and temps, but we can also expect some early springtime action.

The bottom fishing in March proved to be steady with many excellent catches reported throughout the month. Traditionally, April is one of the best months to chase grouper, snapper and amberjack. Not only are there good numbers of these fish, April is also your best chance to catch a trophy sow (snapper), blackbelly (grouper) or giant AJ. Fill that livewell with big pinfish, scads, tinkers, sardines, etc... and head for the deep. The best bottom fishing this month should be from 140' on out, but don't be afraid to try a couple livies on your bait stop.

April also signals the fall kingfish run. If the big springtime schools show up on time, slow trolled live baits or spinnin' minnows should prove deadly on an easy limit of fish. These fish could show up overnight and take over the reefs like Pelican Flats or 8A reef. The bait that attracts the kings also attracts cobia, blackfin tuna, bonito, and an occasional wahoo.

Last but not least...If you have been good fisherman this year...Maybe Peter Conntail will hop down the sargassum trail hiding beautifully colored Easter Dolphin under weedlines or other floating debris. Along with the dolphin, expect wahoo and sailfish to be roaming the same color changes and weedlines from 120' on out. Ballyhoo and strip baits trolled with and without lures should make up an irresistable spread.
If Mother Nature will give us a break from blowing the coconuts off the trees, this month should provide fisherman with as much action as variety. See you on the pond!