By Dave Mistretta, Times Correspondent
Thursday, March 3, 2011
What's hot: This will be the transition month for many migratory fish in the gulf. Water temperatures are rising. Large concentrations of small minnows have been moving toward shore and into the mouth of Tampa Bay. Behind them is small Spanish mackerel. If the weather keeps warming, we'll see the Spanish mackerel will get bigger every week.
What's next: Bigger schools of baitfish are the next thing to arrive. Blue runners, cigar minnows and sardines will be located a good distance offshore, moving to the east. King mackerel should start to arrive within the next two weeks. Locating them with regularity is difficult as they move in March. A giant school will settle for a day or two then keep migrating. Troll at a variety of depths to find where they settle; try 30 feet of water, then 50 or 60.
Dave Mistretta captains the Jaws Too out of Indian Rocks Beach. Call (727) 439-2628 or see www.jawstoo.com.