The bite so far this Spring has been sporadic. Seatrout are just now pushing into local waters. Soft plastics can be effective primarily due to the lack of shrimp. Glass minnows and thread fin herring are pushing in. These are favorite baits for seatrout. Plastics resembling those baits can be effective. The sheepshead bite on nearshore wrecks appears to be waning as temperature rises. The redfish bite while not hot is providing some action. Most fishermen in the sounds are targeting whiting. The whiting bite has been good but likewise the bite has been up and down. Ample amounts of rain water coming from local rainfall as well rain inland washing to coast is helping keep bait from coming in.
On a more positive note. In the coming days and weeks the seatrout will be heating up! Shrimp, the most popular and favorite bait of fish and fishermen, will be becoming more abundant in the coming days and weeks.
There has been some good redfish action upriver but likewise the bite has been inconsistent due primarily to weather conditions. Some small keeper flounders are showing in the sounds. As conditions continue to heat up more flounders will show up. The inshore sheepshead bite while not impressive is providing some action with some keeper fish as well plenty of small fish.
Bonnethead sharks are starting to show up in the local sounds. This is typically the first shark of year to appear. There have reports of large schools but for the most part single are providing most of the action. Bonnetheads while not usually taken for food can provide a nice fight on light tackle. A few large reddrum are showing as well. As more bait pushes in more fish will show up. Right now action as been fair at best but conditions on the coast can quickly change! Spring is a great time fish and if nature cooperates a time to catch fish. So far nature has been a little off: a cold winter, large amount of fresh water on the coast and windy conditions has made fishing challenging. That said inshore is fun even in challenging conditions!
Hope this report is of interest and help!
Fish On! Capt. Jack McGowan, Coastal River Charters