March
March is the month of change from winter to spring. First, the bait will come back follow closely by trout and redfish. The mudflats will still hold slot reds. Using a mud minnow, shrimp, or soft bait on a jig head will be productive if there are fish in the area.
Try anchoring near a pinch point with an oyster bed or point and toss out 1/2 a blue crab on a jig. If you don’t get a bite in 15-20 minutes it is time to move. It may take a number of different locations to produce some results.
Sheepshead should be in full swing in March. As always a fiddler crab is a good bait for both sheepshead and redfish.
Black Drum
When there is a full around March 17th to the 19th or the new moon at the end of March the black drum will move near shore to spawn. The best spots are the St Marys jetty or the Crady Bride. From the surf, if you can cast past the first bar you will get the best result. The bait of choice like always for black drum is 1/2 a blue crab. Sunset and sunrise are the most desirable times of the day. Heavy tackle is recommended as this fish can be up to 80 pounds.
Surf Fishing
Surf fishing should improve during March.
Pompano to 5 pounds will chase down sand fleas or fresh dead shrimp.
Whiting to 17 inches should become abundant in the surf. As always they will take fresh dead shrimp or sand fleas.
Black drum are in the surf and as always they want half a blue crab.
Blacktip sharks up to 6 feet will also be prowling the surf zones. Cut bait or whole whiting will attract a blacktip shark.
Spanish mackerel in the surf can be taken with a Gotcha plug. A fast retrieve is the way to go because mackerels are used to chasing fast minnows. Keep in mind that sometimes Spanish mackerel can be taken within a few feet of shore.